Middle Low German is a historical language that developed during the Middle Ages. It was spoken in parts of northern Germany and the Netherlands, and was used for written documents and literature until the 16th century. Middle Low German has several synonyms, including "Middelnederduits" in Dutch, and "Mittelplattdeutsch" or "Mitteldeutsch" in German. It is also sometimes referred to as "Low Saxon," as it was part of the larger group of languages known as the Low German dialects. Today, Middle Low German is considered a dead language, but it has had a significant impact on the development of modern German and Dutch.