The Middle Ages
A lot of the music is sacred, plainchant, organum, motet. Chansons, madrigals
Renaissance
Golden age of a cappella, word painting, chansons, madrigals, dance music,  
Baroque
singing of psalms, introduction of monody, major-minor tonality established
Classical
Multimovement cycle, order, harmonious proportion, regular rhythms and meters
Romantic
nationalistic folklore and exotic subjects, memorable melodies, broad forms, growing orchestra