NationMaster - Encyclopedia: High Medieval

The High Middle Ages is a term used by historians to describe European history in the period of the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries (1000–1300 CE). The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which by convention ends around 1500. This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Notre Dame de Paris, Western Facade. ... This article discusses the history of the continent of Europe. ... Periodization is the attempt to categorize or divide historical time into discrete named blocks. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

The key historical trend of the High Middle Ages was the rapidly increasing population of Europe, which brought about great social and political change from the preceding era. By 1250, some scholars say, the continent became overpopulated, reaching levels it would not see again in some areas until the 19th century. This trend was checked in the Late Middle Ages by a series of calamities, notably the Black Death but also including numerous wars and economic stagnation. Medieval demography is demography in the Middle Ages. ... Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ...

From about the year 1000 onwards, Western Europe saw the last of the barbarian invasions and became more politically organized. The Vikings had settled in the British Isles, France and elsewhere, whilst Norse Christian kingdoms were developing in their Scandinavian homelands. The Magyars had ceased their expansion in the 10th century, and by the year 1000, a Christian Kingdom of Hungary was recognized in central Europe. With the brief exception of the Mongol incursions, major barbarian invasions ceased. For other uses, see number 1000. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland and a number of much smaller surrounding islands. ... Scandinavia, Fennoscandia, and the Kola Peninsula. ... ÃrpÃ¡d Feszty and assistants vast (over 8000 m2) canvas, painted to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary, now displayed at Ã“pusztaszer National Memorial Site in Hungary Magyars are an ethnic group primarily associated with Hungary. ... The Kingdom of Hungary is the name of a multiethnic kingdom that existed in Central Europe from 1000 to 1918. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ...

In the 11th century, populations north of the Alps began to settle new lands, some of which had reverted to wilderness after the end of the Roman Empire. In what is known as the "great clearances," vast forests and marshes of Europe were cleared and cultivated. At the same time settlements moved beyond the traditional boundaries of the Frankish Empire to new frontiers in eastern Europe, beyond the Elbe River, tripling the size of Germany in the process. Crusaders founded European colonies in the Levant, Spain conquered from the Moors, and the Normans colonized southern Italy, all part of the major population increase and resettlement pattern. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of Octavian (better known as Caesar Augustus). ... Statue of Charlemagne (also called Karl der Große, Charles the Great) in Frankfurt, Germany. ... The Elbe River (Czech Labe, Sorbian/Lusatian Łobjo, Polish Łaba, German Elbe) is one of the major waterways of central Europe. ... The Crusader states, c. ... The Levant or Sham (Arabic root word related to the term Semite) is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in Southwest Asia south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the west, and the north Arabian Desert and Mesopotamia to the east. ... For other uses, see Reconquista (Disambiguation). ... Norman may refer to: The Norman language The Norman people Norman architecture, the Romanesque architecture erected by the Normans. ...

The High Middle Ages produced many different forms of intellectual, spiritual and artistic works. This age saw the rise of modern nation-states in Western Europe and the ascent of the great Italian city-states. The still-powerful Roman Church called armies from across Europe to a series of Crusades against the Seljuk Turks, who occupied the Holy Land. The rediscovery of the works of Aristotle led Thomas Aquinas and other thinkers to develop the philosophy of Scholasticism. In architecture, many of the most notable Gothic cathedrals were built or completed during this era. Byzantine art was the high art of the Middle Ages and monumental Church mosaics were the crowing glory. ... Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... A city-state is a region controlled exclusively by a city. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian body in the world. ... This article is about historical Crusades . ... The Seljuk Turks (Turkish: SelÃ§uk; Arabic: Ø³Ù„Ø¬ÙˆÙ‚ SaljÅ«q, Ø§Ù„Ø³Ù„Ø§Ø¬Ù‚Ø© al-SalÄjiqa; Persian: Ø³Ù„Ø¬ÙˆÙ‚ÙŠØ§Ù† SaljÅ«qiyÄn; also Seldjuk, Seldjuq, Seljuq) were a major branch of the Oghuz Turks and a dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries. ... The phrase The Holy Land (Arabic Ø§Ù„Ø£Ø±Ø¶ Ø§Ù„Ù…Ù‚Ø¯Ø³Ø© al-Ará¸ ul-Muqaddasah; Hebrew ××¨×¥ ×”×§×•×“×©;, Standard Hebrew Ã‰reáº“ haQodeÅ¡, Tiberian Hebrew Ê¾Ã‰reá¹£ haqQÄá¸Ä“Å¡; Latin Terra Sancta) generally refers to Palestine. ... Aristotle (sculpture) Aristotle (Greek: Î‘ÏÎ¹ÏƒÏ„Î¿Ï„ÎÎ»Î·Ï‚ AristotelÄ“s; 384 BC â€“ March 7, 322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher. ... St Thomas Aquinas Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 â€“ March 7, 1274) was an Italian , Catholic philosopher and theologian in the scholastic tradition. ... Scholasticism comes from the Latin word scholasticus which means that [which] belongs to the school, and is the school of philosophy taught by the academics (or schoolmen) of medieval universities circa 1100 - 1500. ... Notre-Dame Cathedral seen from the River Seine. ...

Historical events and politics

This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The Bayeux Tapestry (French: Tapisserie de Bayeux) is not actually a tapestry (that is, a weaving), but is embroidery, and dates from 1077. ... The Battle of Hastings was the decisive Norman victory in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. ...

Britain

In England, the Norman Conquest of 1066 resulted in a kingdom ruled by a French-speaking nobility. The Normans invaded Ireland in force in 1169 and soon established themselves throughout most of the country, though their stronghold was the southeast. Likewise, Scotland and Wales were subdued to vassalage at about the same time, though Scotland later regained her indepenence. The Exchequer was founded in the 12th century under King Henry I, and the first parliaments were convened. In 1215, after the loss of Normandy, King John signed the Magna Carta into law, which limited the power of English monarchs. MediÃ¦val Britain is a term used to suggest that there is a unity to the history of Great Britain from the 5th centurys withdrawal of Roman forces and Germanic invasions until the 16th century Reformations in Scotland and England. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/kmÂ² Ethnicity... Bayeux Tapestry depicting events leading to the Battle of Hastings The Norman Conquest was the conquest of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman control of England. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. ... Events Nur ad-Din invades Egypt, and his nephew Saladin becomes the sultan over the territory conquered by Nur ad-Din. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English(100%), Welsh(20. ... The Exchequer was that part of the government responsible for the management and collection of the royal revenues of the King of England. ... Henry I (c. ... The debating chamber or hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels. ... Events June 15 - King John of England forced to put his seal to the Magna Carta, outlining the rights of landowning men (nobles and knights) and restricting the kings power. ... Mont Saint Michel is a historic pilgrimage site and a symbol of Normandy Normandy is a geographical region in northern France. ... John (December 24, 1166â€“October 18/19, 1216) reigned as King of England from April 6, 1199, until his death. ... Magna Carta placed certain checks on the absolute power of the English Monarchs. ... England was first unified as a state by Alfred the Great of Wessex. ...

Scandinavia

From the mid-tenth to the mid-eleventh centuries, the Scandinavian kingdoms were unified and Christianized, resulting in an end to Viking raids, and greater involvement in European politics. King Cnut of Denmark ruled over both England and Norway. After Cnut’s death in 1035, England and Norway were lost, and with the defeat of Valdemar II in 1227, Danish predominance in the region came to an end. Meanwhile, Norway extended its Atlantic possessions, ranging from Greenland to the Isle of Man, while Sweden, under Birger jarl, built up a power base in the Baltic Sea. Scandinavia, Fennoscandia, and the Kola Peninsula. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Events Harthacanute becomes king of Denmark. ... Valdemar II (1170â€“1241), called Valdemar the Conqueror or Valdemar the Victorious, was the King of Denmark from 1202 until 1241. ... Events Henry III of England declares himself of age and assumes power Births September 30 - Pope Nicholas IV Deaths March 18 - Pope Honorius III (b. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... Birger Jarl Statue of Birger jarl in Stockholm Birger Jarl listen? or Earl Birger, (1210 – 1266), Swedish statesman, full name Birger Magnusson of Bjälbo, son of Magnus Minnesköld of Bjälbo and Ingrid Ylva, nephew to the Earl Birger Brosa, and the most famous member of the ancient noble family of... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainlands of Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and the Danish islands. ...

Western and Central Europe

By the time of the High Middle Ages, the Carolingian Empire had been divided and replaced by separate successor kingdoms east and west of the Vosges called France and Germany, although not with their modern boundaries. Germany was under the banner of the Holy Roman Empire, which reached its high-water mark of unity and political power. During the latter years of the elderly Charlemagnes rule, the Vikings made advances along the northern and western perimeters of his kingdom. ... While the German people were not fully unified into a single political unit until the late 19th century, they exerted a tremendous influence upon Western civilization from its very beginnings. ... Map of Carolingian Empire The term Carolingian Empire is sometimes used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the dynasty of the Carolingians. ... Vosges is a French département, named after the Vosges mountain range. ... This page is about the Germanic empire. ...

Southern Europe

Much of the Iberian peninsula had been occupied by the Moors after 711, although the northernmost portion was divided between several Christian states. In the 11th century, and again in the thirteenth, a coalition of Christian kings under the leadership of Castile drove the Muslims from central and most of southern Spain. After the disorders of the passage of the Vandals and Alans down the Mediterranean coast of Hispania from 409, the history of Medieval Spain begins with the Iberian kingdom of the Arian Visigoths (507 – 711), who were converted to Catholicism with their king Reccared in 587. ... This is the history of Italy during the Middle Ages. ... topographic map of the Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. ... For the terrain type, see: Heath (habitat). ... See also: phone number 711. ... A former kingdom of Spain, Castile comprises the two regions of Old Castile in north-western Spain, and New Castile in the centre of the country. ...

In Italy, independent city states grew affluent on the eastern trade. These were in particular the so-called Repubbliche Marinare - Pisa, Amalfi, Genoa and Venice. Pisas coat of arms This article is about Pisa in Italy. ... Amalfi, a town and archiepiscopal see of Campania, Italy, in the Gulf of Salerno, 24 miles southeast of Naples. ... Location within Italy Flag of Genoa Christopher Columbus monument in Piazza Aquaverde Genoa (Italian Genova, Genoese Zena, French GÃªnes) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ... Location within Italy Venice (Italian Venezia), the city of canals, is the capital of the region of Veneto and of the province of Venice, 45Â°26â€² N 12Â°19â€² E, population 271,663 (census estimate 2004-01-01). ...

Eastern Europe

The High Middle Ages saw the height and decline of the Slavic state of Kievan Rus' and the emergence of Poland. Later, the Mongol invasion in the 13th century had great impact on Eastern Europe, as many countries of that region were invaded, pillaged, conquered and vassalized. Kievan Rusâ€² (Russian: , Kievskaya Rus; Ukrainian: , Kyivsâ€™ka Rusâ€™) was the early, mostly East SlavicÂ¹ state dominated by the city of Kiev (Russian: ÐšÐ¸ÌÐµÐ², Kiev; Ukrainian: ÐšÐ¸ÌÑ—Ð², Kyiv), from about 880 to the middle of the 12th century. ... In the first centuries of its existence, the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European state, and integrated Poland into European culture. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange) and other former communist regimes (light orange). ...

It was during this period that the Byzantine Empire began its centuries-long decline after its pinnacle in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Eastern and Western churches had formally split in the 11th century, leaving the Empire isolated between a hostile west and various Muslim enemies in the east. The Empire suffered a string of decimating military defeats, beginning with the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. The Fourth Crusade all but destroyed the Byzantines, and their power was further reduced by the Ottoman Empire into the 15th century. The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centred at its capital in Constantinople. ... This earthenware dish was made in 9th century Iraq. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... The Battle of Manzikert (Turkish Malazgirt SavaÅŸÄ±) occurred on August 26, 1071 between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuk Turkish forces led by Alp Arslan, resulting in the defeat of the Byzantine Empire and the capture of Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes. ... Events Byzantine Empire loses Battle of Manzikert to Turkish army under Alp Arslan. ... The Fourth Crusade (1202â€“1204), originally designed to conquer Jerusalem by taking Egypt first, instead, in 1204, sacked and conquered the Orthodox Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. ... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (Ottoman Turkish for the Eternal State) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Constantinople (Ä°stanbul) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 6. ...

Climate and agriculture

The Medieval Warm Period, the period from 10th century to about the 14th century in Europe, was a relatively warm and gentle interval ended by the generally colder Little Ice Age. Farmers grew wheat well north into Scandinavia, and wine grapes in northern England, although the maximum expansion of vineyards appears to occur within the Little Ice Age period. This protection from famine allowed Europe's population to increase, despite the famine in 1315 that killed 1.5 million people. This increased population contributed to the founding of new towns and an increase in industrial and economic activity during the period. Food production also increased during this time as new ways of farming were introduced, including the use of a heavier plow, horses instead of oxen, and a three-field system that allowed the cultivation of a greater variety of crops than the earlier two-field system. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) or Medieval Climate Optimum was an unusually warm period during the European Medieval period, lasting from about the 10th century to about the 14th century. ... (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... World map showing location of Europe When considered a continent, Europe is the worlds second smallest continent in terms of area, with an area of 10,600,000 kmÂ² (4,140,625 square miles), making it larger than Australia only. ... The Little Ice Age (LIA) was a period of cooling lasting approximately from the mid-14th to the mid-19th centuries. ... Species T. boeoticum T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta References: ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 Wheat (Triticum spp. ... Scandinavia, Fennoscandia, and the Kola Peninsula. ... A glass of red wine Wine display at the Mt Markey Winery This article is about the beverage. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/kmÂ² Ethnicity... A famine is a phenomenon in which a large percentage of the population of a region or country are undernourished and death by starvation becomes increasingly common. ... Events August 13 - Louis X of France marries Clemence dAnjou. ...

The Rise of Chivalry

Household heavy cavalry (knights) became common in the 11th century across Europe, and tournaments were invented. Although the heavy capital investment in horse and armor was a barrier to entry, knighthood became known as a way for serfs to earn their freedom. In the 12th century, the Cluny monks promoted ethical warfare and inspired the formation of orders of chivalry, such as the Templar Knights. Inherited titles of nobility were established during this period. In 13th-century Germany, knighthood became another inheritable title, although one of the less prestigious, and the trend spread to other countries. A silver statue of an armoured knight, created as a trophy in 1850 For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... This article is about the tournaments of the Middle Ages. ... Cluny nowadays The town of Cluny or Clugny lies in the modern-day département of Saône-et-Loire in the région of France, near Mâcon. ... See also Orders of Chivalry in the British honours system See also chivalry An Order of chivalry has two meanings: Originally (during the 12th Century in Western Europe) it was one type of Christian Military order, also known as Knighthood, charged with fighting Muslim forces in the Holy Land. ... The Seal of the Knights — the two riders have been interpreted as a sign of poverty or the duality of monk/soldier. ... For other uses, see inheritance (disambiguation). ...

Religion

The Church

The East-West Schism of 1054 formally separated the Christian church into two parts: Western Catholicism in Western Europe and Eastern Orthodoxy in the east. It occurred when Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other, mainly over disputes as to the existence of papal authority over the four Eastern patriarchs. The East-West Schism, known also as the Great Schism (though this latter term sometimes refers to the later Western Schism), was the event that divided Chalcedonian Christianity into Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. ... Events Cardinal Humbertus, a representative of Pope Leo IX, and Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, decree each others excommunication. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... ... Leo IX, born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg (June 21, 1002 - April 19, 1054) was pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. ... Michael Cerularius, (b. ... Excommunication is a religious censure which is used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. ... Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. ...

The Crusades

One of the most important events of the period was the series of religious Crusades, in which Christians fought to retake Palestine from the Muslims. The Crusades impacted all levels of society in the High Middle Ages, from the kings and emperors who themselves led the Crusades, to the lowest peasants whose lords were often absent in the east. The height of the Crusades was the 12th century, following the First Crusade and the foundation of the Crusader states; in the 13th century and beyond, Crusades were also directed against fellow Christians, and in eastern and northern Europe, non-Muslim pagans. Expanded contact with the east, especially among the city-states of Italy, would eventually help spark the Italian Renaissance. Events The county of Portugal is established for the second time. ... The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to regain control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Land from Muslims. ... Events Pope Lucius II is succeeded by Pope Eugene III Nur ad-Din ascends to power in Syria Construction begins on Notre-Dame dChartres in Chartres, France Korean historian Kim Pusik compiled the historical text Samguk Sagi. ... The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe, called in 1145 in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year. ... Events May 1 - Battle of Cresson - Saladin defeats the crusaders July 4 - Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, at the Battle of Hattin. ... The Third Crusade (1189 - 1192) was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin. ... Events August 1 - Arthur of Brittany captured in Mirebeau, north of Poitiers Beginning of the Fourth Crusade. ... The Fourth Crusade (1202â€“1204), originally designed to conquer Jerusalem by taking Egypt first, instead, in 1204, sacked and conquered the Orthodox Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. ... Events Albigensian Crusade against Cathars (1209-1218) the Franciscans are founded. ... The Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) was a brutal 20-year military campaign initiated by the Roman Catholic Church to eliminate the religion practiced by the Cathars of Languedoc, which the Roman Catholic hierarchy considered heretical. ... Events The first Great Fire of London burns most of the city to the ground. ... The Childrens Crusade is the name given to a variety of fictional and factual events in 1212 AD that combine some or all of these elements: visions by a boy, children marching to south Italy, an attempt to free the Holy Land, and children being sold into slavery. ... Events April 9 - Peter of Courtenay crowned emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople at Rome, by Pope Honorius III May 20 - First Barons War, royalist victory at Lincoln. ... The Fifth Crusade (1217–1221) was an attempt to take back Jerusalem by first conquering the powerful Muslim state in Egypt. ... Events The Sixth Crusade is launched by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, after delays due to sickness and an excommunication from Pope Gregory IX. Conrad IV of Germany becomes titular King of Jerusalem, with Frederick II as regent. ... The Sixth Crusade began in 1228 as an attempt to reconquer Jerusalem. ... Events Louis IX of France departs on the Seventh Crusade for Egypt Kingdom of Castile captures city of Seville from Muslims Cologne cathedral: old cathedral burns down April 30; foundation stone to current cathedral laid August 15 Births Deaths January 4 - King Sancho II of Portugal, in exile in Toledo... The Seventh Crusade was a crusade led by Louis IX of France from 1248 to 1254. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... The Eighth Crusade was a crusade launched by Louis IX of France in 1270. ... Events Kublai Khan named his empire Yuan (元 yuan2), officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty. ... The Ninth Crusade is commonly considered to be the last of the medieval Crusades against the Muslims in the Holy Land. ... This article is about the medieval Crusades . ... This article is about the medieval Crusades . ... Testes A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. ... Palestine (Latin: Syria PalÃ¦stina; Hebrew: ×¤×œ×©×ª×™× ×” Palestina, ××¨×¥Ö¾×™×©×¨××œ Eretz Yisrael; Arabic: ÙÙ„Ø³Ø·ÙŠÙ† Filasá¹Ä«n) is the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the banks of the Jordan River, plus various adjoining lands to the east. ... A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…) is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... The Crusader states, c. ... By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance *French Renaissance *German Renaissance *English Renaissance The Renaissance was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ...

Scholasticism

The new Christian philosophy and method of scholasticism developed in the late 12th century from the rediscovery of the works of Aristotle through Medieval Jewish and Muslim Philosophy (Maimonides, Avicenna, and Averroes) and those whom he influenced, most notably Albertus Magnus, Bonaventure and Abélard. Scholastics believed in empiricism and supporting Roman Catholic doctrines through secular study, reason, and logic. They opposed Christian mysticism, and the Platonist-Augustinian beliefs in mind dualism and the view of the world as inherently evil. The most famous of the scholastics was Thomas Aquinas (later declared a "Doctor of the Church"), who led the move away from the Platonic and Augustinian and towards Aristotelianism. Aquinas developed a philosophy of mind by writing that the mind was at birth a tabula rasa ("blank slate") that was given the ability to think and recognize forms or ideas through a divine spark. Other notable scholastics included Roscelin, Abélard, and Peter Lombard. One of the main questions during this time was the problem of the universals. Prominent anti-scholastics included as Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, Anselm of Canterbury, Peter Damian, Bernard of Clairvaux, and the Victorines.^[1] Scholasticism comes from the Latin word scholasticus which means that [which] belongs to the school, and is the school of philosophy taught by the academics (or schoolmen) of medieval universities circa 1100 - 1500. ... Christian philosophy is a catch-all expression for a two-millennia tradition of rational thought that attempts to fuse the fields of philosophy with the religious teachings of Christianity. ... Aristotle (sculpture) Aristotle (Greek: Î‘ÏÎ¹ÏƒÏ„Î¿Ï„ÎÎ»Î·Ï‚ AristotelÄ“s; 384 BC â€“ March 7, 322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Hebrew: ×¨×‘×™ ×ž×©×” ×‘×Ÿ ×ž×™×™×ž×•×Ÿ; Arabic: Mussa bin Maimun ibn Abdallah al-Kurtubi al-Israili; March 30, 1135â€”December 13, 1204), commonly known by his Greek name (Moses) Maimonides, was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher. ... Avicenna was the greatest of the medieval Islamic physicians, whose work had a direct impact on the Renaissance. ... Averroes Averroes (Ibn Rushd) (1126 - December 10, 1198) was an Andalusian-Arab philosopher and physician, a master of philosophy and Islamic law, mathematics and medicine. ... Albertus Magnus (fresco, 1352, Treviso, Italy) Albertus Magnus (1193? – November 15, 1280), also known as Saint Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne, was a Dominican friar who became famous for his universal knowledge and advocacy for the peaceful coexistence of science and religion. ... This article refers to the Italian saint. ... Abaelardus and HeloÃ¯se surprised by Master Fulbert, by Romanticist painter Jean Vignaud (1819) Pierre AbÃ©lard (in English, Peter Abelard) or Abailard (1079 â€“ April 21, 1142) was a French scholastic philosopher. ... Empiricism (greek ÎµÎ¼Ï€ÎµÎ¹ÏÎ¹ÏƒÎ¼ÏŒÏ‚, from empirical, latin experientia - the experience), not to be confused with imperialism, is the philosophical doctrine that all human knowledge comes at first from senses and experience. ... Mysticism is the philosophy and practice of a direct experience of God. ... In philosophy of mind, dualism is a set of beliefs which begin with the claim that the mental and the physical have a fundamentally different nature. ... St Thomas Aquinas Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 â€“ March 7, 1274) was an Italian , Catholic philosopher and theologian in the scholastic tradition. ... In Roman Catholicism, a Doctor of the Church is a theologian from whose teachings the whole Christian church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom eminent learning and great sanctity have been attributed by a proclamation of the Pope or of an ecumenical council. ... Platonic idealism is the theory that the substantive reality around us is only a reflection of a higher truth. ... St. ... Philosophy of mind is the philosophical study of the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, and consciousness. ... The mind is the term most commonly used to describe the higher functions of the human brain, particularly those of which humans are subjectively conscious, such as personality, thought, reason, memory, intelligence and emotion. ... Tabula rasa (Latin: scraped tablet, though often translated blank slate) is the notion that individual human beings are born blank (with no built-in mental content), and that their identity is defined entirely by events after birth. ... Peter Lombard (c. ... Blessed John Duns Scotus (c. ... William of Ockham (also Occam or any of several other spellings) (ca. ... Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033 or 1034 â€“ April 21, 1109), a widely influential medieval philosopher and theologian, held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109. ... Pietro Damiani (St Peter Damian), (c. ... Bernard of Clairvaux, illustrated in A Short History of Monks and Monasteries by Alfred Wesley Wishart, 1900 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (Fontaines, near Dijon, 1090 â€“ August 21, 1153 in Clairvaux) was a French abbot and theologian who was the main voice of conservatism during the intellectual revival of Western Europe...

Golden age of monasticism

Monasticism in Christianity is a family of similar traditions that began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modeled upon scriptural examples and ideals, but not mandated as an institution by the Scriptures. ... The longest lasting of the western Catholic monastic orders, the Benedictine Order traces its origins to the adoption of the monastic life by St. ... Cistercians (OCist) (Latin Cistercenses), otherwise Gimey or White Monks (from the colour of the habit, over which is worn a black Catholic order of monks. ... Bernard of Clairvaux, illustrated in A Short History of Monks and Monasteries by Alfred Wesley Wishart, 1900 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (Fontaines, near Dijon, 1090 â€“ August 21, 1153 in Clairvaux) was a French abbot and theologian who was the main voice of conservatism during the intellectual revival of Western Europe...

Mendicant orders

The Mendicant (or Begging) Orders are religious orders which depend directly on the charity of the people for their livelihood. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Origin and early history Carmelites (in Latin Ordo fratrum Beatæ Virginis Mariæ de monte Carmelo) is the name of a Roman Catholic order founded in the 12th century by a certain Berthold (d. ... The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are several Roman Catholic monastic orders and congregations of both men and women living according to a guide to religious life known as the Rule of Saint Augustine. ...

Heretical movements

Heresy existed in Europe before the 11th century but only in small numbers and of local character: a rogue priest, or a village returning to pagan traditions; but beginning in the 11th century mass-movement heresies appeared. The roots of this can be found with the rise of urban cities, free merchants and a new money-based economy. The rural values of monasticism held little appeal to urban people who began to form sects more in tune with urban culture. The first heretical movements originated in the newly urbanized areas such as southern France and northern Italy. They were mass movements on a scale the Church had never seen before, and the response was one of elimination for some, such as the Cathars, and the acceptance and integration of others, such as St. Francis, the son of an urban merchant who renounced money. Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the â€˜catholicâ€™ or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. ...

Cathars

Catharism was a movement with Gnostic elements that originated around the middle of the 10th century, branded by the contemporary Roman Catholic Church as heretical. It existed throughout much of Western Europe, but its home was in Languedoc and surrounding areas in southern France. The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... For other uses of the name Carcassonne, see Carcassonne (disambiguation). ... Events Albigensian Crusade against Cathars (1209-1218) the Franciscans are founded. ... Cathars being expelled from Carcassone in 1209. ... Gnosticism is a blanket term for various mostly mystical religions and sects, which were most prominent in the first few centuries CE. The word gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (Î³Î½á¿¶ÏƒÎ¹Ï‚), referring to the idea that there is special esoteric knowledge, a key to transcendent understanding, that only... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian body in the world. ... Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the â€˜catholicâ€™ or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. ... Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... Coat of arms of the province of Languedoc, now being used as an official flag by the Midi-Pyrénees region as well as by the city of Toulouse Languedoc (Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc...

The name Cathar most likely originated from Greek catharos, "the pure ones". One of the first recorded uses is Eckbert von Schönau who wrote on heretics from Cologne in 1181: "Hos nostra germania catharos appellat."

The Cathars are also called Albigensians. This name originates from the end of the 12th century, and was used by the chronicler Geoffroy du Breuil of Vigeois in 1181. The name refers to the southern town of Albi (the ancient Albiga). The designation is hardly exact, for the centre was at Toulouse and in the neighbouring districts. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Geoffroy du Breuil of Vigeois was a 12th century French chronicler. ... Events Jayavarman VII assumes control of the Khmer kingdom. ... Location within France Albi is a city and commune in southern France. ... The Capitole, the 18th century city hall of Toulouse and best known landmark in the city; in the foreground is the Place du Capitole, a hub of urban life at the very center of the city Toulouse (pronounced in standard French, in local Toulouse accent) (Occitan: Tolosa, pronounced ) is a...

The Albigensians were strong in southern France, northern Italy, and the southwestern Holy Roman Empire. Albigensians are the inhabitants of Albi, France. ... This page is about the Germanic empire. ...

The term dualism is the state of being dual, or having a two fold division. ... Asceticismâ€™ is a word used to denote a simple life which is characterized by kindness, un-advertised good-deeds, inner peace, deep self-reflection, the pursuit of psychological, emotional, and physical well-being, spirituality, and the rejection of ownership of material objects above minimalist needs. ... The Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) was a brutal 20-year military campaign initiated by the Roman Catholic Church to eliminate the religion practiced by the Cathars of Languedoc, which the Roman Catholic hierarchy considered heretical. ... Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester, also Simon IV de Montfort (1160 â€“ June 25, 1218) was a French nobleman who took part in the Fourth Crusade (1202 - 1204) and was a prominent leader of the Albigensian Crusade. ... MontsÃ©gur is a commune of the AriÃ¨ge dÃ©partement in France. ...

Waldensians

Peter Waldo of Lyons was a wealthy merchant who gave up his wealth around 1175 and became a preacher. He founded the Waldensians which became a Christian sect believing that all religious practices should have scriptural basis. Peter Waldo was the founder of a radical ascetic Christian movement in 12th-century France. ... Lyons), see Lyons (disambiguation). ... Events Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (Rory OConner), last High King of Ireland, submits to Henry II as vassal of Ireland with the Treaty of Windsor Ly Cao Ton becomes ruler of Vietnam William of Tyre becomes archbishop of Tyre Massacre of Abergavenny ends with several noblemen dead at the hands... The Waldensians are a Christian sect believing in poverty and austerity, founded around 1173, promoting true poverty, public preaching and the literal interpretation of the scriptures. ...

Knights Templar

The Knights Templar were a Christian military order founded after the First Crusade to help protect Christian pilgrims from hostile Muslims. The order was deeply involved in banking, and in 1307 Philip the Fair (Philippe le Bel) had the entire order arrested in France and was dismantled on charges of heresy. They were secretly pardoned by Pope Clement V in 1314. The Seal of the Knights â€” the two riders have been interpreted as a sign of poverty or the duality of monk/soldier. ... A military order is a Christian order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i. ... The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to regain control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Land from Muslims. ... // Events July - The Knights Hospitaller begin their conquest of Rhodes. ... Philippe IV, recumbent statue on his tomb, Royal Necropolis, Saint Denis Basilica Philip IV (French: Philippe IV; 1268–November 29, 1314) was King of France from 1285 until his death. ... Clement V, nÃ© Bertrand de Goth (also occasionally spelled Gouth and Got) (1264 â€“ April 20, 1314), was pope from 1305 to his death. ... Events June 24 - Battle of Bannockburn. ...

Trade and commerce

In Northern Europe, the Hanseatic League was founded in the 12th century, with the foundation of the city of Lübeck in 1158–1159. Many northern cities of the Holy Roman Empire became hanseatic cities, including Amsterdam, Cologne, Bremen, Hannover and Berlin. Hanseatic cities outside the Holy Roman Empire were, for instance, Bruges and Danzig. In Bergen, Norway and Novgorod, Russia the league had factories and middlemen. In this period the Germans started colonising Eastern Europe beyond the Empire, into Prussia and Silesia. The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Kublai Khan or Khubilai Khan (1215 â€“ 1294), Mongol military leader, was Khan (1260-1294) of the Mongol Empire and founder and first Emperor (1279-1294) of the Chinese Yuan Dynasty. ... The Hanseatic League (German: die Hanse) was an alliance of trading cities that established and maintained a trade monopoly over most of Northern Europe and the Baltic for a time in the later Middle Ages and the Early Modern period (ie between the 13th and 17th century). ... Statistics State: Schleswig-Holstein District: Independent city Area: 214. ... Events January 11 - Vladislav II becomes King of Bohemia End of the formal reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, also the beginning of his cloistered rule, which will last to his death in 1192. ... Events Heiji Rebellion in Tunis is conquered by the Almohad caliphs. ... Amsterdam Location Country The Netherlands Province North Holland Population 739,295 (1 January 2005) Coordinates 4Â°54E - 52Â°22N Website www. ... Cologne skyline at night. ... Bremen lies in North Germany 50km South of the North Sea. ... Map of Germany showing Hanover Hanover (in German: Hannover [haˈnoːfɐ]), on the river Leine, is the capital of the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. ... Berlin? (pronounced: , German ) is the capital of Germany and its largest city, with 3,426,000 inhabitants (as of January 2005); down from 4. ... Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, Bruges has many waterways that run through the city. ... Motto: Nec temere, nec timide (Neither rashly nor timidly) Voivodship Pomeranian Municipal government Rada miasta GdaÅ„ska Mayor PaweÅ‚ Adamowicz Area 262 kmÂ² Population - city - urban - density 460 524 (2004) Ranked 6th 1 100 000 1761/kmÂ² Founded City rights 997 1263 Latitude Longitude 54Â°40N 18Â°60E... County Hordaland Landscape Midhordland Municipality NO-1201 Administrative centre Bergen Mayor (2004) Herman Friele (H) Official language form Neutral Area - Total - Land - Percentage Ranked 215 465 kmÂ² 445 kmÂ² 0. ... Velikiy Novgorod (ÐÐ¾ÌÐ²Ð³Ð¾Ñ€Ð¾Ð´) is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia, situated on the highway (and railway) connecting Moscow and St Petersburg. ... The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: PreuÃŸen or Preussen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: PrÅ«sai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of... Silesia (Polish ÅšlÄ…sk, German Schlesien, Czech Slezsko) is a historical region in central Europe. ...

In the late 13th century, a Venetian explorer named Marco Polo became one of the first Europeans to travel the Silk Road to China. Westerners became more aware of the Far East when Polo documented his travels in Il Milione. He was followed by numerous Christian missionnaries to the East, such as William of Rubruck, Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, Andrew of Longjumeau, Odoric of Podenone, Giovanni de Marignolli, Giovanni di Monte Corvino, and other travellers such as Niccolo Da Conti. Location within Italy Venice (Italian Venezia), the city of canals, is the capital of the region of Veneto and of the province of Venice, 45Â°26â€² N 12Â°19â€² E, population 271,663 (census estimate 2004-01-01). ... Marco Polo, after a painting in Badia, Rome Marco Polo (b. ... The Silk Road (Traditional Chinese: çµ²ç¶¢ä¹‹è·¯; Simplified Chinese: ä¸ç»¸ä¹‹è·¯; pinyin: sÄ« chÃ³u zhÄ« lÃ¹, Persian Ø±Ø§Ù‡ Ø§Ø¨Ø±ÛŒØ´Ù… RÃ¢h-e Abrisham) was an interconnected series of routes through Southern Asia traversed by caravan and ocean vessel, and connecting Changan (todays Xian), China, with Antioch, Syria, as well as other points. ... A page of The Travels of Marco Polo The Travels of Marco Polo is the usual English title of Marco Polos travel book, Il Millione (The Million). ... William of Rubruck (also William of Rubruk, Guillaume de Rubrouck, Willielmus de Rubruquis, born ca. ... Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, or John of Plano Carpini or Joannes de Plano (c. ... Andrew of Longjumeau (also Longumeau, Lonjumel, etc. ... Niccolò Da Conti (also Nicolò de Conti) (1395–1469) was a Venetian merchant and explorer, born in Chioggia, who traveled to India and Southeast Asia during the early 15th century. ...

Technology

During the 12th and 13th century in Europe there was a radical change in the rate of new inventions, innovations in the ways of managing traditional means of production, and economic growth. In less than a century there were more inventions developed and applied usefully than in the previous thousand years of human history all over the globe. The period saw major technological advances, including the adoption or invention of printing, gunpowder, the astrolabe, spectacles, a better clock, and greatly improved ships. The latter two advances made possible the dawn of the Age of Exploration. Detail of portrait of Hugh de Provence, 1352. ... During the 12th and 13th century in Europe there was a radical change in the rate of new inventions, innovations in the ways of managing traditional means of production, and economic growth. ... // Technology [from Gr. ... The folder of newspaper web offset printing press Printing is an industrial process for mass production of texts and images, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. ... Gunpowder is a substance which burns very rapidly and is used as a propellant in firearms, specifically either black powder or smokeless powder. ... For the ship of Dumont dUrville, see Astrolabe A 16th century astrolabe. ... Glasses, spectacles, or eyeglasses are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes, sometimes for purely aesthetic reasons but normally for vision correction or eye protection. ... A clock (from the Latin cloca, bell) is an instrument for measuring time. ... Italian ship-rigged vessel Amerigo Vespucci in New York Harbor, 1976. ... The so-called Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century, during which European ships were traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. ...

Alfred Crosby described some of this technological revolution in The Measure of Reality : Quantification in Western Europe, 1250-1600 and other major historians of technology have also noted it.

Pitstone Windmill, believed to be the oldest windmill in the British Isles A windmill is an engine powered by the energy of wind to mill grain, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... Yorkshire as a traditional county. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/kmÂ² Ethnicity... Events April 25 - Genpei War - Sea Battle of Dan-no-ura leads to Minamoto victory in Japan Templars settle in London and begin the building of New Temple Church End of the Heian Period and beginning of the Kamakura period in Japan. ... Piece of paper Paper is a thin, flat material produced by the compression of fibres. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... A spinning wheel is a device for making thread or yarn from fibrous material such as wool or cotton. ... World map showing location of Europe When considered a continent, Europe is the worlds second smallest continent in terms of area, with an area of 10,600,000 kmÂ² (4,140,625 square miles), making it larger than Australia only. ... In physics, magnetism is a phenomenon by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. ... This article is about the navigational instrument. ... Glasses, spectacles, or eyeglasses are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes, sometimes for purely aesthetic reasons but normally for vision correction or eye protection. ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... For the ship of Dumont dUrville, see Astrolabe A 16th century astrolabe. ... Drawing of Leonardo Pisano Leonardo of Pisa or Leonardo Pisano (c. ... Arabic numerals (also called Hindu numerals or Indian numerals ) are the most common set of symbols used to represent numbers. ... Liber Abaci (1202) is an historic book on arithmetic by Leonardo of Pisa, known later by his nickname Fibonacci. ... Events August 1 - Arthur of Brittany captured in Mirebeau, north of Poitiers Beginning of the Fourth Crusade. ... A rudder is a device used to steer a ship or other watercraft. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between...

Culture

Art

Art in the High Middle Ages includes these major periods or movements: Byzantine art was the high art of the Middle Ages and monumental Church mosaics were the crowing glory. ...

Other areas of study include regional surveys (Anglo-Saxon art and Jewish art for example) or areas of speciality such as Illuminated manuscripts. Romanesque St. ... The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral ( 1145). ... Notre-Dame Cathedral seen from the River Seine. ... The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sofia) in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) - the image of Christ on the walls of the upper southern gallery. ... Christian Art is a broad classification of art that spans across many different Christian religions. ... A map showing the general locations of the major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms The Anglo-Saxons were a group of Germanic tribes from Angeln, a peninsula in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, protruding into the Baltic Sea, and what is now Lower Saxony in Northern Germany, who achieved dominance in southern Britain from... An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript, often of a religious nature, in which the text is supplemented by the addition of colourful ornamentation, such as decorated initials, borders and the like. ...

Architecture

Gothic architecture superseded the Romanesque style by combining flying buttresses, gothic (or pointed) arches and ribbed vaults. It was influenced by the spiritual background of the time, being religious in essence: thin horizontal lines and grates made the building strive towards the sky. Architecture was made to appear light and weightless, as opposed to the dark and bulky forms of the previous Romanesque style. Saint Augustine of Hippo taught that light was an expression of God. Architectural techniques were adapted and developed to build churches that reflected this teaching. Colorful glass windows enhanced the spirit of lightness. As color was much rarer at medieval times than today, it can be assumed that these virtuoso works of art had an awe-inspiring impact on the common man from the street. High-rising intricate ribbed, and later fan vaultings demonstrated movement toward heaven. Veneration of God was also expressed by the relatively large size of these buildings. A gothic cathedral therefore not only invited the visitors to elevate themselves spiritually, it was also meant to demonstrate the greatness of God. The floor plan of a gothic cathedral corresponded to the rules of scholasticism: the plan was divided into sections and uniform subsections. These characteristics are exhibited by the most famous sacral building of the time: Notre Dame de Paris. Download high resolution version (1612x2288, 463 KB) Fan vaulting over the nave at Bath Abbey, Bath, England, dating from a major restoration of the roof in the 1860s. ... Download high resolution version (1612x2288, 463 KB) Fan vaulting over the nave at Bath Abbey, Bath, England, dating from a major restoration of the roof in the 1860s. ... Bath Abbey at sunset Bath Abbey is the last in a series of monastic churches built in Bath and is still in active use. ... Notre-Dame Cathedral seen from the River Seine. ... Romanesque St. ... GOBBLES! ... A typical arch An arch is a curved structure capable of spanning a space while supporting significant weight (e. ... In architecture, a vault is an arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy. ... Romanesque St. ... St. ... Highly decorative Window in a Japanese Onsen in Hakone A window is an opening in an otherwise solid, opaque surface through which light can pass. ... Fan vaulting over the nave at Bath Abbey, Bath, England. ... Floor plan (floorplan, floor-plan) in its original meaning is an architecture term, a diagram of a room, a building, or a level (floor) of a building as if seen from the above (i. ... Notre Dame de Paris, Western Facade. ...

Literature

A variety of cultures influenced the literature of the High Middle Ages, one of the strongest among them being Christianity. The connection to Christianity was greatest in Latin literature, which influenced the vernacular languages in the literary cycle of the Matter of Rome. Other literary cycles, or interrelated groups of stories, included the Matter of France (stories about Charlemagne and his court), the Acritic songs dealing with the chivalry of Byzantium's frontiersmen, and perhaps the best known cycle, the Matter of Britain, which featured tales about King Arthur, his court, and related stories from Brittany, Cornwall, Wales and Ireland. There was also a quantity of poetry and historical writings which were written during this period, such as Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Medieval literature is a broad subject, encompassing essentially all written works available in Europe and beyond during the Middle Ages (encompassing the one-thousand years from the fall of the Western Roman Empire ca. ... The literature of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire written in the Latin language. ... sheshoKKKK Categories: Sociolinguistics | Language varieties and styles ... Literary cycles are groups of stories grouped around common figures, based on mythical figures or loosely on historic ones. ... According to the mediæval poet Jean Bodel, the Matter of Rome was the literary cycle made up of Greek and Roman mythology, together with episodes from the history of classical antiquity, focusing on military heroes like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. ... The Matter of France is a body of mythology and legend that springs from the Old French medieval literature of the chansons de geste. ... Charlemagne is also the name of a column in The Economist on European affairs Charlemagne (c. ... The acritic songs, ακριτικά τραγούδια or frontiersmen songs, is the heroic or epic poetry that emerged out of 10th century Byzantium and was inspired by the almost continuous state of warfare with the Arabs in eastern Asia Minor. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centred at its capital in Constantinople. ... The Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the legends that concern the Celtic and legendary history of the British Isles, centering around King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. ... King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Great Britain, where he appears as the ideal of kingship in both war and peace. ... Traditional coat of arms This article is about the historical duchy and French province, as well as the cultural area of Brittany. ... Motto: Onan hag oll (Cornish: One and all) Englands Great Toe Geography Status Ceremonial and (smaller) Administrative county Traditional county Duchy of Cornwall Region South West England Area - Total - Admin. ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English(100%), Welsh(20. ... Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniæ (English: The History of the Kings of Britain) was written around 1136. ... Geoffrey of Monmouth was a clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history. ...

Southern France gave birth to Provençal literature, which is best known for troubadors who sang of courtly love. It included elements from Latin literature and Arab-influenced Spain and North Africa. Later its influence spread to several cultures in Western Europe, Portugal, the Minnesänger in Germany, Sicily and Northern Italy, later giving birth to the Italian Dolce Stil Nuovo of Petrarca and Dante, who wrote the most important poem of the time, the Divine Comedy. ProvenÃ§al literature is much more easily defined than the ProvenÃ§al language in which it is expressed. ... A troubador (or troubadour) was a composer and performer of songs in particular styles during the Middle Ages in Europe. ... Court of Love in Provence in the 14th Century (after a manuscript in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris). ... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Canary Islands, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Azores and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa, though they do not share a common culture with North Africa. ... Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, in Michelinos fresco. ...

Music

The surviving music of the High Middle Ages is primarily religious in nature, since music notation developed in religious institutions, and application of notation to secular music was a later development. Early in the period, Gregorian chant was the dominant form of church music; other forms, beginning with organum, and later including clausulae, conductus and the motet, developed using the chant as source material. A musician plays the vielle in a 14th century medieval manuscript. ... Music notation is a system of writing for music. ... Gregorian chant is also known as plainchant or plainsong, and is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied singing, which was developed in the Catholic church, mainly during the period 800-1000. ... This article is about a style of music. ... In Western musical theory a cadence (Latin cadentia, a falling) is a particular series of intervals (a caesura) or chords that ends a phrase, section, or piece of music. ... In medieval music, conductus is a type of liturgical vocal composition for one or more voices. ... In Western music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions. ...

During the eleventh century, Guido of Arezzo was one of the first to develop musical notation, which made it easier for singers to remember Gregorian chants. Listen to this article Â· (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-07-13, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

It was during the 12th and 13th centuries that Gregorian plainchant gave birth to polyphony, which appeared in the works of French Notre Dame School (Léonin and Perotin). Later it evolved into the ars nova (Philippe de Vitry, Guillaume de Machaut) and the musical genres of late Middle Ages. An important composer during the 12th century was the nun Hildegard of Bingen. The group of composers working at or near the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris from about 1170 to 1250, along with the music they produced, is referred to as the Notre Dame school, or the Notre Dame School of Polyphony. ... LÃ©onin (fl. ... Pérotin was a European composer, believed to be French, who lived around the end of the twelfth and beginning of the thirteenth century. ... The ars nova was a stylistic period in music of the Late Middle Ages, centered in France, which encompassed the period from the publication of the Roman de Fauvel (1310 and 1314) until the death of Machaut (1377). ... Philippe de Vitry (October 31, 1291 â€“ June 9, 1361) was a French composer, music theorist and poet. ... Guillaume de Machaut (around 1300 â€“ 1377), was a French poet and composer of the late Medieval era. ... In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave the world and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ... A medieval illumination showing Hildegard von Bingen and the monk Volmar Hildegard von Bingen or Hildegard of Bingen (September 16, 1098 â€“ September 17, 1179) was a German abbess, monastic leader, mystic, author, and composer of music. ...

The most significant secular movement was that of the troubadors, who arose in the south of France in the late 11th century. The troubadors were often itinerant, came from all classes of society, and wrote songs on a variety of topics, especially courtly love. Their style went on to influence the trouvères of northern France and the minnesingers of Germany. A troubador (or troubadour) was a composer and performer of songs in particular styles during the Middle Ages in Europe. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Court of Love in Provence in the 14th Century (after a manuscript in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris). ... TrouvÃ¨re is the Northern French (langue doÃ¯l) version of troubador (langue doc), and refers to poet-composers who were roughly contemporary with and influenced by the troubadors but who composed their works in the northern dialects of France. ... Minnesang was the tradition of lyric and song writing in Germany which flourished in the 12th century and continued into the 14th century. ...

Timeline

Events Cardinal Humbertus, a representative of Pope Leo IX, and Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, decree each others excommunication. ... The East-West Schism, known also as the Great Schism (though this latter term sometimes refers to the later Western Schism), was the event that divided Chalcedonian Christianity into Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. ... The Battle of Hastings was the decisive Norman victory in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. ... Events Byzantine Empire loses Battle of Manzikert to Turkish army under Alp Arslan. ... The Battle of Manzikert (Turkish Malazgirt SavaÅŸÄ±) occurred on August 26, 1071 between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuk Turkish forces led by Alp Arslan, resulting in the defeat of the Byzantine Empire and the capture of Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes. ... Events The county of Portugal is established for the second time. ... The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to regain control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Land from Muslims. ... Events May 10 - Scottish nobles recognize the authority of King Edward I of England. ... The Old City of Akko in the 19th or early 20th century, looking south-west from atop the Land Wall Promenade, the open space now a parking lot. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for themselves. ... Al-Malik Al-Ashraf Khalil (died 1293) was the Mamluk sultan of Egypt from 1290 until his assassination in December of 1293. ...

References

Categories: Middle Ages | Historical eras This article discusses the history of the continent of Europe. ... Paleolithic Upper Paleolithic: Europe was populated by species of Homo since c. ... Classical antiquity is a broad and perhaps misleading term for a long period of European, Middle East and North African history, that begins roughly with the earliest recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance *French Renaissance *German Renaissance *English Renaissance The Renaissance was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ... The early modern period is a term used by historians to refer to the period in Western Europe and its first colonies, that spans the time between the Middle Ages and the Industrial Revolution that has created modern society. ... This article is confusing for some readers, and needs to be edited for clarity. ...

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