Architecture

One of the easiest ways to track the changing needs and temperaments of a time period is through the architecture. The middles ages are broken into several art periods. The early period is characterized by Byzantine and Islamic in the East, and a synthesis of late antiquity with northern traditions or the so-called barbarian invaders. With the rise of the church's influence, cathedrals and monasteries develop a style called Romanesque. These focus primarily in the 11th and 12th centuries and  the term itself is a fairly recent innovation. Previously these buildings and sculptures were considered an early phase of Gothic, but are now regarded as a separate school of architecture. The late middle ages saw the rise of Gothic art, beginning first in France in the late 12th century then spreading out with distinctive regional differences to the basic style.

The other major form of architecture during the middle ages took the form of castles and manor houses. After the fall of Rome most of Europe went through a violent age of power struggles. Many retreated behind high walls and thick fortifications. As kingdoms were created and things became more peaceful, villages became cities and castles became palaces. 

Check the links for some sites that list famous castles and cathedrals.

What are the middle ages?

It has become accepted in the academic world that the middle ages fall roughly between the years 476 CE and 1500 CE, beginning with the fall of Rome. The end date has been subjected to more controversy and generally depends upon ones area of study, or sometimes nationality, as to what event is used as the signal for the modern era. The term middle ages was an invention of of the Italian Renaissance when historians, like Leonardo Bruni in his 1442 History of the Florentine People, began dividing history into three eras rather than two. These became the Ancient, Middle, and Modern. 

The middle ages has sometimes been called the age of ages, for it incorporates so many different culturally significant time periods that it cannot be defined by one overall theme. The decline of the Roman Empire left a power vacuum that allowed the rise of the Catholic Church in the west, and smaller empires in the east. Because the study of history is the study of insert topic here, historians often limit their focus. The main events when discussing the middle ages in Europe center around wars of politics and wars of religion, and sometimes it is difficult to separate the two. 

My focus will primarily center in southern France, but will include any topic which would effect the people there. There will be posts on wars, religion, politics, art, and discourse on the variety of cultural differences that influenced daily life.

For more general information The History Guide is a great place to find lectures on every period in history.

What this blog is for...

I am creating this as an educational aside. It is in part to help with my research will I write my novel, and part to share my love of history. I will be focusing on the 12th and 13th centuries in my writing, but that does not mean I will limit this site to those couple hundred years. Geographically I will be emphasizing southern France, but like many of you may know or will learn, medieval Europe was much more internationally involved than the Victorian ideal of the peasant farmer who never traveled farther than 10 miles from his place of birth and knew little of the world outside his village.

My first several posts will deal with the general history and set the stage for further discussions. Topics will range from Kings and Popes, to the crusades and chivalry. I would love feedback, questions and comments. Enjoy!