Literature and the Middle Ages

Study Notes

Always consider a text's historical context.
Analyze the text's unique characteristics while examining its broader significance.
Consider how a text relates to its cultural context and its relevance to our present lives.

European society was dominated by the Catholic Church and hereditary aristocracy for approximately a thousand years.
The Middle Ages are often referred to as the "Dark Ages" due to societal stagnation and a lack of cultural advancement.

The medieval economy was primarily feudal, with large estates owned by aristocrats and worked by peasants.
Peasants typically remained on the same estate their entire lives.
Literacy and education levels were low during this period.
Trade was minimal, and most goods were made by local craftspeople.
Merchants were viewed with disdain, reflecting a societal mistrust of commerce and money.

1320: Dante Alighieri completed The Divine Comedy, transitioning literature toward a modern direction by being written in Italian (rather than Latin).
Around 1400: Painting and sculpture flourished in Florence, culminating in works by renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, marking a significant advancement in communication and knowledge dissemination.

Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas initiated a new era of exploration and colonization.

Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church, leading to the rise of Protestantism.

King Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church, establishing the Church of England.

Silver, gold, and sugar flowed into Europe in substantial quantities, destabilizing society.
This influx of wealth empowered the merchant class, elevating their prominence and influence.
The rise of the bourgeoisie shifted the balance of power in Europe.
Protestantism challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.
European society underwent a significant transformation, fueled by individualist confidence and cultural innovation.
European society began to embrace capitalism.

Native Americans had inhabited the Americas for tens of thousands of years.
The colonization of North America proceeded more slowly than that of the Caribbean and Latin America because the region was initially not perceived as profitable.
Sugar was the primary cash crop, and North American conditions were not conducive to its cultivation.
The colonization of North America was primarily driven by Protestant England, unlike the Spanish colonization of regions like California.