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The Middle Ages – not classical antiquity and not the Renaissance
In Great Britain ~450 (fall of Rome) – 1485 (Tudors)
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Middle English vs. Medieval Literature
In Britain, “medieval literature” is composed between ~ 500 AD and 1485 in Old English, Latin, Anglo-Norman French, Middle English, or any Celtic language Middle English literature is written in Middle English (about ) We’ll do a very few “not-Middle English” pieces.
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Western Europe: religion and language
Medieval Roman Catholicism with pockets of pagans that slowly succumb to Christianity with Muslims in Spain with Jews throughout Latin is language of diplomacy and all academic fields Classical Antiquity Mostly Paganism; Christianity emerges at end of Antiquity; Judaism persists as a small sect. Greek and Roman gods Monotheists rare in antiquity Latin is language of rule & conquest; Greek of literature & New Testament & trade
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Western Europe: religion and language
Medieval Roman Catholicism with pockets of pagans that slowly succumb to Christianity with Muslims in Spain with Jews throughout Latin is language of diplomacy and all academic fields Renaissance Protestant Reformation more than one way to be a Christian all other (witchcraft; Muslim, Jewish, other Christian) rites persecuted Latin slowly replaced by vernacular Greek gains status
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Western Europe: social organization
Classical Antiquity City states in conflict in early antiquity; Roman empire after 1st C Two social classes Powerful warrior ruling class; Slaves Tiny mercantile middle class Little Social Change Medieval Local rule, as in cities dukedoms tiny kingdoms Hierarchical social structure power of kings more ceremonial than actual nobility holds power Little mobility between places between social classes
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Western Europe: social organization
Renaissance Nation states formed from formerly independent locales divine right of kings empowers royals nobility loses power growing middle class of merchants, doctors, lawyers, clergy, etc. More mobility between places between social classes Medieval Local rule, as in cities dukedoms tiny kingdoms Hierarchical social structure power of kings more ceremonial than actual nobility holds power Little mobility between places between social classes
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Western Europe: literature
Medieval literary forms Germanic warrior epic poetry ballads, poems, songs romances--courtly love tales frame tales religious drama saints’ lives More literate than ancient world Classical Antiquity literary forms classical epic poetry lyrics and erotic love poetry philosophical dialogues and speculations myths Bible explanations of natural phenomena Almost no one reads
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Western Europe: literature
Renaissance New literary forms sonnet letter secular drama political, reformatory. theological tracts nonfiction prose novel fictional prose More literate than medieval world Medieval literary forms epic poetry ballads, poems, songs romances--courtly love tales frame tales religious drama saints’ lives More literate than ancient world
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