What was the 12th century Renaissance?

The 12th Century is seen by many as a time of renaissance because it was a period of renewed interest in education and newly founded universities, and a rediscovery of Greek literature, philosophy, and science. It was a time of revival of lively intellectual debate of theology and the import of new knowledge from Arabic sources. There were important cultural developments as well during this century, such as the change from Romanesque art to the Gothic style. Also, this renaissance impacted Christian beliefs and practices and saw the formation of the earliest Crusades. Charles Haskins, a philosopher who wrote about the High Middle Ages in his book The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century said “the twelfth century left its signature on higher education, on the scholastic philosophy, on European systems of law, on architecture and sculpture, on the liturgical drama on Latin and vernacular poetry…”.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_of_the_12th_century). Another author on the subject, R.N. Swanson, claims in his book The 12th-Century Renaissance that humanism first appeared at this time. Swanson also discusses enlightenment in terms of the contributions of strong women during the 12th century such as Heloise and Marie de France. The great leaders of this period were recognized due to popular opinion. St. Bernard of Clairvaux was seen as a leader in the Church because the people believed in his ideals. Henry II was a respected king because the people believed in his concepts of law and order. Peter Abelard was revered as a great mind because his students believed in his teachings. The 12th century was a renaissance because of a change in the way people were seeing things.






Kreis, Steven. "The 12th Century Renaissance." The History Guide. , 11 October 2006. Web. 26 Apr 2010. (http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture26b.html).



"Renaissance of the 12th Century." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 12 April 2010. Web. 26 Apr 2010. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_of_the_12th_century).



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