The Middle Ages

 The Middle Ages has always been a time period that has interested me. Through its immense influence on many pieces of literature from classic works, such as Shakespeare, to more modern pieces, such as The Game Of Thrones series, it is clear many find the years filled with Knights and Noblemen a hot topic. When watching both videos on “The Middle Ages: An Age Of Chivalry and Romance”  as well as “Knights and Nobles” I got a clear understanding on its history and why it has become a driving influence in many of our beloved works of literature. 

During the middle ages hierarchy was the staple of life. In the short clip, “The Middle Ages: An Age Of Chivalry and Romance”, the narrator explained how the basis of life depended on “...those who prayed, those who went to war, and those that worked in the fields…”. The mention of this brought me back to my AP World history class in high school. Something I always found interesting was how they depended on that so heavily to the point where their towns were set up on that theory.  From all my travels to Europe, I have noticed how most of the small villages are still set up like that. Compared to America, our towns are set up from the Industrial Revolution, focused more on where money was (cities and suburbs), whereas European towns and villages are set up around the church (wealth being in the middle, spiraling outward to the least wealthy, the laborers). 

  

Another aspect I found interesting was about the importance of architecture, gardens, and medicine during these times. I feel like many times we see a beautiful building or a well kept garden as something that comes secondary, during the middle ages they focused on how things of beauty made people feel. The mention of gardens being a “natural remedy” really resonated with me. In my course about writing for screenplays, we learned how writing in a place that comforts you is incredibly important to become a strong writer. In my room I love having lots of plants and flowers because it makes me feel good. This makes me wonder if their attention to detail and their love of gardens helped many of their writers be so successful, as those help me as well. 

Without the Middle Ages, our history, architecture, and writing would not be the same.