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Home/ Groups/ 3SQ102-2-WI11 - Christianity in Western Europe in the Middle Age
Alwen Bledsoe

Ladder of Ascent - 2 views

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    This icon depicts the spiritual path St. John of the Climax laid out in his book The Ladder of Divine Ascent (or Paradise) which outlines steps toward moving out of sin toward theosis. In the painting you can see monks struggling upward toward the Christ they seek union with, resisting sins and temptations all the way. It is painted on the wall of the Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Siani, where St. John of Climax was abbot in the 6th century. The spirituality of St. John of Climax continues to be important in Orthodox churches, and the fourth Sunday in Lent celebrates him (http://www.pravmir.com/article_166.html). Even young Orthodox bloggers appear to continue to find the book and icon meaningful as they practice their faith. As one blogger writes, "Saint John's Ladder expresses the Orthodox view that spiritual perfection, theosis, salvation is not something attained all at once, as by a leap, but comes after a long arduous process of spiritual striving or askesis. In this process, with sustained effort one rises gradually from lower to higher and higher levels of spiritual development." (http://orthodoxchristian.blogspot.com/2009/03/ladder-of-divine-ascent.html)
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    Fascinating icon. Thanks, Alwen.
Sarah Scherer

Renovatio, Restauratio, and Reforma! - 2 views

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    Renovatio, restauratio, and reforma are medieval concepts that have to do with the restoration of knowledge. They are associated with the Italian Renaissance era, in which philosophies of Humanism evolved. This historical period was a time of learning and these concepts embodied the theological and philosophical growth that was surmounting during this time. The gaining of knowledge came through the restoration and rediscovery of influential Greek and Roman works, and scholars used reason to answer questions and explore their faith. There is a link posted that shows artwork from this period, and one can see how Humanistic thought pervaded the minds of artists and influenced their work. The website is from the Allentown Art Museum (actually a lesson plan for a class), but I liked the historical descriptions and how the artwork is explained.
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    The lesson plan repeats the quite traditional (and largely erroneous) understanding of humanism as secular. Nevertheless, I do like their emphasis on learning about the Renaissance from the paintings themselves. They are such beautiful paintings: perhaps we should have as a class devoted more time to them.
RobinKSA Tems

The Great Schism of 1054 - 2 views

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    The Great Schism of 1054 The Great Schism of 1054 marks the separation of the Western an Eastern parts of the church and was a major rift in the church in the Middle Ages that still continues today. Pope Leo IX sent legates to Constantinople to seek the Eastern Church's recognition of the Roman Pope as head of the world-wide church. The Patriarch of the Eastern Church, Michael Cerularius, refused to recognize Rome and was excommunicated by the legates acting on behalf of the Pope. Interestingly, Poe Leo had died before they completed this mission. The Patriarch of the Eastern Church excommunicated the legates in return. Greek was banned in the Roman Church while Latin was banned in the Eastern Church. There followed the Massacre of the Latins in Constantinople in 1182 and the 4th Crusade in 1204 that attacked Constantinople.
RobinKSA Tems

Cathedral construction in the Middle Ages - 4 views

shared by RobinKSA Tems on 28 Feb 11 - No Cached
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    A Cathedral being built. The Gaudi designed Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, still under construction (for about the last 129 years or so). A fantastic new construction depicting bibical stories especially in statues and carving (St. Petter after the cock crowed thrice), the presence of the Holy Spirit (chreck out the window) and God's creation--natural shapes, waves froim the sea, tree branches, fruits, flowers, you name it.
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    Cathedrals Cathedrals were important in the Middle Ages as centers of learning and sources of economic well being. Learning was provided through the residence of the great intellectuals and theologians of the time, through cathedral schools for clergy, and through visual and tactile aids to convey the Christian message to the uneducxated massees. Cathedral construction was important in the Carolingian and 12th century Renaissances when the many new cathedrals were built. Cathedral construction often took an extended period spurring economic development by the creation of many jobs and the development of trade with distant lands to provide specialized materials such as marble. The cathedrals also acted as sites of pilgrimage generating further income for the city. The series of photograhs are intersting in that they show a modern`day cathedral under construction in Barcelona. Illustrations are provided of sculpture to convey the Biblical stories and of windows conveying the pressence of the Holy Spirit.
RobinKSA Tems

Islam ---Islamic Scholarship & Dark Ages_Page_01 - 1 views

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    Nice article on the interaction with Islamic science & medicine and the translation of ancient texts in the Middle ages. I will upload each page. If anybody would like a pdf version instead, pleas e-mail me
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    Islam Islam was a religion that originated in the region of Mecca and Medina in the Arabian Peninsula through the revelations of its principal prophet, Mohammed, who lived from about 560 to 632 CE. The revelations ar known to us in Islam's holy book, the Quran. Mohammed was a commercial trader who later became a prophet, political leader and military leader. Islam quickly grew and dominated North Africa and the Near East, taking Christian Holy city of Jerusalem. It was this "occupation" of Jerusalem that would provide the drive for the First Crusade in the High Middle Ages. As the Roman Empire disintegrated under the Germanic invasions, Europe had entered the "Dark Ages" where there was little development of intellectual knowledge. The Islamic nations became the leading developers of scientific and medical progress. The attached article describes the movement of this Islamic knowledge base into the European sphere with the development of the various periods of reformation. The article is presented as individual pages. Please see each entry on this subject.
RobinKSA Tems

Carolingian Empire and Aachen - 3 views

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    Carolingian Empire The Carolingian Empire was a Frankish Empire that dominated Europe in the Early Middle Ages. It was most noted for the King Charlemange (Charles the Great) who was crowned King by the Pope in the year 800. Charlemange's rule resulted in the Carolingian Renaissance when then was an increase in education in the Royal and church courts, and increase in cathedral building. The attached illustration is on Aachen cathedral that was first constructed during the Charlemange's rule. Aachen was the political center of the Carolingian Empire. The cathedral shows the central octagonal worship space built in Charlemagne's time along with the Gothic edition on the left, with typical large windows.
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    Carolingian Empire The Carolingian Empire was a Frankish Empire that dominated Europe in the Early Middle Ages. It was most noted for the King Charlemange (Charles the Great) who was crowned King by the Pope in the year 800. Charlemange's rule resulted in the Carolingian Renaissance when then was an increase in education in the Royal and church courts, and increase in cathedral building. The attached illustration is on Aachen cathedral that was first constructed during the Charlemange's rule. Aachen was the political center of the Carolingian Empire. The cathedral shows the central octagonal worship space built in Charlemagne's time along with the Gothic edition on the left, with typical large windows.
RobinKSA Tems

Buttresses at Notra Dame - 4 views

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    Butress As cathedral buildings increased in height and weight of the roof, walls were pushed outwards by the forces created. Flying buttresses counteracted this lateral movement by poviding an external force to the outside of the walls. The invention of flying buttresses allowed the construction of cathdrals with larger windows that were an important teaching tool in the Middle ages and especially in the 12th century renaisance period when cathedral building was popular accross Europe.
Alwen Bledsoe

ID: Theosis - 3 views

Theosis- Definition: a concept from Greek Orthodoxy that describes salvation as human participation with and even in the divine nature-it is an actual union and partaking in God and God's nature. ...

theosis St. John of Climax The Ladder Divine Ascent Orthodoxy

started by Alwen Bledsoe on 08 Mar 11 no follow-up yet
thegreatfulred

Michelangelo's David - 4 views

Michelangelo's David stands a near 17 foot tall in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence Italy. It represents a bridge between traditional Roman artwork, and the Historical significant biblical ...

Michelangelo's David Renaissance

started by thegreatfulred on 07 Mar 11 no follow-up yet
RobinKSA Tems

Aachen Cathedral - 3 views

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    Aachen was the political center of the Carolingian Empire during Charlemagne's reign. Aachen catheral is interesting because it shows the octagonal construction of the 8th century with the classical Gothic addition on the left hand side with full windows.
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