Other important events that occurred during
medieval period were the crusades and the twelfth-century renaissance which
played the remarkable role in the history of this age. With the attack of
Viking produced a decline in historiography in Germany. But in the tenth century,
Otto the Great secured stability again. In the eleventh century, the leaven of
new thinking and a distinct emergence of historical consciousness could be
detected. Norman conquests in England and Sicily, the religious
reforms movements and the growth of papacy, all these events led medieval
history to the climax. Among them, the first general historical event which
excited the interest of al European nations was Crusades. These picturesque
events were responsible to lead narrow space to open space.Greek and Arabic
culture in the eleventh century had led to an intellectual and aesthetic
awakening in the twelfth century. This awakening inEurope is considered as
the twelfth century renaissance. The main features of the twelfth renaissance
were- increasing study of Roman law, the growth of trade and town life, the
development of Gothic Art and the emergence of vernacular literature. A wider
visions of things was milestone of twelfth century renaissance.
Sigibert of Gemblous, William of Malmesbury
, William of Newburg and Henry Huntingdon were some of the renowned historians
of twelfth century renaissance.Sigibert carried the newer form of medieval
historical writing to a height. He wrote a world history based on wide reading.
His first attempt to understand the history of Byzantium, secular history
was balance .William of Malmesbury and William of Newburg practiced a new
Norman English historiography. The former stressed the right use of authorities
and the latter focused on the justification of authority by reason. Henry
Huntingdon had a clear idea of the nature of history. He wrote history in the
prologue.
Christian historiography stressed on the
historical life of Christ as Collingwood calls a history divided into two
periods- a period of darkness and a period of light. This history was divided
into epochs. Christian historiography overcame the one-sided humanism of
Graeco-Roman historiography. The historians of this era believed that
historical process as the development of God’s purpose and they focused on the
no single community existed. Though medieval historiography had certain
features, it had some drawbacks.
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