Turnings before year 1435?

[Eric the Green]

I would argue that medieval art in Europe was magnificent. Just because it was not realistic in its portrayals of the human figure, or didn't follow the Renaissance invention of perspective, is no mark against it. For them, placing a picture according to a human viewpoint was less significant than portraying the glory of God and the dedicated devotion and compassion of saints. The architecture of the Romanesque and Gothic eras is unmatched in history. Stained glass and sculpture were tops by the 12-13th century. Much great art on smaller scales was being created in the 10th century renaissance. Prosperity was widespread in the medieval era that started at that time, and the scale and frenzy of construction was tremendous. Religious devotion was impressive and elevated the people. Although marred by cruelty, poverty and tyranny, and by narrow pre-scientific views, in many ways the Medieval civilization of circa 10th to 15th century was superior to that which succeeded it. Even the tyrants were less powerful in the feudal, religious medieval era than in the aristocratic Age of Kings that followed.

That said however, marking off saecula in this era is less accurate and harder to trace. That's because the scale and population of civilization, and the pace of changes to it, were too slow and too small. Even in the Renaissance and Baroque era the saeculum turned more slowly than it did from the 18th century onward. That's because the seaculum depends on generation gaps and children not following in their parents' footsteps. Napoleon called it "careers open to talent." By the 18th and 19th centuries people no longer did what their parents did as often as before, and they were more aware of their nation and not just of their town and their religious district. Class mobility increased. When change is too slow, when the number of people actually allowed to participate in political decisions is too small, a saeculum is harder to trace.

Unprofessional?





This art historian's portrayal of medieval art and civilization is well worth viewing:




In the ancient classical world, there was change and participation at least on the same scale as in the Renaissance/Baroque era. That's why the Romans invented the whole concept of the saeculum and gave it the name of a 100-year period. Now in our time, since the Age of Revolution, the people change faster and have more voice, and there are many more people who can participate. So, this "hurricane" of progress, as I call it, has speeded up to 82-84 years long.