The Twelfth-Century Renaissance

This is easily the most comprehensive, diverse, and interesting array of sources we have ever had on twelfth-century renaissance and reform. Useful and provocative, it will be a joy for teaching. -- John Van Engen, University of Notre Dame Theology and philosophy, law and order, literature and art, science and polemics are brought together in this comprehensive introduction to the wonderfully varied yet paradoxically harmonious world of the twelfth century. Insightfully selected and presented, the primary sources are a 'discordant harmony' of witnesses, texts, and personalities. In this reader, Novikoff has captured the genius of the intellectual culture of this dynamic period of medieval history. -- Alexander Andr e, University of Toronto

In his thoughtful introduction, Novikoff explores the term "twelfth-century renaissance" and whether or not it should be applied to a range of thinkers with differing outlooks and attitudes.

The twelfth century was a time of new ideas and creative innovation spurred on by patron-monarchs like King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, poets like Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes, lovers and intellectuals like Abelard and Heloise, and religious thinkers like Bernard of Clairvaux and Hildegard of Bingen.

In his thoughtful introduction, Novikoff explores the term "twelfth-century renaissance" and whether or not it should be applied to a range of thinkers with differing outlooks and attitudes. With reference to this ongoing historiographical debate, Novikoff embraces the harmony of disharmonies and allows the authors of the twelfth century to define the period for themselves. He situates classic works against a broad backdrop of other sources, many appearing in translation for the first time, in order to highlight the period's diverse currents of thought. Sixteen black-and-white images are included.