The more elaborate, the higher the importance of the owner. These manuscripts also served as a status symbol. They also served to prepare the mind of the reader before they read the text. They would add illustrations to enhance its appearance as well as its value. But these writers did not merely write words. (NOTE: While they were widely used in Oriental societies, this topic will focus mainly on illuminated manuscripts in western civilization)ĭuring that time, the printing press did not exist yet and text had to be written by hand. These are the earliest form of books adorned with initials, borders and illustrations. They would create what came to be known as illuminated manuscripts. They did not want to see it die out like the Roman Empire and in order to ensure this will be learned by the succeeding generations, they put everything into writing. To insulate themselves from the disorder of the Dark Ages, they built monasteries and sequestered themselves here, focusing more on the spiritual.ĭespite focusing on a spiritual lifestyle, these religious saw the need to keep culture alive. As a result, may people were illiterate if not uneducated.ĭespite the seeming chaos around, what was left of the civilized culture of the Roman Empire was kept alive by the Christian Church who were then the only educated and literate folk during the time. They were so occupied consolidating their power that no attention was paid in developing the cultural aspect of the time. The Roman Empire was broken up into small kingdoms created by Germanic rulers who ruled them locally. The early part of it was known as the Dark Ages because of the economic and cultural stagnation that followed. The Middle Ages in Europe came after the fall of the Roman Empire.
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