The View From Sari's World

This week is finals week and today I am working on my history final. We have to come up with reasons why the Middle Ages were not really a time of doom and gloom. I wrote about this a while ago when I tried for a free lance writing job with Answer.com. Sadly they wanted someone with more experience but hey I tried right? So instead of deleting my short article I thought I would share it with my readers. I cannot use it for school purposes since I have to only use material found in our text. As a medieval scholar my final paper will be easy to write, but it would have been fantastic if I could have used this.

Why the Dark Age was not a time of doom and gloom.

Scholars agree the period from 476 AD to 1000 AD found life harsh but should not be termed The Dark Ages. Rather scholars call this period the Early Middle Ages. Many bright spots appeared even as society was in turmoil. The code of Chivalry, scientific, agricultural and artistic advancements all happened during this time.

The Code of Chivalry started in the court of Charlemagne 742-814. Charlemagne not only brought order to Western Europe he required his army to develop moral codes of conduct as well. Charlemagne wanted Europe and its people to live in a just and fair world. These rules included obedience to the king or local lord, taking care of the less fortunate by giving to the poor widows and orphans, living by honor and for glory, to refrain from “wanton” acts, to fight for the well fair of all, to keep faith and at all times speak the truth. This code of conduct was a far cry from the armies that came before as they were allowed to plunder and rape after invading an area.

In the Islamic world math was advancing with the invention of Algebra and the decimal positioning number still in use today The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing was written by Al-Khwārizmī (790-840) and the Arabic title of the book gave Europe the word “algebra”. It is far to say though the Early Middle Age Eastern world was advancing math, the Western world lagged behind.
The Scientific method, as systematic approach to theory and experimentation, developed during the Early Middle Ages. Scientific observation of the natural world took the place of classical theoretical thought of how things worked.
The beginning of a formal European educational system was started in the Early Middle Ages. The early European Universities taught the arts, law, medicine and theology. Scholars spent long hours copying Greek and Roman philosophy and classic works. It was during this time that many monasteries also started to appreciate what the classical period had to offer after decades of rejecting classical philosophy. If it were not for the scholars both secular and religious many of the classics from the Hellenistic period would be lost.

Along with Universities architect and the arts took on new schools of thought. Early Middle Age architects studied the classical period and looked beyond form as function. Beauty in form was desired over function as form. From this period on Cathedrals, Universities, Monasteries and stately castles and homes would themselves be works of art. The Early Middle age painters started to depict realistic scenes and people, paving the way for the Baroque style that would came in the later renaissance period.

Peasants may have had to work hard because of the primitive agricultural tools available to them but after the invention of the heavy plow land that had soil once too hard to break up could now be used. As more land was used for farming new growing techniques were developed. The three field system of farming was an early precursor to the system of crop rotation we use today. The three field system allowed for a field for winter crops, a field for summer crops and a third to lay fallow for a year.

With all of these advancements in science, math, agriculture and arts it is hardly fare to call the Early Middle Ages the Dark Ages. Though most of us would agree it would not be a good time to be sick, but that is a subject for a different article

I will be busy with my religious final for a few days, so if you do not hear from me you will know why. Meanwhile tell me what you are reading now, as I will have a month off from school and would like some good recommendations.

This week found me in want of news to share. I was busy doing a paper on American myths, which by the way I ended up getting an A+ on. We also had Thanksgiving and I did something I have not done in two years; I decorated the house for Christmas, including putting up outside lights. This may be the last year my son Alex is home so I thought I would go all out for him. I am glad I did for he is very pleased with my efforts.

Today as planned we headed to Reno’s Barnes and Nobel. As we pulled up I was dismayed to see the almost empty parking lot. We went in, and guess what? No vampire book was in sight! Instead we were met with tables of new releases, Christmas books (I was disappointed that no Hanukah books were displayed) and assorted stocking stuffing goodies. Alex and I parted as I headed for the bargain section. I looked around at the customers, though there were not many each had more than one book in hand. Good news for you book sellers! People were actually buying books.
I wanted a book about tea but did not find any so I asked one of the many clerks (I think there were more clerks than shoppers). She was very kind and helped me look and to my amazement found the exact book I wanted. Oh to be able to go into a store and find what I needed! Since I was not shopping for myself I did not look to see if they carried the complete King collection or if they had every Rushdie book. Instead I asked Alex if he found everything he was looking for. All but one he said, and yet he found others he thinks I will like. I did find the Twilight section; it was in the back near the YAs along with other vampire books. By the way their YA section looks really good, Borders does not have such section. All in all we had a nice time and we will return.

We visited the Whole Food store; was I ever in heaven! I have not been to a Whole Food store in years. I bought a lot of produce and joked that I wanted a Whole Foods gift card. Guess what, they have them! I have told my family this is what I want for Christmas, yes I know it may seem strange, but to me a gift card for Whole Foods would be a great treat.

It was in Whole Foods that I found the Buddha Finger fruit. It smells like a lemon sprinkled with sugar. The fruit was a little pricy but I bought it thinking it would take the place of several lemons. After some internet searching it turns out the fruit does not have much flavor or meat. It seems it is all skin. The fruit originates in China and was used as part of a bath cleansing ritual. It can be candied so this week I will attempt to make candied Buddha finger. That or I will make citric zest out of it.

This month I finished 10 books, which is a record for me. Between school and work I have not been able to sit down and read for long periods of time for quite a while. Maybe the colder weather has something to do with this.
Here are my reads for the month:

The Real Middle Earth Brian Bates
Entering Torah Reuven Hammer
Between a Bridge and a River Craig Ferguson
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight unknown
The Jesus Papers Michael Baigent
Deliverance Dane Katherine How
Medieval Tales Translated by Jennifer Westwood
A short History of Myth Karen Armstrong
Great Feuds in Science Hal Hellman

Not sure what December will bring but starting in January I am challenging myself to read the many medieval history books I have on my TBR pile. What are your reading plans for 2010?