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May 31, 2022 · Looking back on the Middle Ages, who are the most important people of this era? Here is a list of men and women that were influential in medieval times and who forged an enduring legacy. They include leaders, scholars, writers and warriors.
- Lorenzo de’ Medici. Lorenzo de’ Medici (1449-1492) was a member of the Medici family, one of the wealthiest European families in history and the de facto rulers of Florence.
- Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was the very ideal of the Renaissance man – a supremely gifted painter, scientist, inventor and polymath.
- Michelangelo. Michelangelo (1475–1564) was a sculptor, painter, architect, poet and engineer whose endeavours embodied the spirit of the Renaissance. His greatest works include St Peter’s Basilica – the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture – his frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the statue of David.
- Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicholaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a mathematician, astronomer, physician, economist, diplomat and classics scholar. His most important teaching – that the earth revolved around the sun – placed him in direct opposition to the established teachings of the church.
- Charlemagne. As the King of the Franks and later the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne exerted unparalleled influence. His military conquests, administrative reforms, and promotion of education and culture played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of medieval Europe.
- William the Conqueror. William, Duke of Normandy, earned his place in history by successfully invading England in 1066. As William the Conqueror, he introduced Norman rule, establishing a centralized monarchy and profoundly influencing the political and cultural landscape of England.
- Thomas Aquinas. A towering figure in medieval philosophy and theology, Thomas Aquinas integrated Aristotelian thought with Christian doctrine. His synthesis, known as Thomism, had a profound and lasting impact on Western intellectual and religious traditions.
- Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc, the young French heroine, played a pivotal role in the Hundred Years’ War. Her unwavering faith, military leadership, and iconic status as the Maid of Orleans inspired the French troops and shifted the tide of the war, leaving an enduring legacy.
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Apr 22, 2010 · The Middle Ages: Birth of an Idea. The phrase “Middle Ages” tells us more about the Renaissance that followed it than it does about the era itself. Starting around the 14th century, European...
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Nov 4, 2020 · Renaissance Humanism was an intellectual movement typified by a revived interest in the classical world and studies which focussed not on religion but on what it is to be human. Its origins went back to 14th-century Italy and such authors as Petrarch (1304-1374) who searched out 'lost' ancient manuscripts.
- Mark Cartwright
Nov 8, 2021 · A late 14th-century tapestry depicting King Arthur, who, according to legend, led a pro-British force against the Saxons, winning a great victory at Badon Hill in the late fifth or early sixth century. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)
Apr 28, 2022 · April 28, 2022. • 20 min read. Knights are among the most iconic characters from the Middle Ages. Their origins harken back to the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe whose last emperor,...