"Actually, there is nothing particularly ancient about either the peoples of Europe or their supposed right to political autonomy. The claims to sovereignty that Europe is seeing in Eastern and Central Europe today are a creation of the nineteenth century, an age that combined the romantic political philosophies of Rousseau and Hegel with 'scientific' history and Indo-European philology to produce ethnic nationalism. This pseudoscience has destroyed Europe twice and may do so yet again. Europe's peoples have always been far more fluid, complex, and dynamic than the imaginings of modern nationalists" (Geary 13). One problem with the idea of ethnic 'self-determination' that Geary's book highlights is that it is virtually impossible to draw the line where it ends. "Surely, if Lithuanians or Croats have their own language, their own music, and their own dress, then they have a right to their own parliament and their own army" (Geary 9). But then what about Chechnya in Russia? How far can states break down into endless factionalism? The right to national self-determination was one of the diplomatic weapons that the U.S. used against the Soviet Union, alleging that Soviet-controlled states had a right to be independent nations. However, after the dissolution of the Soviet empire, this nationalistic concept almost immediately generated problems, most notably in the former state of Yugoslavia, where Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians all fought for what territories...
This can be seen in the modern, European xenophobia regarding the influx of non-white immigrants to their borders. It is essential to understand that 19th century concepts of nationalism did not 'awaken' long-simmering ethnic identities, rather the ideas of the century created the concept. The real origins of European nations are in fragments of tribes that reconfigured themselves. Then, later generations told different, often competing myths of origin to justify the power of their nation over others. Even the United States has become to believe these myths and perhaps the U.S., a very young nation, is 'proof' of how easy it is to create and believe false myths of national birth, given how much talk there is in this nation of immigrants about what constitutes a 'real' American. But while Geary forcefully unpacks the myths of nation-building in early Europe, he also has little hope that knowing these myths will have much of a difference in ending bloodshed: "Failing even this, historians have a duty to speak out, even if they are certain to be ignored" (Geary 14).
Chaucer wrote a number of works that were directly influenced or inspired by Greek mythology. These include short poems like “Complaint of Mars” and “Complaint of Venus” as well as longer ones, like “Troilus and Cressida” and “Anelida and Arcite.” Even in his most famous work, The Canterbury Tales, there is a direct link to ancient Greece, with the Knight’s tale telling the story of Theseus, king of Athens in
Thus, stylistically, they may have owed a great deal to the Persian-style painting traditions in the lands from which the relics came. However, only vestiges remain today, making it difficult to ascertain this for a certainty (Derbes, 1995). S. Maria in Cosmedin's connection with the tradition of Marian veneration and with the entire substrate of Eastern/Islamic influence is easier to trace. The church began as a fourth-century loggia, was enclosed
The representations to be found in literature are echoed in the history of medieval times, akin to art imitating life in the most literal sense. Before the emergence of the major dissenters who gained much ground in medieval times, the papacy fought against anticlerical dissent from many other sources as well. Much of this centered on allegations of corruption within the Catholic clergy and the perceived decadence of certain leaders.
This he accomplished in part by donating lands and money for the foundations of abbeys such as Echternach. In the following decade Charles led the Frankish army against the eastern duchies. He dealt with the ongoing conflict with the Frisians and Saxons to his northeast with some success, but full conquest of the Saxons and their incorporation into the Frankish empire would wait for his grandson Charlemagne. Most importantly, instead of concentrating
Medieval Europe and the Evolution of the Church State How Constantine's Deception lead to a Holy Roman Empire And the virtual collapse of the Christian church The Decline of the Roman empire and the rise of tribal powers Constantine and his "conversion" o The Edict of Milan grants legal rights to Christians o The Council of Nicea The first church council conducted under the governmental oversight of the Roman empire. Diocletian reorganized the empire in attempts to rebuild
knight was "a mounted warrior in the service of his liege-lord." Knights were professional soldiers. They were higher in rank in the cavalry. They wore coat of arms that bore the names of their heritage. They carried the colors of their Lords. (Hopkins, 1990) Their job was protecting the lands that belonged to their Lords and by extension the domain of the king. The rise of knights was associated
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