john apostle , marcion of sinope in italian illuminated manuscript, painting on vellum, 11th century
a variety of cultures influenced literature of high middle ages, 1 of strongest among them being christianity. connection christianity greatest in latin literature, influenced vernacular languages in literary cycle of matter of rome. other literary cycles, or interrelated groups of stories, included matter of france (stories charlemagne , court), acritic songs dealing chivalry of byzantium s frontiersmen, , perhaps best known cycle, matter of britain, featured tales king arthur, court, , related stories brittany, cornwall, wales , ireland. anonymous german poet tried bring germanic myths migration period level of french , british epics, producing nibelungenlied. there quantity of poetry , historical writings written during period, such historia regum britanniae geoffrey of monmouth.
despite political decline during late 12th , of 13th centuries, byzantine scholarly tradition remained particularly fruitful on time period. 1 of prominent philosophers of 11th century, michael psellos, reinvigorated neoplatonism on christian foundations , bolstered study of ancient philosophical texts, along contributing history, grammar, , rhetorics. pupil , successor @ head of philosophy @ university of constantinople ioannes italos continued platonic line in byzantine thought , criticized church holding opinions considered heretical, such doctrine of transmigration. 2 orthodox theologians important in dialogue between eastern , western churches nikephoros blemmydes , maximus planudes. byzantine historical tradition flourished works of brothers niketas , michael choniates in beginning of 13th century , george akropolites generation later. dating 12th century byzantine empire timarion, orthodox christian anticipation of divine comedy. around same time so-called byzantine novel rose in popularity synthesis of ancient pagan , contemporaneous christian themes.
at same time southern france gave birth occitan literature, best known troubadours sang of courtly love. included elements latin literature , arab-influenced spain , north africa. later influence spread several cultures in western europe, notably in portugal , minnesänger in germany. provençal literature reached sicily , northern italy laying foundation of sweet new style of dante , later petrarca. indeed, important poem of late middle ages, allegorical divine comedy, large degree product of both theology of thomas aquinas , largely secular occitan literature.
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