The Creation of a Literate Society
Patricia Ranft
Slowly but surely the images of medieval period as dark and infertile are fading from historical generalizations. Thanks to scholarly work pursued for nearly a half century now, we know that eleventh was beginning an upward spiral would ultimately lead modern era. Invasions ceased. Travel, commerce, communication became easier second millennium proceeded. New technology affected daily lives people by making possible agrarian surplus, something rare in West during ninth tenth centuries. The new political ties were established after Carolingian improved extended, rise small units stability. With their new-found prosperity stability Western began expand beyond borders, renewing contact with old neighbors such Byzantines or establishing Muslims. exposed cultures, societies, customs. relative prosperity, peace, technological advances experienced allowed them establish urban centers, centers provided necessary nourishment nascent culture barely kept alive early Middle Ages. It within this setting intellectual activity among peoples developed its distinctive garb.1
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