中世纪的文艺复兴

The medieval renaissances were periods of cultural renewal across medieval Western Europe. These are effectively seen as occurring in three phases: the Carolingian Renaissance (8th and 9th centuries), Ottonian Renaissance (10th century) and the Renaissance of the 12th century.

The term was first used by medievalists in the 19th century, by analogy with the historiographical concept of the 15th and 16th century Italian Renaissance. This was notable since it marked a break with the dominant historiography of the time, which saw the Middle Ages as a Dark Age. The term has always been a subject of debate and criticism, particularly on how widespread such renewal movements were and on the validity of comparing them with the Renaissance of the Post-Medieval Early modern period.

History of the concept

The use of the term "renaissance" in medieval history emerged in the 19th century alongside the development of medieval studies. Jean-Jacques Ampère first employed it in the 1830s, referring to a Carolingian Renaissance and a 12th-century renaissance. In doing so, Ampère countered the prevailing view of the Middle Ages as a culturally regressive period, as notably advanced by Jules Michelet.……

Pre-Carolingian renaissances

As Pierre Riché points out, the expression "Carolingian Renaissance" does not imply that Western Europe was barbaric or obscurantist before the Carolingian era. The centuries following the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West did not see an abrupt disappearance of the ancient schools, from which emerged Martianus Capella, Cassiodorus and Boethius, essential icons of the Roman cultural heritage in the Middle Ages, thanks to which the disciplines of liberal arts were preserved.……

Medieval periods of renaissance

Renaissances before Charlemagne?

Even before Charlemagne, the growth of monastic and episcopal schools in the West—a process starting in the 6th century—led to periods of genuine dynamism in certain cultural centers. This gave rise to terms such as the "Isidorian renaissance" for Visigothic Spain or the "Northumbrian renaissance" (or more broadly Anglo-Saxon) during the era of Bede. The term could also apply to Italy or Gaul in the 8th century.……

Carolingian Renaissance (8th and 9th centuries)

The Carolingian Renaissance was a period of intellectual and cultural revival in the Carolingian Empire occurring from the late eighth century to the ninth century, as the first of three medieval renaissances. It occurred mostly during the reigns of the Carolingian rulers Charlemagne and Louis the Pious. It was supported by the scholars of the Carolingian court, notably Alcuin of York For moral betterment the Carolingian renaissance reached for models drawn from the example of the Christian Roman Empire of the 4th century.……

Ottonian Renaissance (10th and 11th centuries)

The Ottonian Renaissance was a limited renaissance of logic, science, economy and art in central and southern Europe that accompanied the reigns of the first three emperors of the Saxon Dynasty, all named Otto: Otto I (936–973), Otto II (973–983), and Otto III (983–1002), and which in large part depended upon their patronage. Pope Sylvester II and Abbo of Fleury were leading figures in this movement.……

12th-century Renaissance

The Renaissance of the 12th century was a period of many changes at the outset of the High Middle Ages. It included social, political and economic transformations, and an intellectual revitalization of Western Europe with strong philosophical and scientific roots. For some historians these changes paved the way to later achievements such as the literary and artistic movement of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century and the scientific developments of the 17th century.