Linguistic and Literary Developments in the Middle Ages

The linguistic landscape of the Middle Ages underwent significant changes, particularly after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. Latin, which had been the dominant language, evolved in different ways:

1. Written Latin remained relatively unchanged and resistant to modifications from foreign populations.
2. Spoken Latin, however, underwent modifications and developed into various vernacular languages.

Highlight: The evolution of spoken Latin gave rise to the Romance languages, also known as Neo-Latin languages.

The Lingue romanze or Romance languages that emerged from this process include Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Provençal, Catalan, and Ladin. This linguistic diversification played a crucial role in the development of medieval literature.

Example: The first document written in French dates back to 842 AD and is known as the Oaths of Strasbourg, a pact between sovereigns Charles the Bald and Louis the German.

For Italian literature, the earliest known document written in vernacular Italian is the Veronese Riddle, dating to the 8th or 9th century. This was followed by the Placito di Capua in 960 AD, which is considered the second document written in vernacular Italian.

Vocabulary: Vernacular - The native language or dialect of a specific country or region, as opposed to a literary, cultured, or foreign language.

Literary developments during this period saw the emergence of various genres:

1. Religious poetry
2. Prose works, including geographical texts and entertaining stories
3. Amorous and goliardic poetry, which often included humorous elements

These early literary works laid the foundation for the rich tradition of Letteratura medievale opere that would flourish in the following centuries.

Literary Genres and Movements in 13th Century Italy

The 13th century in Italy saw the development of four major literary genres, marking the Origini della letteratura italiana PDF:

1. Religious Literature: This genre was exemplified by the works of St. Francis of Assisi and Jacopone da Todi. Their writings often took the form of hymns of thanksgiving for God's creation.

2. The Sicilian School: This poetic movement flourished under the patronage of Frederick II's court in Sicily.

3. The Siculo-Tuscan Poets: These poets bridged the gap between the Sicilian School and the later Dolce Stil Novo.

4. The Dolce Stil Novo: This "sweet new style" was pioneered by poets such as Dante Alighieri, Guido Cavalcanti, and Guido Guinizzelli.

Definition: Dolce Stil Novo was a literary movement that emphasized the spiritual and intellectual side of love, often depicting the beloved as an angelic figure.

In the Dolce Stil Novo, the figure of the woman was exalted and often referred to as "donna angelo" (lady angel), whose role was to save man from sin. This idealization of women in poetry represented a significant development in medieval Italian literature.

Parallel to these developments, chivalric lyric poetry also gained popularity. This genre focused on the figure of the knight as the main protagonist.

Highlight: The ideal knight in chivalric poetry was expected to be loyal to his lord, merciful to his enemies, and never cowardly.

The chivalric genre drew inspiration from French literature, which had developed two main linguistic traditions:

1. Langue d'oc: Used in southern France, this was the language of Provençal lyric poetry, which placed great importance on the portrayal of women.

2. Langue d'oïl: Used in northern France, this language gave rise to the romances of the Arthurian cycle and the Carolingian cycle, inspired by the legends of King Arthur and Charlemagne respectively.

These various genres and movements collectively formed the rich tapestry of Letteratura medievale autori and laid the groundwork for the future development of Italian literature.

The Middle Ages and Its Periods

The Middle Ages, or Letteratura medievale italiana, is divided into two main periods: the Alto e Basso Medioevo schema. The Early Middle Ages (Alto Medioevo) lasted from 476 AD to 1000 AD, while the Late Middle Ages (Basso Medioevo) spanned from 1000 AD to 1492 AD. This period was viewed differently by various historical movements, with Enlightenment thinkers considering it a negative era of regression, while Romantics appreciated it for the emphasis on emotions and sentiments.

Definition: The Middle Ages, or Medieval period, refers to the historical era between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance or the Age of Discovery.

Medieval civilization sought to strike a balance between various aspects of life, including reason and faith (God), body and soul, heaven and earth, and work and God. This period saw significant political and social changes, including the end of the Western Roman Empire and the subsequent barbarian invasions.

Highlight: The Early Middle Ages witnessed the creation of the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne, who also developed the feudal system.

The feudal system was characterized by a closed society where land was controlled by feudal lords and passed down to their heirs. This system allowed for self-sufficiency within each feudal domain, with limited trade between different areas.

Vocabulary: Feudal system - A social and political structure where nobles held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles.

During this period, power was contested between the Pope (spiritual power) and the Emperor (temporal power), which together formed the universal power. The economic situation remained difficult until around the year 1000, after which a renaissance occurred.