Post by Master Claramae St. Laurence on Apr 14, 2009 20:48:34 GMT -6
The Gaelic Renaissace - Science, Part I
The Middle Ages, by way of sciences, are at once a booming enterprise or stagnant situation depending on the place of one in the world. Throughout the period up to the High Middle Ages great advancements were going on throughout India, North Africa, the Middle East, and places of advantage along the Mediterranean. Cultural exchanges in both trade and war fueled this. Most of Europe up until this point with the exception of Spain (Muslim Influence) and Italy (Muslim Influence/Interest in educations) lagged far behind with little access or fluid exchange of scientific works as written by the Greeks. Greco-Roman works had long since been preserved and translated in the Arabic speaking worlds, and with the ancient conquests of long ago, also enjoyed solidification in Indian libraries.
In the ancient world, Greek was the primary language of science. From the Greeks we have such things as philosophy, mathematics, scientific theories, medicinal theories that when studied the Arabs were greatly able to expand upon. Constantinople at this time stands as the most advanced civilization in the world. Due to the limited success of Latin translations of Greek during the Roman periods, as Latin progressed in the Western World, access to the bounty of knowlege diminished where in the Byzantine it flourished.
It is said that during the period of heavy Crusades, a member of the Knights Templar named Lochlan of Edinburgh was in service to the French Court, so made to the area with a French contingent deep into the Hellenistic remnants of the old empires. Fortunate enough to recieve a diverse education, he not only understood the Roman language but had no problem deciphering the occasional Greek used by the enemy to foil the interception of messages across enemy lines. Lochlan was engaged in heated defense of Jerusalem's outskirts legend says that he was taken hostage by an Arabic general. Forced into service translating demands, he was not treated cruelly. He was allowed to keep his religious tenants. What endeared him to his captors were a few of the like similiarities: abstaining from alcohol, multiple times of prayer, and abstaining from excess. Unlike some of the otherknights they had encountered, Lochlan took no use of whores or was forceful to those he met. He shared bread when in the city with both Jew and Muslim.
Lochlan was given access to the rare treasures of the Arab general's works which he carried with him to reference on matters of war and medicine. So impressed was he with these, he took great pains to learn Arabic in order to translate. Delighted to also find Greek texts, he made many secret things at first. Once discovered, it is said he was told, "Words are better than swords. Go, write it. That is something better to take back with you." He stayed on a length of time that is unclear. Some say it was five years in captivity, some argue he stayed five years before remaining in the area another five for a total of ten. At any rate he began his eventual journey back to Europe stopping through Constantinople and Damascus on the way. Staying in no place less than a year, he was able to solicit copies of works (though some argue he may have procured a few originals) for his collection. Using his ability to write, he procurred enough funds to charter voyage on a ship mainatined no less by the Knights themselves.
The ship arrived first in Italy, and then in Iberian Spain, before returning to France. By the time he arrived in France he'd emassed such a collection it is said it took no less than seven days to unload the ship of valuable cargo. Exaggerations not withstanding, the Templars added literature to their treasure stores. Legend further states that with enough money and vows of continued service in religious areas, Lochlan was able to embark to France to his home in Edinburgh Scotland. There, he founded a Templar society wherein he is famed to have shared his works with the most educated to be found.
This is but one story of how valuable works made their way to a side of the world that was far slower to see the value of advancement than the continent. By its cultural geography, Scotland was split between Gaelic speaking and Scotts speaking cultures. Being a native cousin to English, the Scotts people of the Lowlands were able to benefit faster from the fashions of Europe as they touched in England, language, and education faster than the Gaelic relations of the North or upper islands. Money was still a factor, however. Most education remained in monastic places. By the sixth and seven centuries, it is markd that in the Gaelic speaking world (Scotland and Ireland), Latin was a foreign language studied with great zeal. There were minds in place to handle the potential process of Greek study. One of the things Lochlan of Edinburgh is credited with however is giving the Templars a firm hold on the mainland. The importance of this was that while rooted in France, the fluidity of the Templars in motion allowed for a tunnel effect to happen. Lochlan estabished centers for the study of Hellenstic work, which required Greek as opposed to Latin. By the year 1020, there was evidence of such education occuring throughout the Lowlands, and at least one Highland center. Part of the problem of tracing the Lochlan tale is that none can find the years of his birth, adventures, nor death, but he is placed between the 1000-1100 era. These areas hold the credit for all matter of Greek mathematical, medicinal, and philosophical review. These centers, while important to those who could access them, did not effect the populace greatly on the whole. Norman conquests were far more important than foreign ideas, and the aftermath of civilization with it. Contrary to popular history, there is evidence and accounts that detail continued invasion of Norman persuasion (particular the Danes and Norwegians) well into the 1200's from time to time.
People of Celtic origin however were present to see the translation of works from the Greek into the Islamic,creating a flurry of commentary during the year 900 as is seen in the remnants of work by one Welshman and one Irishman's accounts, though history has lost their names we are able to denote their origins by the use of language found in the area of Brittany, an old Roman area of Celtic founding, and another account in Spain. By 1050, with the taking of Toledo and Sicily by Christian Kingdoms furthered the translation of works by the dominant relgious-cultural banks in the area: Christian, Jew, and Muslim. Celtic Christians were also present, some even going so far as to say Lochlan himself assisted in further gathering of work in his later years. (or middle, up for dispute). One particular translator of fame was a monk by the name of a Father Aodhan ni Riley named for the irish saint of the same. From Ireland in the region known as Munster, , Father Riley had an unparalleled and in earnest rare ability with literacy. Bare in mind that a great majority of Europe was, and is, illiterate. With the slow march of progress in Celtic countries, the abilities to read one's native language is rare, with foreign ones being a miracle. Speaking them was one thing if one was well in court (Norman-French, perhaps) but the liklihood of reading was slim. Imagine then such a slow country among others with the same predicament sending their brightest to aid in translation. Patrick was so taken with the availabilty of works in Arabic, that he mourned such knowledge was not common to Christianity where the root of thought was the Christian bible. Preservation of work was mild beyond the Mediterranean, and the attributing of ancient things to pagan ways detered to many church father's their validity. But where would have put any of his own copy's for storage?
The lack of Gaelic history as it pertains to the cultural pull of the continent is a falacy, it merely was not as liquid an asset as it is in our present time. The Celtic Church moved rather seperate in custom and idealogy of the Roman Church for some time. Roman histories of the Celtic people were preserved in England, Irish monastaries, and in certain areas where money allowed for their sealing in Scottish territories. The Welsh had by far more monastaries than any Gaelic group, and by far more literacy per capita. Despite her history of divisions and conquests, evidence suggest that the Welsh were able to not only develop their own traditions but preserve ancient works as will be scene in the treatise as it continues.
In the North at Powys, and along the seaside pronvicial of Carmarthenshire, religious communities have been found holding the works of Aristotle and Jewish philopshers Maimonides and Averroes. By no means on the forefront of turning Aristoles work into the scholastacism that was root of Christian philopshies, historians have found that the Welsh wrote their own commentaries on what nic Riley brought to their door. Of all the Celtic peoples, the Welsh hold the most thorough collection of written law and culture. Of all the Welsh centers of foreign study, the abbey of Neath found itself one. Established in 1131, they drew from their order's home in Citeaux, France a collection of European and Middle Eastern works. They devoted themselves to holding and opening for study to those who wished it collections on physics, astronomy, alchemy (the forefather of our chemistry studies), and scientific process, the root of any scientific study
England, the most nation with reason and access, joined in the founding of universities during these great periods of study. The best of course were found throughout Italy, Spain, and France so the English sent their brightest to study, bringing back what was found. The English people among all the Celts perfected the scientific process - question, hypothesis, research, and conclusion. In England we find a vast assortment of astronomical research done on the backs of Norse navigational charts! By no means attributed to brilliance, the most Northernly Europeans due to their sea style of warfare and conquest were among the first in Europe to accomplish circumnavigation, though evidence has since been lost. There are said to be pictoral references of the dragon ships encountering Chinese Junks off the foreign coast in a volume within Turas Lan. Remnants of Muslim made telescopes or spy-glasses have led historians to believe that the English would have spiraled the Islands forward in discovery were it not for the influence of the Church, and the native wish to dominate the surrounding islands. Around the time of the
War however was not merely a Gaelic sickness, but one that cross the throws of Europe. Similiar to the Renaissance of the Frankish Empire in the year 800, the first actual attempts at rebuilding Western Civilization after prior to the barbarian raids recycle of the 840's, the English as early as the end of the 980's sought to spread the knowledge and collect what was in the islands but failed to do so.This being nearly 100 yeas after the Frankish attempt and failure no less, where in actual schools were established to be under the will of churches and noble court sponsorship. Europe itself would be turned on its head and within this period still is not quite whole with herself.
The Middle Ages, by way of sciences, are at once a booming enterprise or stagnant situation depending on the place of one in the world. Throughout the period up to the High Middle Ages great advancements were going on throughout India, North Africa, the Middle East, and places of advantage along the Mediterranean. Cultural exchanges in both trade and war fueled this. Most of Europe up until this point with the exception of Spain (Muslim Influence) and Italy (Muslim Influence/Interest in educations) lagged far behind with little access or fluid exchange of scientific works as written by the Greeks. Greco-Roman works had long since been preserved and translated in the Arabic speaking worlds, and with the ancient conquests of long ago, also enjoyed solidification in Indian libraries.
In the ancient world, Greek was the primary language of science. From the Greeks we have such things as philosophy, mathematics, scientific theories, medicinal theories that when studied the Arabs were greatly able to expand upon. Constantinople at this time stands as the most advanced civilization in the world. Due to the limited success of Latin translations of Greek during the Roman periods, as Latin progressed in the Western World, access to the bounty of knowlege diminished where in the Byzantine it flourished.
It is said that during the period of heavy Crusades, a member of the Knights Templar named Lochlan of Edinburgh was in service to the French Court, so made to the area with a French contingent deep into the Hellenistic remnants of the old empires. Fortunate enough to recieve a diverse education, he not only understood the Roman language but had no problem deciphering the occasional Greek used by the enemy to foil the interception of messages across enemy lines. Lochlan was engaged in heated defense of Jerusalem's outskirts legend says that he was taken hostage by an Arabic general. Forced into service translating demands, he was not treated cruelly. He was allowed to keep his religious tenants. What endeared him to his captors were a few of the like similiarities: abstaining from alcohol, multiple times of prayer, and abstaining from excess. Unlike some of the otherknights they had encountered, Lochlan took no use of whores or was forceful to those he met. He shared bread when in the city with both Jew and Muslim.
Lochlan was given access to the rare treasures of the Arab general's works which he carried with him to reference on matters of war and medicine. So impressed was he with these, he took great pains to learn Arabic in order to translate. Delighted to also find Greek texts, he made many secret things at first. Once discovered, it is said he was told, "Words are better than swords. Go, write it. That is something better to take back with you." He stayed on a length of time that is unclear. Some say it was five years in captivity, some argue he stayed five years before remaining in the area another five for a total of ten. At any rate he began his eventual journey back to Europe stopping through Constantinople and Damascus on the way. Staying in no place less than a year, he was able to solicit copies of works (though some argue he may have procured a few originals) for his collection. Using his ability to write, he procurred enough funds to charter voyage on a ship mainatined no less by the Knights themselves.
The ship arrived first in Italy, and then in Iberian Spain, before returning to France. By the time he arrived in France he'd emassed such a collection it is said it took no less than seven days to unload the ship of valuable cargo. Exaggerations not withstanding, the Templars added literature to their treasure stores. Legend further states that with enough money and vows of continued service in religious areas, Lochlan was able to embark to France to his home in Edinburgh Scotland. There, he founded a Templar society wherein he is famed to have shared his works with the most educated to be found.
This is but one story of how valuable works made their way to a side of the world that was far slower to see the value of advancement than the continent. By its cultural geography, Scotland was split between Gaelic speaking and Scotts speaking cultures. Being a native cousin to English, the Scotts people of the Lowlands were able to benefit faster from the fashions of Europe as they touched in England, language, and education faster than the Gaelic relations of the North or upper islands. Money was still a factor, however. Most education remained in monastic places. By the sixth and seven centuries, it is markd that in the Gaelic speaking world (Scotland and Ireland), Latin was a foreign language studied with great zeal. There were minds in place to handle the potential process of Greek study. One of the things Lochlan of Edinburgh is credited with however is giving the Templars a firm hold on the mainland. The importance of this was that while rooted in France, the fluidity of the Templars in motion allowed for a tunnel effect to happen. Lochlan estabished centers for the study of Hellenstic work, which required Greek as opposed to Latin. By the year 1020, there was evidence of such education occuring throughout the Lowlands, and at least one Highland center. Part of the problem of tracing the Lochlan tale is that none can find the years of his birth, adventures, nor death, but he is placed between the 1000-1100 era. These areas hold the credit for all matter of Greek mathematical, medicinal, and philosophical review. These centers, while important to those who could access them, did not effect the populace greatly on the whole. Norman conquests were far more important than foreign ideas, and the aftermath of civilization with it. Contrary to popular history, there is evidence and accounts that detail continued invasion of Norman persuasion (particular the Danes and Norwegians) well into the 1200's from time to time.
People of Celtic origin however were present to see the translation of works from the Greek into the Islamic,creating a flurry of commentary during the year 900 as is seen in the remnants of work by one Welshman and one Irishman's accounts, though history has lost their names we are able to denote their origins by the use of language found in the area of Brittany, an old Roman area of Celtic founding, and another account in Spain. By 1050, with the taking of Toledo and Sicily by Christian Kingdoms furthered the translation of works by the dominant relgious-cultural banks in the area: Christian, Jew, and Muslim. Celtic Christians were also present, some even going so far as to say Lochlan himself assisted in further gathering of work in his later years. (or middle, up for dispute). One particular translator of fame was a monk by the name of a Father Aodhan ni Riley named for the irish saint of the same. From Ireland in the region known as Munster, , Father Riley had an unparalleled and in earnest rare ability with literacy. Bare in mind that a great majority of Europe was, and is, illiterate. With the slow march of progress in Celtic countries, the abilities to read one's native language is rare, with foreign ones being a miracle. Speaking them was one thing if one was well in court (Norman-French, perhaps) but the liklihood of reading was slim. Imagine then such a slow country among others with the same predicament sending their brightest to aid in translation. Patrick was so taken with the availabilty of works in Arabic, that he mourned such knowledge was not common to Christianity where the root of thought was the Christian bible. Preservation of work was mild beyond the Mediterranean, and the attributing of ancient things to pagan ways detered to many church father's their validity. But where would have put any of his own copy's for storage?
The lack of Gaelic history as it pertains to the cultural pull of the continent is a falacy, it merely was not as liquid an asset as it is in our present time. The Celtic Church moved rather seperate in custom and idealogy of the Roman Church for some time. Roman histories of the Celtic people were preserved in England, Irish monastaries, and in certain areas where money allowed for their sealing in Scottish territories. The Welsh had by far more monastaries than any Gaelic group, and by far more literacy per capita. Despite her history of divisions and conquests, evidence suggest that the Welsh were able to not only develop their own traditions but preserve ancient works as will be scene in the treatise as it continues.
In the North at Powys, and along the seaside pronvicial of Carmarthenshire, religious communities have been found holding the works of Aristotle and Jewish philopshers Maimonides and Averroes. By no means on the forefront of turning Aristoles work into the scholastacism that was root of Christian philopshies, historians have found that the Welsh wrote their own commentaries on what nic Riley brought to their door. Of all the Celtic peoples, the Welsh hold the most thorough collection of written law and culture. Of all the Welsh centers of foreign study, the abbey of Neath found itself one. Established in 1131, they drew from their order's home in Citeaux, France a collection of European and Middle Eastern works. They devoted themselves to holding and opening for study to those who wished it collections on physics, astronomy, alchemy (the forefather of our chemistry studies), and scientific process, the root of any scientific study
England, the most nation with reason and access, joined in the founding of universities during these great periods of study. The best of course were found throughout Italy, Spain, and France so the English sent their brightest to study, bringing back what was found. The English people among all the Celts perfected the scientific process - question, hypothesis, research, and conclusion. In England we find a vast assortment of astronomical research done on the backs of Norse navigational charts! By no means attributed to brilliance, the most Northernly Europeans due to their sea style of warfare and conquest were among the first in Europe to accomplish circumnavigation, though evidence has since been lost. There are said to be pictoral references of the dragon ships encountering Chinese Junks off the foreign coast in a volume within Turas Lan. Remnants of Muslim made telescopes or spy-glasses have led historians to believe that the English would have spiraled the Islands forward in discovery were it not for the influence of the Church, and the native wish to dominate the surrounding islands. Around the time of the
War however was not merely a Gaelic sickness, but one that cross the throws of Europe. Similiar to the Renaissance of the Frankish Empire in the year 800, the first actual attempts at rebuilding Western Civilization after prior to the barbarian raids recycle of the 840's, the English as early as the end of the 980's sought to spread the knowledge and collect what was in the islands but failed to do so.This being nearly 100 yeas after the Frankish attempt and failure no less, where in actual schools were established to be under the will of churches and noble court sponsorship. Europe itself would be turned on its head and within this period still is not quite whole with herself.
