Was There History in the Middle Ages? Emily A. Winkler

Summary

In this thought-provoking lecture, the speaker explores the unique ways in which medieval writers understood and recorded history, contrasting it with modern conceptions of historiography. Highlighting three key differences—medieval education’s focus on patterns rather than content, the blending of prophecy with historical events, and the blurred lines between fact and fiction—the speaker draws connections between medieval and contemporary motivations for recording history. The lecture challenges us to reconsider the nature of historical truth and the timeless desire to preserve the past, offering insights into how the past, present, and future intersect in the writing of history.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker draws a parallel between the discovery of exoplanets and their lifelong interest in Star Trek, highlighting a quest for exploration, whether in space or history.
• 😀 The Middle Ages (500-1500 AD) are closer to us temporally than prehistory, making medieval people easier to understand than ancient ancestors like Australopithecus.
• 😀 Medieval writers did not always consider their work as 'history' in the modern sense; they often used historical events as tools for intellectual or moral reflection.
• 😀 Medieval education focused on learning how to think (e.g., grammar, logic, astronomy) rather than simply memorizing content about the past.
• 😀 Prophecies and present-day concerns were often mixed with historical narratives, showing that history was not only about the past but also about understanding the present and future.
• 😀 Some medieval writers, like William of Malmesbury, recorded history with a blend of fact and prophecy, believing that the past's significance was tied to spiritual or moral lessons for the present.
• 😀 A historian in the Middle Ages could only write history about events they had personally witnessed, leading to a focus on the present rather than distant past events.
• 😀 Medieval history often blurred the lines between truth and fiction; writers used imaginative or rhetorical devices (e.g., fictional speeches) to convey deeper truths or to stir the audience’s emotions.
• 😀 Despite these differences, medieval historical writing shared similarities with modern historiography, especially the desire for objectivity, perspective, and a fear of historical oblivion.
• 😀 The medieval desire to record history was motivated by the fear that future generations would forget the past, and much of this writing was done by monks and scholars with a deep sense of duty.
• 😀 The distinction between truth and fiction in the Middle Ages was less rigid than today; historical writings often conveyed moral or spiritual truths rather than strict factual accuracy.
• 😀 The speaker suggests that our understanding of history might evolve in the future, just as new discoveries (like exoplanets) reshape how we view our place in the universe.

Q & A

What inspired the speaker to explore the study of the Middle Ages?

The speaker's lifelong fascination with *Star Trek* and the captain's call to 'seek out new life and new civilizations' inspired them to explore the Middle Ages. They were drawn to the idea of exploring new territories and seeking understanding, which connected to their academic interest in studying the past.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between medieval people and modern humans?

The speaker explains that medieval people are easier to understand than ancient ancestors like Australopithecus because they left written records and used languages still known to us. However, there is also a sense of distance and mystery, as medieval societies were drastically different in terms of beliefs, technologies, and daily life.

What is the primary question the speaker is asking about medieval history?

The primary question is whether medieval writers considered what they were writing to be 'history' in the same way we do today. The speaker explores how medieval writers viewed history differently, emphasizing the gaps and differences in understanding.

What are the three key problems the speaker identifies when studying history in the Middle Ages?

The three problems are: (1) History wasn’t something you could study at universities, as education was more about learning methods to think, not about historical content. (2) History wasn’t just about the past; it often included prophecies about the future. (3) Writing history in the Middle Ages often involved recording what had been personally witnessed, limiting what could be considered history.

How does the concept of education in the Middle Ages differ from today?

In the Middle Ages, education focused on learning methods like grammar, logic, and rhetoric to help students think critically rather than study specific content like historical events. It was more about understanding patterns and arriving at truth through different ways of thinking, rather than memorizing facts.

What role did prophecy play in medieval history writing?

Prophecy was a common feature in medieval history writing. Writers would often include prophecies as part of their historical accounts, such as King Edward the Confessor’s predictions of the Norman Conquest, which were treated as legitimate historical events, even though they were based on foresight rather than fact.

How did medieval writers view history in terms of personal experience?

Medieval writers often believed that true history could only be written about events that they had personally witnessed. If they were writing about events further in the past, they used the testimony of others, but this was not considered 'history' in the strictest sense. The focus was on how past events could inform the present.

How did the fear of oblivion influence medieval historians?

Medieval historians, particularly monks, were motivated by a deep fear of forgetting the past. Writing history was seen as a 'rescue mission' to preserve knowledge and events for future generations. This fear of oblivion was central to their work, knowing that written records were scarce and the past could easily be lost.

What is the relationship between truth and fiction in medieval history writing?

The distinction between truth and fiction in medieval history was not as rigid as it is today. Writers often included fictional elements, such as invented speeches or events, if they felt these captured the emotional or moral truth of the time. For example, Henry of Huntington invented a speech for William the Conqueror that likely didn’t happen but conveyed the spirit of the battle.

How does the speaker connect modern historical writing with medieval approaches?

The speaker connects modern historical writing with medieval approaches through the shared desire for objectivity, curiosity, and the preservation of history. Both medieval and modern historians seek a form of truth, whether through emotional truth (in fictionalized accounts) or through objective distance and perspective in writing.