Dark Ages:
The times are dark... The Age of Antiquity, of heretical humanism, is long past, and Europe has experienced a thousand year period that has since been called the Age of Theocracy (The Middle Ages). Authority has been centered in the rule of the Church. Perceptions of absolute certainty prevail (based upon the appropriation of the Cosmic Order of Pyhtagoras, Ptolemy, and other pagans, including Arab scholars of the Middle Ages, and reliance upon black and white thinking is rampant). "Heretics" have been burned, the poor (as always) are considered inconsequential, and women have been radically dichotomized, objectified, demonized, and oppressed. But some things seem to be changing in the world, and these changes are causing great debates and upheavals, not only in the cities but also in the monasteries.
It is the dawn of the Renaissance: Rebirth; Logic; Curiosity; New Humanism; Fascination with science, nature, technology/"machines"; Growing recognition of the complexities of life. Western Civilization is witnessing the rise of cities, merchants, the middle class, and a new mercantile economic system. It is experiencing increased materialism, desire for profit, emphasis on gain, and cutthroat competition. Corporations and guilds are rising, and they are made of laymen working (writing) for the universities in the vulgar tongue. These new universities are competing with and even beginning to displace abbeys, monasteries, and monks. The Order is still powerful, but the "stink of the cities" is rising.
The location will be northern Italy, under the protection of the Holy Roman Empire and control of the emperor - Louis the Bavarian, but more importantly, the Pope - John XXII. The setting will be an abbey of the Franciscan Order. Based on the teachings of St Francis (1181-1226 - thanks Wikipedia), the order promotes values grounded in the actions of Christ, primarily the poverty of Christ, the ownership of property, and the licitness of curiousity, intellectual pride, laughter, and even speech. Obviously, this is not favored by the Pope, who currently lives in luxury in France. A radical faction of this order, the Minorites, have recently been branded heretical by the Pope, which in turn led to issues with the Holy Roman Emperor, who excommunicated Louis. Serious conflict looms as the Chruch and Temporal powers are at odds, with the Franciscans in the middle.
The unnamed abbey is built on a hill (as was common) above a relatively poor community several miles away. It is said the abbey possesses one of the finest libraries in all Christendom. The monks work tirelessly, copying and illuminating manuscripts, which are carefully protected by the head librarian, who keeps the books safe in a lbayrinth-like library in the uper reaches of the castle-like monastery.
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So I have a setting in mind, a story to tell, and several NPCs already. Again, people not interested in spending a good amount of time on the boards (this means you Zach) can opt to play NPCs.
Questions? Comments?
More actual facts and stuff will eventually make their way here.
Moderator: durden
By 1300 Europe had become overpopulated. England, which had around 1 million people in 1086, was estimated to have a population that ranges from 5 to 7 million. France in 1328 (which was geographically smaller than France is today) was believed to have between 18 to 20 million people, which it would not surpass again until the early modern period. The region of Tuscany had 2 million people in 1300, which it would not reach again until 1850. Overall, the population of Europe is believed to have reached a peak of 70 to 100 million. By comparison, the 27 member-states of the European Union in 2007 had a population of 495 million. This compares to grain yields that in the 14th century were between 2:1 and 7:1 (2:1 means for every seed planted, 2 are harvested). Modern grain yields are 30:1 or more, but the population is only 5-7 times higher.
By the 14th century the frontiers had ceased to expand and internal colonization was coming to an end, but population levels remained high. Then in the 14th century a number of calamities struck that devastated millions. Starting with the Great Famine in 1315, then the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death of 1348-1350, the population of Europe plummeted.
By the 14th century the frontiers had ceased to expand and internal colonization was coming to an end, but population levels remained high. Then in the 14th century a number of calamities struck that devastated millions. Starting with the Great Famine in 1315, then the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death of 1348-1350, the population of Europe plummeted.