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Historical The 12th-Century Renaissance by R.N. Swanson $76.50 / Manchester Univ. Press / 1999 Did the Rnaissance in Europe really extend as far back as the 12th century? Most of us think of the Renaissance in terms of the 15th and 16th centuries, but according to author R.N. Swanson, the period spanning from 1050 to 1250 was indeed a period of great expansion and enlightenment. Specifically, Swanson considers the system of education during this era, from monastic nd cathedral schools to other private institutions, and their corresponding changes in teaching styles. He also examines developments in law, government, and politics, as well as the development of kingships and royal authority. Swanson asserts that these educational changes fostered a massive tranformation in western intellectual life in the 12th century when Aristotle was rediscovered and the art of argumentation was developed. Swanson also claims that humanism made its first appearance in this era, documenting several areas in which an increase in "self-awareness" is evident, particularly in the works of various authors of the time. Swanson even looks to the role of women in the 12th century for signs of enlightenment, spending time considering such women as Heloise, Hildegard of Bingen, and Marie de France. In sum, Swanson identifies a number of areas in which key cultural developments occured in what is generally regarded as a time of stagnation. Do these add up to a Renaissance? Swanson equivocates in his conclusion about the use of the term, suggesting that there were actually more than one Renaissance during this period. Yet however you choose to apply the term, the book provides a solid picture of the era, and, indeed, a valuable introduction to the times. —Charles Rammelkamp

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