Literature, Art, and Architecture 600 CE to 1450

Borobudur was built in Indonesia in the ninth century. It is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world.

Religious iconography was a product of orthodox Christianity, not Islam. The beliefs of Islam prohibit representing the face of Allah or Mohammed, and as a result religious artwork could contain neither image.

Angkor Wat was built by the Khmer rulers of southeast Asia and was initially a place of Hindu worship, before being converted to a Buddhist temple. It was heavily inspired by Indian architectural designs. Borobudur was a massive temple built by the Srivijayan Empire of Indonesia and was also heavily influenced by Indian architectural style. These are both examples of the spread of Indian culture in southeast Asia during the classical and medieval periods.

The Canterbury Tales was written by the Englishman Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. It is considered to be of particular importance for encouraging the spread of vernacular English in English society.

Jonathan Swift was best known for A Modest Proposal and he lived a few centuries after the publication of The Canterbury Tales, so he would not be a good choice. John Locke was an English philosopher and did not write fiction, so he would also not be a good choice. William Shakespeare might seem to be a good choice, however he wrote many years after The Canterbury Tales, and English was a popular medium for literary works in his time. Lastly, Chaucer is very well known for The Canterbury Tales, and as such he is the best choice.

Europeans first began building stone castles in the twelfth century, as a result of their exposure to the Islamic stone castles they encountered during the Crusades. Prior to this, most castles in Europe were built of wood and were naturally much less effective. The introduction of stone castles contributed to the growth of the feudal system in Europe at this time, as castles allowed for lords to more effectively protect their lands.

Rumi is a notable Sufi poet who lived in the thirteenth century. Sufism is often called “the mystical branch of Islam.” It grew in popularity during the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate. Sufism, as distinct from other denominations of Islam, emphasizes spiritual union with Allah through a series of mystical ceremonies. Sufism has a long tradition of elegant poetry, and Rumi is the most famous poet in this tradition.

Gothic architecture emerged as the antithesis to the dark, heavy style of Romanesque building that preceded it. Gothic style was defined by more delicate stonework meant to incorporate height, air, and natural light. Buildings became taller and more ornate. Detailing became more delicate in an effort to venerate God, and create structures to venerate man's heavenly blessings.

Wu Chengen is most famous for authoring Journey to the West. Wu lived during the Ming dynasty, but his most famous work is based on the travels of Xuanzang in the 600s CE. Xuanzang travelled to the Indian subcontinent and returned to China with a treasure trove of Buddhist writings and artefacts.

The Japanese city of Heian was built during the classical period of Japanese history (The Nara and Heian periods). This was a time when Japanese culture was closely tied to Chinese culture. The Japanese city of Heian was modelled after the Chinese capital of Chang’an, with its notable grid layout.