The twelfth century was a period of revolutionary changes in religion, culture, social and intellectual life in Europe. Many historians have argues that the twelfth century was actually the beginning of the modern age. Humanism is believed to have originated from this period, while scholarship and philosophy were becoming increasingly popular. 'Of course, medieval society wasn't quiet the same as contemporary western culture; for one thing, it was profoundly religious and although church and state separate, the church itself was a government that was in some ways more powerful than the king'.1 During this period the worldview was dramatically...
they run contrary to social norms. Theirs is a story about "love, religion and philosophy". It reveals how the religious conflict of the day had huge effects on the ideas of sex and gender. It shows how a man whose new ideas of reason and logic were condemned and reveals the tensions that existed among intellectuals because of these new ideas and new learning. At finally this is a story that reveals the true love and passion of two individuals who were able to 'rise above the rest of their generation to pursue their ideals with drive and passion'29