After the global revolution and prior to the great destruction much of the internet was preserved by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Sounds and visions from planet Earth were cherished on long excursions aboard Laurasia. Especially as a sleep aid, but also for entertainment. This - is Timbaland.
Museum
Selections of art taken from Chris Lehrer's Lyceum under the heading: Window to the Past.
Listen to Soma FM streaming radio, a favorite of the space station Laurasia since the global revolution. You may or may not have to download the free Winamp or Real audio player.
From chaos rises new order, born of wisdom and will. - Italian scholar, c. 1400 CE (adapted from early Renaissance texts)
From 1200 to 1500 CE, the late medieval world underwent profound transformations driven by conquest, plague, and cultural rebirth. The Mongol Empire, under Genghis Khan and successors, unified Eurasia, boosting Silk Road trade. In Europe, the early Renaissance sparked intellectual and artistic revival, with figures like Dante and Giotto. The Black Death (1347–1351 CE) killed approximately 30–50% of Europe’s population, reshaping society and economies. Maritime exploration, led by figures like Zheng He and Prince Henry, connected continents, while feudalism waned, giving way to centralized states. Iron technology and innovations, like the printing press (1440 CE), drove progress. Archaeological finds, such as Mongol kurgans and Florence’s cathedrals, reveal dynamic societies. Religious shifts—Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism—fueled both unity and conflict, with Crusades and jihad shaping interactions. This era’s upheavals and innovations bridged medieval and modern worlds, forging a globalized future.
A Turning Point
Conquest, plague, and rebirth reshaped societies, connecting continents.
Pillars of the Era
Mongol Empire’s unification (c. 1206 CE).
Early Renaissance in Europe (c. 1300 CE).
Black Death’s impact (c. 1347–1351 CE).
Maritime exploration (Zheng He, Henry).
Printing press invention (c. 1440 CE).
Decline of feudalism and rise of states.
Global Rebirth
This period’s crises and innovations laid foundations for modernity.
The Mongol Empire (1206–1368 CE), founded by Genghis Khan, unified much of Eurasia, stretching from China to Eastern Europe. By about 1250 CE, under successors like Kublai Khan, it spanned ~24 million km², as recorded in Secret History of the Mongols. Iron weapons and composite bows enabled conquests, like the sack of Baghdad (1258 CE). The Pax Mongolica secured Silk Road trade, with silk and spices reaching Venice, as seen in Karakorum’s markets. Religious tolerance, including shamanism, Buddhism, and Islam, fostered stability, evident in Yuan dynasty temples. Archaeological finds, like steppe kurgans with horse burials, show nomadic wealth. The empire’s postal system, with about 1,400 stations, connected East and West. Fragmentation after about 1300 CE weakened control, but Mongol trade and cultural exchange spread technologies like gunpowder to Europe. Their legacy reshaped Eurasia, influencing empires and global connectivity.
Pax Mongolica
Mongol conquests unified trade and cultures across continents.
Mongol Achievements
Genghis Khan’s empire (c. 1206 CE).
Sack of Baghdad (c. 1258 CE).
Pax Mongolica and Silk Road trade.
Religious tolerance (Buddhism, Islam).
Postal system with about 1,400 stations.
Spread of gunpowder technology.
Archaeological Evidence
Karakorum and kurgans reveal Mongol wealth and mobility.
Global Impact
Mongol trade reshaped Eurasian connectivity and technology.
The early Renaissance (1300–1500 CE) began in Italy, reviving classical learning and art. Dante’s Divine Comedy (1320 CE) and Petrarch’s humanism inspired scholarship, drawing on Greek texts from Byzantium. Artists like Giotto (1267–1337 CE) pioneered naturalistic painting, as seen in Florence’s frescoes. The printing press, invented by Gutenberg (1440 CE), spread knowledge, with 20 million books printed by 1500. Iron tools boosted agriculture, supporting about 70 million, per Domesday estimates. Trade with the Levant brought silk and spices, evident in Venice’s Rialto. Christianity drove cultural unity, with cathedrals like Florence’s Duomo (1436 CE) showcasing Gothic innovation. Archaeological finds, like Siena’s manuscripts, reveal intellectual vibrancy. The Renaissance challenged feudal hierarchies, fostering urban growth and centralized states. Its art and ideas laid foundations for the modern era, influencing global culture despite religious tensions.
Cultural Rebirth
Humanism and art revived classical ideals, reshaping Europe.
Renaissance Milestones
Dante’s Divine Comedy (c. 1320 CE).
Giotto’s naturalistic art (c. 1300 CE).
Gutenberg’s printing press (c. 1440 CE).
Trade with the Levant.
Florence’s Duomo (c. 1436 CE).
Rise of humanism and urban centers.
Archaeological Insights
Florence’s frescoes and Siena’s manuscripts show Renaissance vibrancy.
Lasting Impact
Renaissance ideas shaped modern art and thought.
The Black Death (1347–1351 CE), a bubonic plague, killed approximately 30–50% of Europe’s population (25–50 million), as recorded by Boccaccio in Decameron. Spread via trade routes, it devastated cities like Florence, with mass graves found archaeologically. Labor shortages empowered serfs, weakening feudalism, as seen in England’s Peasants’ Revolt (c. 1381 CE). Iron plows sustained agriculture, but food prices soared, per manorial records. Trade with Asia continued, with silk and spices reaching Genoa. Christianity framed the plague as divine punishment, spurring penitential movements like the Flagellants. Archaeological evidence, like London’s plague pits, shows societal disruption. The plague reshaped economies, with wages rising about 40%, per English data. It accelerated centralized states and urban growth, setting the stage for Renaissance expansion. The Black Death’s devastation spurred resilience, influencing social and economic structures across Europe and beyond.
Plague’s Disruption
The Black Death reshaped society, weakening feudalism and spurring change.
Black Death Impacts
Plague deaths (c. 1347–1351 CE).
Labor shortages and serf empowerment.
Peasants’ Revolt (c. 1381 CE).
Continued Asian trade.
Flagellant movements.
Rise of centralized states.
Archaeological Evidence
London’s plague pits and Florence’s graves reveal devastation.
Social Legacy
The plague transformed medieval economies and societies.
Maritime exploration surged from 1200–1500 CE, connecting continents. China’s Zheng He led voyages (1405–1433 CE) to Africa, with fleets of 300 ships, as recorded in Ming annals. Portugal’s Prince Henry (1415 CE) pioneered Atlantic navigation, reaching West Africa, as seen in Lisbon’s charts. Iron ship fittings and compasses enabled long voyages, with Chinese junks carrying silk, per Malacca’s finds. Trade linked Europe, Asia, and Africa, with spices and gold flowing through Venice and Cairo. Islam and Christianity spread via trade, with mosques and churches in port cities. Archaeological evidence, like Kilwa’s coral mosques, shows African trade wealth. Exploration laid foundations for the Age of Sail, with Portugal and China pioneering global routes. These voyages reshaped economies and cultures, fostering a connected world while foreshadowing colonial rivalries.
Global Voyages
Maritime exploration linked continents, driving trade and cultural exchange.
Exploration Milestones
Zheng He’s voyages (c. 1405–1433 CE).
Prince Henry’s navigation (c. 1415 CE).
Iron fittings and compasses.
Trade with Asia and Africa.
Spread of Islam and Christianity.
Kilwa’s trade wealth.
Archaeological Insights
Malacca and Kilwa reveal global trade networks.
Global Impact
Exploration forged a connected medieval world.
From 1200–1500 CE, European feudalism waned as centralized states emerged. Monarchs like France’s Louis XI (1461–1483 CE) consolidated power, reducing noble influence, as seen in royal charters. The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453 CE) spurred nationalism, with iron cannons, like those at Agincourt, reshaping warfare. The Black Death’s labor shortages empowered peasants, per English Statute of Labourers (1351 CE). Trade with the East brought wealth to cities like Bruges, with 50,000 residents. Christianity unified states, with cathedrals like Notre-Dame (1163–1345 CE) symbolizing faith. Archaeological finds, like London’s guildhalls, show urban growth. The Ottoman Empire’s rise (1299 CE), capturing Constantinople (1453 CE), shifted trade routes. Centralized states, like France and England, laid foundations for modern nations, with legal and economic reforms reshaping medieval Europe amid growing global connectivity.
Rise of States
Feudal decline and warfare birthed centralized nations.
State Formation Milestones
Louis XI’s consolidation (c. 1461 CE).
Hundred Years’ War (c. 1337–1453 CE).
Iron cannons and warfare.
Post-plague peasant empowerment.
Ottoman rise (c. 1299–1453 CE).
Urban growth and trade.
Archaeological Evidence
London’s guildhalls and Ottoman forts show state growth.
Political Legacy
Centralized states shaped modern nations.
Summary: Late medieval conquests and plagues drove progress but deepened inequality. Elite control of trade and power marginalized peasants, embedding systemic disparities.
Summary: Mongol trade, Renaissance ideas, and exploration balanced disruption with innovation, forging vibrant civilizations. Hierarchies persisted, but cultural legacies enriched history.
Summary: Medieval transformations established enduring order, preserving values through faith and governance. This era reflects humanity’s pursuit of stability and renewal.
Lyceum
Welcome to Space Station Laurasia! All passengers and crew members receive a personal device called a Lyceum, which serves as a journal to record and share information with family and friends via neutrionic mobile or desktop devices back on Earth’s surface. This is the Lyceum of Raymond Sheen.
Animations: Dragonset, Matters of Grave Concern, The Pillars of Barad-Dur, Heart of Stone, Golden Leaves, Gravity, and Dragons in Moonlight, by Steven David Bennett
Quo Vadis? [Latin] - Where Are You Going?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Seuss
