Synthesis Question – Medieval Era
A reason for the burgeoning of a new class of tradesmen and apprentices, a wealthy new addition to the society, was the interest in arts and other cultures that the people of the medieval time period expressed. The interest in such activities increased trade as well as the formation of guilds, an association of merchants or craftspeople in medieval Europe, formed to give help and advice to its members and to make regulations and set standards for a particular trade. Because of these new societies formed for the protection of different crafts and merchants’ items there was a renewed interest in past civilizations such as the ancient Greeks and Romans, which then spread to the area of art and into the culture of the time.
An example of the new class of wealthy tradesmen and merchants that was growing was depicted in Medieval art through the obvious Roman, Byzantine, and Middle Eastern influence in their artistic relics and styles, though Roman influences were seen most prominently in the artistic styles of the medieval era. The paintings and statues portray this homage to the ancient Roman times, but the influences can also be found in the architecture that is found from the medieval times. The large stretching stone arches that are quintessential to the medieval era are taken straight from the Romans along with the cathedrals and the decorations.
Great connection between the influence of art on the development of the Medieval economy. The examples that you guys used were both clear and factual, making it easy to come to the same connection you guys stated between the burgeoning economic structure and predominant cultural styles of the era. There was ample evidence backing this conclusion, yet there could have been a few refinements to this analysis. First, more commentary could have been added explaining how the new guilds and tradesmen looked back to the Roman and the Greeks in their artistic influences. Furthermore, there is a minor discrepancy in the final sentence— the sharp stone arches dominating the Gothic styling of the Medieval period was actually a refinement of the circular Roman arches, not a direct replica; the sharper arches allowed a larger load carrying, allowing for the construction of the grand cathedrals that dominated the skyline of the developing urban centers across Europe. Finally, since there is no concluding sentence to hammer in the main idea of the synthesis, the reader must make his or her own inference into the purpose of the specific references cited in the paragraph, rather than explicitly following the conclusion established by the group, which is important in emphasizing the connection between the arts and its effect upon the Medieval society.
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