
990 AD to 1010 AD, Psalm 97: The light of exile.
This generation is from the 990s and the 1000s.
The Abbasid power sees its territory being restricted with the Fatimid push, and for some time is under the influence of the Buwayhides:
- In Baghdad [1], after 200 years of undivided power, the Abbasid dynasty entrusted the government to Persians, buwayhides, or buyids, a dynasty founded by Buwayh. His three sons and their successors reign de facto, if not right, on the Abbassid Empire from 945 to 1045. Abul Hussein is the first to occupy Baghdad, where the caliph while retaining his title, gives him the reality of power in the naming al-Mu’izz al-Dawla, the « Glorifier of the State ». The latter deposed the Abbasid caliph and reigning in place of the young Al-Qadir, hoping to maintain firmly under his authority.
Al Qadir, who reigns over the remnants of the Abbasid empire from 992 to 1031, gradually distinguished himself from the guardianship of the Bouyides (especially in the second half of his reign). Although of Shiite obedience, the intellectual and artistic life develops at this period encouraged by the sponsorship, as well in Persia as in Baghdad. It is under this influence that famous intellectuals such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina 980-1037) emerge, whose medical work will be widely resumed first in Muslim Spain and then for many centuries in Christian Europe.
- Alhazen [2] (965-1039), one of the greatest physicists of all time formulates the laws of optics well before Roger Bacon (1220-1292), as well as the law of inertia, which will become the first law of the Newton’s movement (1642-1727).
After a first unsuccessful attempt, where he hardly imposes his cousin as Pope from 996 to 999; Otton, at the death of the latter, probably poisoned, made appoint Gerbert, archbishop of Ravenna as pope under the name of Sylvester II. But [3] Otton’s attempt to unify temporal and spiritual powers fails because of the Roman opposition. Otton died in 1002 without having achieved his ends.
This time is still for Germany that of a rebirth that makes it emerge among the European nations:
- The Saxon emperors [4], surrounded by scholars, protecting rich abbeys, having manuscripts copied, are at the origin of the « Ottonian Renaissance ». Architecture, sculpture and manuscript painting are the main areas in which the creativity of the period manifests itself. This Renaissance is all the more surprising as it shines in a rough country, where feudalism is less developed than in the West, where roads are bad and cities are rare and small. In 973, an Arab traveler passing through Mainz notes that the city occupies only a small part of the ancient Roman city.
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This Christianization of Europe is general to the most remote lands and islands of Northern Europe, once the fiefdom of the Vikings:
- In England [5], the emergence of the Danes in 865 resulted in the disappearance of most monasteries and half of
the bishoprics of East Anglia and Northumbria. While the situation turns to the 10th century when the successors of King Alfred the Great (who died in 899) go to the reconquest of Danelaw, the evangelization continues on a missionary front located from Scandinavia to Bulgaria, and moving towards the northeast. As for Scandinavians, it is done both by the activity on the spot of the Anglo-Saxon missionaries and by the descents of the Vikings towards the south. Norway is converted in the late tenth century by Vikings, themselves baptized in England. Haakon the Good (died about 960) and especially Olaf Tryggvason and implant Christianity there, the latter then pressing on Iceland whose Assembly of the free men (Althing) adopts the Christianity in 999. In Denmark, the conversion goes from The country was unified under Harald’s rule at the Blue Tooth, baptized in 965. Sweden also receives English missionaries and hosts Christian communities, as in the commercial center of Birka (near Stockholm).
At the same time, many scholars from this monotheistic world are beginning to evade the laws that govern the universe.
(extract of the psalm 97 associated to this generation, verses 1 to 7 )
- The Lord has reigned, the earth will exult; many islands will rejoice.
- Cloud and thick darkness are around Him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne.
- Fire will go before Him and will burn His enemies all around.
- His lightnings illuminated the world; the earth saw and quaked.
- Mountains melted like wax from before the Lord, from before the Master of all the earth.
- The heavens told His righteousness, and all the earth saw His glory.
- All worshippers of graven images will be ashamed, yea those who boast of idols; all gods, prostrate yourselves before Him.
- Around [6] the ninth century, a number of families from southern Italy emigrated to France. Then they went as far as the Rhine Valley. Two great rabbis settled in the city of Mainz, south of Frankfurt, and upstream of Cologne. These two scholars were called Rabbi Moses the Elder and Rabbi Abun the Great. They began to teach.
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(extract of the psalm 97 associated to this generation, verses 8 to 11 )
- Zion heard and rejoiced, and the daughters of Judah exulted, because of Your judgments, O Lord.
- For You, O Lord, are Most High above all the earth; You are very much exalted above all gods.
- You who love the Lord, hate evil; He watches the souls of His pious ones, He rescues them from the hands of the wicked.
- A light is sown for the righteous, and for the upright of heart, joy.
- Rejoice, you righteous, with the Lord, and give thanks to His holy name.
[1] (Preface by) Georges Duby: « A history of the medieval world ». Chapter: « Divisions of Islam – (680-980) ». (French: « Une histoire du monde médiéval ». Chapitre : « Les divisions de l’Islam – (680-980) ». (p. 123-124) ).
[2] (Preface by) Georges Duby: « A history of the medieval world ». Chapter: « Divisions of Islam – (680-980) ». (French: « Une histoire du monde médiéval ». Chapitre : « Les divisions de l’Islam – (680-980) ». (p. 116) ).
[3] According to : Wikipedia
[4] (Preface by) Georges Duby: « A history of the medieval world ». Chapter: « Carolingians and Dreams of Empires – (680-980). » (French: « Une histoire du monde médiéval ». Chapitre : « Les Carolingiens et les rêves d’empires – (680-980) ». (p. 108) ).
[5] Jean Pierre Moisset: « History of Catholicism ». Chapter: « One Church, Two Cultures: East and West » (French: « Histoire du Catholicisme ». Chapitre : « Une église, deux cultures : Orient et Occident » (p. 163-164) ).
[6] Chaim Potok: « A story of the Jewish people ». Chapter: « Christianity: Lost in the Enchanted Country ». (French: « Une histoire du peuple Juif ». Chapitre : « Le Christianisme : perdus dans le pays enchanté ». (p. 470 à 474) ).