The Medieval period (or Middle Ages) in Europe spanned approximately the years from the 6th century to the early 15th century. It is sometimes called the 'Dark Ages'.
The term 'Dark Age' is perhaps an apt description for the early part of this period because most of Europe was in a barbaric state with warring tribes living a primitive existence. However one glorious exception was the country of Spain.
The Moors, as the Spaniards call the Muslims, populated Spain from 711-1492 AD (more than 700 years.) It was their civilization that enlightened Europe and brought it out of the dark ages to usher in the renaissance.
Students from France and England traveled to Spain to study with Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars to learn philosophy, science, medicine, music, art and architecture. Gradually this knowledge and culture spread first to Paris and from there to the rest of Europe.
The manuscripts also contain color illuminations of pairs of musicians playing a wide variety of instruments. Some of the illuminations show the basic difference between the two kinds of guitar. The Latin guitars are played by Christians and the Moorish guitars by Muslims as well as those Christians most heavily influenced by Islamic technology
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