Monte Cassino

Although people might not realize it, cultural diffusion has made a very important impact on everyday life for thousands of years. Cultural diffusion focuses on the spread of cultural expressions through a variety of mean across nations, regions, and even the world. In World History, the Early Ages, there are many example of cultural diffusion. For example, the spreading of Monastic laws and traditions. Also, the diffusion of Islam and its practices. Finally, Literature has played a big part in…

When Popes Were Emperors – The Clash between Henry and Gregory In the year 1073, Hildebrand of Sovana (an Italian city) became Pope Gregory VII. The clash between papacy and emperor’s authority in (what we would today call) Germany, was already evident for quite some time. The Emperor Henry IV was 23 years old. One of the first few measures implemented by Gregory were, a ban on secular authority to appoint clergy (the lay investiture) and the ostracizing of some of the members of Henry’s…

In 1944 there was a bombing in Rome, Italy at Monte Cassino; one lieutenant named General Mark Clark claimed, "I say that the bombing of the Abbey...was a mistake...It only made our job more difficult, more costly in terms of men, machines and time"(“Famous Quotes”). Although this is one of the smaller…

Two Women is a 1960 Italian film directed by Vittorio de Sica and stars actress Sophia Loren as the lead character Cesira. The film tells the story of Cesira trying to protect her young daughter from the horrors of World War II as the Allies begin to invade Italy. Two Women is based on the story La Ciociara by author Alberto Moravia, and while detailing Cesira’s struggles it also details the complicated belief of the Allies “liberation” of Italy as anything but heroic. Despite the Allies’…

His family was somewhat wealthy and he actually was born in his family's castle, his family was also quite large consisting of twelve people. Thomas began his education at Monte Cassino where his family had lofty expectations for him. This is where he first learned about Aristotle and started studying some of his works. During his studies, he decided to join a group called the Dominicans, which focused on the preaching and sharing…

between 550 and 1150 AD, the first and second Benedictine Eras took place. In 500 AD, St. Benedict of Nursia lived as a hermit and attracted many disciples, while doing so. Thirty years later, he became the founder of the Benedictine monastery in Monte Cassino, Italy where he wrote his rules. Unintentionally, the rules that he had written became the primary guide for monastic living in Western Christianity and are now known as the ‘Rules of St. Benedict’ or the ‘Benedictine Order’. The…

the intellectual world, and his work continues to be studied in many universities today. Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 AD near Naples, Italy. His father was a count of Aquino of the aristocracy. When he was five, Thomas arrived at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, where he studied until he enrolled at the University of Naples at fourteen. During his time there, he entered into the Dominican Order, a group of friars dedicated to instruction. From Naples, Thomas attended the University of Paris at age…

In today’s society, teenage girls dream of their “knight in shining armor.” Contrary to popular belief, this idea does not come from the true historical version of a knight, but rather from the romanticized version created and popularized by Chrétien de Troyes. Nonetheless, the knight, although not chivalrous in the commonly assumed way, played a fundamental role in the making of Europe through conquest and expansion as detailed in Robert Bartlett’s, The Making of Europe. Firstly, it is…

Dante voyages through paradise in nine spheres, there order is the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Fixed Stars. This is a trip through heaven's journey towards the vision of God in the Empyrean, a realm of pure light (The World of Dante). The sun is the home for the theologians and wise men (Digital Dante). At this time, the sun was seen as a symbol of intellectual power and illumination, it could even represent God. This “planet” was perfect for the theologians and wise men…