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"Nothing exists without music, for the universe itself is said to have been framed by a kind of harmony of sounds, and the heaven itself revolves under the tone of that harmony." —ISIDORE OF SEVILLE

Key Points

  • The Middle Ages span nearly one thousand years (c. 476–1450).
  • The early Christian church and the state were the centers of powers during this time.
  • Much of the surviving music from the Middle Ages is religious, or sacred, because of the sponsorship (patronage) of the church.
  • The later Middle Ages saw the rise of cities, cathedrals, and great works of art and literature.
  • The ideals of knighthood and the devotion to the Virgin Mary helped raise the status of women.

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