Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated Manuscripts were very significant in Europe during Medieval times. They were a crucial piece of religious importance in the Middle Ages. The manuscripts were often used in church as bibles, prayer books, and worship music.  Churches also oversaw education in Europe at the time, which wasn't very good, so they were a good resource for the uneducated population as the pictures were easy to understand. The beautiful illuminations were also a major part of Europe's art and culture. 

Illuminated manuscripts had impacts in many areas of European history, but the most prominent is their impact on religion and on the church. They were most commonly used for religious purposes. They were in bibles, choir music, and prayer books. Illuminated manuscripts strengthened religious practices and brought unity to Europe, therefore strengthening the power of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church served as the government at the time, so if the church was strong, so was all of Europe.  

Illuminated Manuscripts were entirely handcrafted. Stacks of paper were bound together in stacks and protected by the leather cover of the book. The pages were parchment made of animal skins, and the paints were often made of precious metals like gold and silver. The expense of the paints shows how important these manuscripts were to them and their culture. Sometimes the scribe was also the artist, but they were commonly two separate jobs.