MS Humanities: The Middle Ages: Events and Famous People

Joan of Arc was a French peasant who led the French forces to victory over the English in the siege of Orléans. Her action enabled Charles VII, then the French dauphin, or heir, to be crowned king at Reims in 1429.

Born ca. 1225 CE in Roccasecca, near Aquino in Sicily, Aquinas was the son of Count Andulf of Aquino and Countess Theodora of Teano. Among the most important Italian theologians and Scholastic philosophers, Saint Thomas Aquinas has been credited with using philosophical teachings to explain Catholic theology, which established what would become the basis for modern Roman Catholic doctrine.

Dante Alighieri is considered to be one of the great Italian poets of the Middle Ages. His work helped to form the basis for the modern Italian literary tradition. He is most famous for his masterpiece, La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy), which was first published in the early 14th century.

A medieval poet, Geoffrey Chaucer helped solidify the literary use of English and he remains one of England's most celebrated poets. A master of humor with sharp insight into human behavior, he wrote The Canterbury Tales, the first major narrative poem in Middle English.

An iconic figure of the late Middle Ages, Marco Polo traveled from his native Venice to China, where he remained for 17 years. Upon his return to Europe, he wrote the Travels of Marco Polo, one of the most acclaimed and controversial pieces of travel literature ever published.