doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
Meh. The Renaissance as a singular thing that starts in the 14th century is, IMO, so oversimplified a narrative that it ends up being wildly innacurate and nearly useless.
The various periods of Renaissance in Europe start as early as 800 (Carolingian Renaissance), but even if we are being picky, the 12th century. At a time when there are still Varangian Guards. The idea of a "rebirth" being needed in Europe is also a tricky narrative, when you look at all of Europe in the Miggle Ages. Constantinople certainly didn't. Nor Andalusia.
I also don't think you need to remimagine history as you suggest to use the influences of the Abbasids. That culture continued in Al Alandulus well into the 15th century, until the Reconquista, but even in the 12th, Italia was a place where the ideas of Abbasid lands could be greeted by European scholars, and the great Muslim alchemists, mathematicians, and other thinkers *did* influence the European Renaissance. We can simply imagine a world in which relations were friendlier, and Muslim medicine helps mitigate the Black Plague.
Further, Da Vinci can absolutely be used as an inspiration for Candle/Castlepunk, because adjacent eras overlap, as do related genres. Just like Clockpunk and Steampunk have strong areas of overlap.
The various periods of Renaissance in Europe start as early as 800 (Carolingian Renaissance), but even if we are being picky, the 12th century. At a time when there are still Varangian Guards. The idea of a "rebirth" being needed in Europe is also a tricky narrative, when you look at all of Europe in the Miggle Ages. Constantinople certainly didn't. Nor Andalusia.
I also don't think you need to remimagine history as you suggest to use the influences of the Abbasids. That culture continued in Al Alandulus well into the 15th century, until the Reconquista, but even in the 12th, Italia was a place where the ideas of Abbasid lands could be greeted by European scholars, and the great Muslim alchemists, mathematicians, and other thinkers *did* influence the European Renaissance. We can simply imagine a world in which relations were friendlier, and Muslim medicine helps mitigate the Black Plague.
Further, Da Vinci can absolutely be used as an inspiration for Candle/Castlepunk, because adjacent eras overlap, as do related genres. Just like Clockpunk and Steampunk have strong areas of overlap.
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