One of the most noteworthy features of the history of the 11th century is its interest in architecture. This began at the very begin ning. °About three years after the year 1000," said Rodulf Glaber, the churches were reno vated almost throughout the whole world es pecially in Italy and the Gauls, although the greater part were still in good enough condi tion not to need repairing." The movement included not only the churches, but also the public buildings of various kinds.
This interest in architecture naturally led to important developments and the creation of that form of architecture called Romanesque, which was to prove only a step but a very great one toward the magnificent Gothic archi tecture of the later Middle Ages. The supreme examples of Romanesque are the cathedral of Speyer, finished in 1030 as a mausoleum for the so-called Salian emperors; the cathedral at Treves or Trier, planned and conceived to ward the end of the century; the new cathedral of Mainz, which followed the one erected by Willigis the Regent (who saved the empire from disintegration during the minority of the Emperor Otto III), but which was unfortu nately burned down on the day of its consecra tion, but was immediately rebuilt and completed by Bardo von Oppertshafen in 1037. This Romanesque cathedral of Saint Martin at Mainz is one of the most interesting monu ments in the history of architecture and has been the fruitful source of ideas for architects in our generation. The limitation of the width of the Gothic nave makes Gothic churches less suitable for preaching to large crowds, and so even Boston and New York chose to have great churches modeled on Romanesque lines.
The 11th century witnessed some precious social development, especially in the establish ment of hospitals, which at that time were not only for the ailing poor, but also for the crippled and needy of many kinds as well as lodging for strangers. Archbishop Lanfranc erected a series of hospitals and "the good Queen Maud," the wife of who was the daughter of Saint Margaret of Scotland, acquired a special repute in connection with her care for the ailing poor. King Henry, after the death of his son by drowning in the famous incident of °the White Ship," caught something of his lady's spirit, and Matilda, their daughter, followed their example. The lepers particularly were cared for, and the be ginning of the eradication of this disease, said to be as common then as tuberculosis is with us, was made through segregation, the hard ships of which were mitigated to no incon siderable degree by the Lvely interest of royalty and the nobility in the afflicted and the spirit in which their ailment was taken.
The 11th century saw the beginning of the organization on a broad scale of the Christian nations against Mohammedanism. The first active reaction against them in the countries where they had maintained themselves for some centuries came in Spain where the Moors in possession since early in the 8th century felt themselves at home. Just about the be ginning of the 11th century the three Christian kingdoms — Castile, Aragon and Navarre began to play a role of importance in the northern part of Spain. Castile led the move ment, and before the end of the century had reconquered Toledo. The rivalry between the Christian countries hampered their progress for a time, but they grew stronger by the in termarriage of their royal houses and were able to advance their frontiers at the expense of the Moors. Aragon took possession of Barcelona and the valley of the Ebro. Nearly 500 years of struggle remained however before the Moors were finally expelled. The ad vantage to Spanish character of the ceaseless contest was seen in the role played by the Spaniards in the New World after its discovery and the magnificent development of Spanish power at home and abroad which followed the final expulsion of the Moors in 1492.
The great hero of the century s Ruy or Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, known as The Cid (Arabic, master) or El Campeador (Spanish, the champion or challenger). His life fills the whole of the second half of the century and his exploits animated the Spaniards against the Moors for all the centuries afterward until their complete expulsion. The romantic chron icle of 'The Cid' the substance of which was compiled by Alfonso the Learned only half a century after the hero's death contains much that is literal history, and the obviously legen dary incidents can be rather readily eliminated. Southey's translation made the work familiar in English. The Cid of the romances is another creature entirely, quite as much the nucleus for myths as Charlemagne's Paladins or King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Undoubtedly Rodrigo's real victories apart from all romance form the core of Span ish history at the time.