The Quest for Knowledge

I was very interested in the 12th Century lecture regarding Europe's sudden increase for the quest of knowledge.  This pursuit is something which I find to have changed the tide of the world as I see today.  While religion was commonly practiced and created certain guidelines for citizens to live by there were now constructs for individuals to be upwardly mobile.  As peasants of the past now had new opportunities to increase in public, and political position this helps the stimulation for a freer economy.  This I see as being one of the glimpses of past history that truly was a spark to modern day thinking.  Here and now we have the luxury to become upwardly mobile through ambition, hard work, determination, and a little luck; however, then, in the 12th century men and especially women had a difficult task of trying to build in stature.  People seemed to be quite stuck in their shoes indefinitely.  This sudden spark of leaders, who listen, and act based on the voice of their people reminds me of the breath of fresh air every once in a blue moon in common day when governing bodies actually do as the people wish, or when good companies are founded based on the building blocks of listening to the people.  12th century is the century of beauty in my eyes, for it spawned the fundamentals for a successful future.