Looking Through the Eyes of a Child

An Experiment in the History of the 11th Century

Abstract

The paper will survey three biographies of the historical key figures (a pope, an emperor and a philosopher) by unfolding them as "heir-story" – a story as it could be perceived through the eyes of a child. In the light of these stories illustrating the typical neglect of childhood and disrespectful treatment of children in the XI century, we will discover a new, in-depth understanding of "their-story" – the history of cruelty and ruthlessness that reigned in a coarse society of those years. Comparing the 11th century with our days, we will discover why the lessons of that period are important to us today.