- published: 26 Jun 2014
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As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century is the period from 1101 to 1200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Common Era. In the history of European culture, this period is considered part of the High Middle Ages and is sometimes called the Age of the Cistercians. In Song Dynasty China an invasion by Jurchens causes a political schism of north and south. The first ever known use and implementation of gunpowder weapons such as bombs, rockets, and cannons were first recorded in the Song Dynasty. The Khmer Empire of Cambodia flourished during this century, while the Fatimids of Egypt were overtaken by the Ayyubid dynasty.
Christian humanism becomes a self-conscious philosophical tendency in Europe. Christianity is introduced to Estonia, Finland, and Karelia. The first European universities are founded. Pierre Abelard teaches. Middle English begins to develop, and literacy begins to spread outside the Church. In addition, churchmen are increasingly willing to take on secular roles- by the end of the century, at least a third of England's bishops also act as royal judges in secular matters. The Ars antiqua period in the history of Western European music begins. Durham Cathedral in England is completed and the earliest recorded miracle play is performed in Dunstable, England. Gothic Architecture and trouvère music begin in France. In the mid-12th century, the Cappella Palatina is built in Palermo, Sicily and the Madrid Skylitzes manuscript illustrates the Synopsis of Histories by John Skylitzes. Fire & plague insurance first become available in Iceland, and the first documented outbreaks of influenza occur. The medieval Serbian state is formed by Stefan Nemanja and continued by the Nemanjić dynasty. By the end of the century, both the Capetian Dynasty and the House of Anjou are relying primarily on mercenaries in their militaries. Paid soldiers are available year-round, unlike knights who expect certain periods off to maintain their manors.
Duncan Alasdair Lunan, born October 1945, is a Scottish author with emphasis on astronomy, spaceflight and science fiction, undertaking a wide range of writing and speaking on those and other topics as a researcher, tutor, critic, editor, lecturer and broadcaster, known for his science writings as well as work on the Sighthill stone circle.
His 1970s report of a possible space probe orbiting around the Moon, sent by the inhabitants of a planet orbiting Epsilon Boötis brought him to international notice.
Lunan, who grew up in Troon, claims descent from an illegitimate son of King Robert II of Scotland, Alexander Stuart, who owned the "Lands of Lunaine" near Aberdeen, and, more distantly, from the astronomers of ancient Chaldea "who invented the calendar, hence making agriculture and civilisation possible".
Lunan was a founder of ASTRA. He is a 1968 bachelor's degree alumnus of the University of Glasgow, and is an M.A. with Honours in English and Philosophy, and has a postgraduate Diploma in Education. He was the Manager of the Glasgow Parks Department's Astronomy Project responsible for building the Sighthill stone circle, the first astronomically aligned megalith built in Britain in 3,000 years.