Medieval History, page 3

In spite of the omnipresence of war, medieval culture had its courtly and chilvaric side as well. Eleanor of Aquitaine labored to perpetuate this aspect of European culture.

The cultus of Mary, also patronized by Eleanor and her daughters, served to bring the feminine aspect of Christianity to the fore.

The game of chess, which originated in India, brought to the Mideast by traders and taken to Europe by Crusaders, grew popular as the intellectual capacities of Europeans began to awaken.

The longbowman, who could shoot an arrow from his powerful bow every few seconds, was an important part of the medieval army. When yew replaced the heavier woods used to make bows in the past, his weapon became light and portable.