Changes

[[Image:Nefertari Merytmut.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Egyptian wall painting c. 1300–1250 B.C. depicting Queen Nefertari Merytmut]]

[[Image:Nefertari Merytmut.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Egyptian wall painting c. 1300–1250 B.C. depicting Queen Nefertari Merytmut]]

From the fourth century onwards the early civilizations of the Mediterranean region and Europe began to produce paintings of sufficiently consistent artistic style that art [[history|historians]] and [[archaeology|archaeologists]] are able to distinguish which works belonged to which cultures. Egyptian artwork is highly detailed, their figures are still and appear rigid. [[File:Hagia Sophia Christ mosaic XII c.jpg|thumb|left|Hagia Sophia, Christ mosaic, XII c.]]

From the fourth century onwards the early civilizations of the Mediterranean region and Europe began to produce paintings of sufficiently consistent artistic style that art [[history|historians]] and [[archaeology|archaeologists]] are able to distinguish which works belonged to which cultures. Egyptian artwork is highly detailed, their figures are still and appear rigid. [[File:Hagia Sophia Christ mosaic XII c.jpg|thumb|left|Hagia Sophia, Christ mosaic, XII c.]]

[[Minoa|Minoan]] art [2800 B.C. onwards], on the other hand, is extraordinary for its sense of movement and its emphasis on the living world.'' <ref> ''Painting before 1300. op cit.</ref> Few examples of [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] painting (c. 600-100 B.C.) have survived, originally painted on wood which has rotted away or buildings which have been destroyed. Its style was very influential however on the Roman style of paintings, which spread throughout the [[Roman Empire]] into the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and Europe.

[[Minoa|Minoan]] art [2800 B.C. onwards], on the other hand, is extraordinary for its sense of movement and its emphasis on the living world.'' <ref> ''Painting before 1300.'' op cit.</ref> Few examples of [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] painting (c. 600-100 B.C.) have survived, originally painted on wood which has rotted away or buildings which have been destroyed. Its style was very influential however on the Roman style of paintings, which spread throughout the [[Roman Empire]] into the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and Europe.

[[Christianity]] brought further change to the Roman style, particularly as the "illustration of the Gospels was... necessary in order to spread the beliefs to the new converts, most of whom were illiterate. After the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe's greatest inheritance was the Roman-Christian tradition, which was heavily infused with classical ideas and Christian artistic styles. Despite some scholarly belief that the [[Middle Ages]] was a period of artistic decline, the existence of beautiful painted manuscripts and glowing altars from that period suggests otherwise."<ref>''Painting before 1300.'' op cit.</ref>

[[Christianity]] brought further change to the Roman style, particularly as the "illustration of the Gospels was... necessary in order to spread the beliefs to the new converts, most of whom were illiterate. After the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe's greatest inheritance was the Roman-Christian tradition, which was heavily infused with classical ideas and Christian artistic styles. Despite some scholarly belief that the [[Middle Ages]] was a period of artistic decline, the existence of beautiful painted manuscripts and glowing altars from that period suggests otherwise."<ref>''Painting before 1300.'' op cit.</ref>