The entire history covers writings in German from their beginnings in the 8th century to the beginning of the modern era. This volume treats the Blütezeit , a period of unsurpassed, intense literary activity from ca. 1160 to 1230. It seeks to create an impression of literary production at the time by using as models the courts of two of the few patrons about whose literary interest information may be gleaned. This being the first period of German literature the enjoyment of which nowadays requires only a modicum of historical knowledge, major emphasis is placed on literary factors.