Post by Headmaster on Nov 5, 2017 22:32:16 GMT
Once, before the written word came to Europe, magic existed out in the open alongside the primitive cultures of the non-magical civilizations. For years, early magicians were simply a part of the landscape, part of the community on par with bakers, farmers, weavers, and builders. As the societies evolved, those who could utilize magic well became powerful influences in their cultures, acting as prophets, priests, and even rulers. However, as centuries passed, a rift began to form between magic and non-magic communities. Those who were unable to utilize magic began to regard those who could with fear, jealousy and suspicion and eventually those tensions boiled over. Wars raged, rulers were deposed, and entire civilizations were erased from existence. By the end of it, the magicians were scattered to the winds, faced with the very real threat of extinction.
The non-magical world quickly moved on, preoccupied with their ever growing empires. Magic soon faded into the shadowy world of lore and legends, and those who still practiced it lived on the fringes of society, fearful of discovery and afraid to collect in any large numbers.This great diaspora of the Magical community lasted for nearly 300 years, certain members of the Roman empire, as part of their ambition to reach every corner of the world, began to seek out any remaining witches and wizards of the time. Though it was by and large kept secret from the general public, places of learning were being established for those who showed talent in enchanting and divination. For the first time since they were scattered to the winds, magicians could congregate and further refine their crafts. This relationship between the ruling class of Rome and the Wizarding community remained intact until the official fall of Rome in 475 AD. Though the loss of the Roman Empire was considered a setback, magical families had managed to survive and (more importantly) save a great bulk of their acquired knowledge prior to the sack of the libraries. While several of these families continued to maintain some influence over the muggle world, many more decided that the best thing for the Magical community as a whole would be to simply withdraw entirely from the Muggle civilization and create a civilization of their own. Only the rulers of the muggle countries were truly aware of the continued existence of magic. Many of the magical representatives became advisors to said rulers, and their families gained prominence in both worlds, eventually becoming the first noble families of Wizarding Europe.
Hogwarts, the first great Wizarding School in Europe was founded in 990 AD, as part of that goal. Founded in the then relatively uninhabited Scotland, Hogwarts gained a reputation for educating witches and wizards instrumental in forming the the Wizarding World of Medieval Europe. In the earliest days, young witches and wizards from all over Europe attended school there, but as time went on and more schools were established throughout Europe, the number of international students attending Hogwarts became less and less until eventually the school was dedicated to serve students from England, Scotland, and Ireland only.
However, tensions between the Magical and Muggle worlds have been on the rise. More and more muggles are aware of the existing magical world that exists in parallel to their own. Many of the pureblood families fear the possibility of another conflict between the two worlds. There is a movement, started by said pureblood families, to place further restrictions on muggle born students matriculating into Wizarding academies. However, others argue that the best way to prevent conflict is to improve relations between the two worlds through greater transparency and cooperation. The Headmaster of Hogwarts falls into the later way of thinking, and began an effort to expand Hogwarts’ availability to students beyond the borders of Great Britain as a way to foster a more inclusive community between Nobles, purebloods, mix heritage, and muggle born students. While there has been some resistance to the idea, many hail it as grand experiment, aimed to prevent the violence that had punctuated so much of the history between the two worlds.
The only question is… will the outcome be what so many pray for… or will the two worlds once again be forced into a deadly standoff?
The non-magical world quickly moved on, preoccupied with their ever growing empires. Magic soon faded into the shadowy world of lore and legends, and those who still practiced it lived on the fringes of society, fearful of discovery and afraid to collect in any large numbers.This great diaspora of the Magical community lasted for nearly 300 years, certain members of the Roman empire, as part of their ambition to reach every corner of the world, began to seek out any remaining witches and wizards of the time. Though it was by and large kept secret from the general public, places of learning were being established for those who showed talent in enchanting and divination. For the first time since they were scattered to the winds, magicians could congregate and further refine their crafts. This relationship between the ruling class of Rome and the Wizarding community remained intact until the official fall of Rome in 475 AD. Though the loss of the Roman Empire was considered a setback, magical families had managed to survive and (more importantly) save a great bulk of their acquired knowledge prior to the sack of the libraries. While several of these families continued to maintain some influence over the muggle world, many more decided that the best thing for the Magical community as a whole would be to simply withdraw entirely from the Muggle civilization and create a civilization of their own. Only the rulers of the muggle countries were truly aware of the continued existence of magic. Many of the magical representatives became advisors to said rulers, and their families gained prominence in both worlds, eventually becoming the first noble families of Wizarding Europe.
Hogwarts, the first great Wizarding School in Europe was founded in 990 AD, as part of that goal. Founded in the then relatively uninhabited Scotland, Hogwarts gained a reputation for educating witches and wizards instrumental in forming the the Wizarding World of Medieval Europe. In the earliest days, young witches and wizards from all over Europe attended school there, but as time went on and more schools were established throughout Europe, the number of international students attending Hogwarts became less and less until eventually the school was dedicated to serve students from England, Scotland, and Ireland only.
However, tensions between the Magical and Muggle worlds have been on the rise. More and more muggles are aware of the existing magical world that exists in parallel to their own. Many of the pureblood families fear the possibility of another conflict between the two worlds. There is a movement, started by said pureblood families, to place further restrictions on muggle born students matriculating into Wizarding academies. However, others argue that the best way to prevent conflict is to improve relations between the two worlds through greater transparency and cooperation. The Headmaster of Hogwarts falls into the later way of thinking, and began an effort to expand Hogwarts’ availability to students beyond the borders of Great Britain as a way to foster a more inclusive community between Nobles, purebloods, mix heritage, and muggle born students. While there has been some resistance to the idea, many hail it as grand experiment, aimed to prevent the violence that had punctuated so much of the history between the two worlds.
The only question is… will the outcome be what so many pray for… or will the two worlds once again be forced into a deadly standoff?