Illuminated Manuscript 7th to 15th Century

Historical Context
Medieval Europe. One of the darkest periods known to mankind: Pestilence and plague, darkness and fear, witch-hunts and illiteracy roam the land. 
In this inhospitable milieu, secluded in the scriptoria of cold monasteries, some of the book designers that ever lived, created some of the most beautiful books the world has ever seen. 
We call these books: Illuminated Manuscripts.

Illuminated manuscript 
The text is supplemented by decoration or illustration, such as decorated initials, 
borders and miniatures. 
Also refers to manuscripts decorated with gold or silver.

The Scriptorium (pic)
A scriptorium was a room in monastries devoted to the hand-lettered copying of manuscripts. 
Before the invention of printing by moveable type, a scriptorium was a normal adjunct to a library.

Insular/Celtic Manuscripts
Well known examples of Insular manuscripts are 
the Lindisfarne Gospels (c.698AD) (pic)
the Book of Durrow (c.680AD) (pic)
the Book of Kells (c.800AD) (pic)
The Codex Aureus, England, 9th century (pic)

Carolingian manuscripts (pic)
Carolingian manuscripts, France, 7th to 10th centuries

Ottonian manuscripts (pic)
Ottonian manuscripts, Germany, 10th and 11th centuries

Romanesque manuscripts (pic)
The St.Albans Psalter, England, 12th century

Gothic Manuscripts (pic) 
Gothic book pages from the 13th century to 15th

The Book of Hours (pic)
A Book of Hours is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. 
Each Book of Hours is unique, but all contain a collection of texts, prayers and psalms, along with appropriate illustrations.