High Feudal Period

Starting in the Early Feudal Period, the conditions in Georgia for the arts and sciences start to improve during the 10th century, e.g. by a growing economy, strengthening of feudalism as ruling power, geographic unity as one kingdom, a somewhat lessening influcence of outside powers, despite occasional invasions of foreign armies, for example the Seljuks in the 11th century.

This period of Georgian literature starts in the 10th century with intense translation efforts from the Byzantine literature and is a sign of general development of the economy and culture in Georgia. Translators of the literature school of Athos often translate religious Christian texts, for example the translators Ekwtime Atoneli, Giorgi Atoneli, Eprem Mzire, Arsen Iqaltoeli and Ioane Petrizi. Translations from this school between the 10th and 12th centuries are for example Warlam und Joasaphat (= Balavariani), Ioanes and Ekwtime's Life, Dogmatikon. Giorgi Atoneli's translation of the New Testament, which is still in use during the church services in the Georgian Orthodox churches.

During the prime years between the 10th and the 13th centuries under king David the Builder and his daughter Tamara, literature themes become more and more secular and poetic. Famous works of this period are the knight novel  „Amirandaredshaniani“ (ამირანდარეჯანიანი) by Mose Choneli and the odes „Abdulmesia“ und „Tamariani“. But the most famous piece of this period is of course Shota Rustaveli's "Knight in the Panther's Skin" (ვეფხისტყაოსანი) in the 12th century.

The most prominent examples of philosophy in Georgia during this time are Eprem Mzire, Arsen Iqaltoeli and Ioane Petrizi. Well-known representatives of history writing are Leonti Mroweli, Dshuansher Dawititse und Sumbat Dawititse and famous lyrics are Shavteli, Tshachruchadse und Rustaveli.

Following the dark period of the Mongol invasions and occupations between the 13th and 15th centuries as well as the Turk and Persian occupations in the 16th century, the general recovery of the Georgian society and culture during the 16th century marks the transition to the Late Feudal Period in Georgian Literature.