Part 2/8:
The voyage begins in the Medieval Period (circa 500–1400 AD), a time when music was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. This era is pivotal as it marked the first time historians could accurately describe how music sounded. Notably, most music was religious and characterized by monophonic, unaccompanied melodies, commonly sung by monks. The Gregorian chant exemplifies this style. As the period progressed, polyphonic music emerged, combining two or more voices, setting the stage for future musical complexity.