The Medievalists are an organization in Isaac Asimov's Robot series.
Description[]
The Medievalists are a political and social movement on Earth that advocates for a return to a pre-City way of life, rejecting Spacer culture and robotic automation.
The movement, also referred to as the "Society for Humanity," is composed of individuals who idealize Earth's past, specifically a romanticized version of the medieval period characterized by open air, natural spaces, and a simpler existence. They actively oppose the enclosed City life and the growing influence of robots, whom they see as a threat to human employment and dignity. Their activities range from intellectual discussion to organized agitation and public demonstrations, such as the incidents at the shoe store and in Williamsburg.
The group is investigated by Elijah Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw as potential suspects in the murder of Dr. Sarton, due to their militant anti-Spacer stance. Commissioner Julius Enderby and Baley's wife, Jessie, are both revealed to be members, indicating the movement's penetration into various levels of society. Despite their reactionary goals, Baley and the Spacers identify the Medievalists' romanticism and pioneering spirit as a potential force that could be redirected from seeking a return to the past towards the future goal of galactic colonization.