The Nuremberg Chronicle, though written in the historical period we call the Renaissance, very much follows in the narrative tradition of medieval universal chronicles. Such historical works, following St. Augustine's division of history into six 'Ages', in analogy to the six days of creation, attempted to recount human events within the narrative and chronological framework of the Bible. Of course, such a framework can be quite loose. Both biblical and non-biblical historical events in these works are often interwoven with lengthy digressions on the subject of natural catastrophes, wars, reports of the founding of cities, etc. Being a very flexible genre, the chronicle's author/compiler could choose to focus on whatever truly interested him (e.g., we have imperial chronicles, those that focus on particular dynasties or cities, visions of salvation, etc.). Schedel's interests are more universal than the majority of earlier chronicles (the Nuremberg Chronicle is a truly encyclopedic work), but at the same time there is a special focus in Schedel's compilation on the most important cities of Germany and the Western world.