History of Rhyming [ Part 2 ]

Rhyme is central to classical Arabic poetry  tracking back to its 6th century pre - Islamic roots. According to some archaic sources Irish Literature introduced the rhyme to Early Medieval Europe, but that is a disputed claim .In the 7th century. the Irish had brought the art of rhyming verses to a high pitch of perfection. The Leonine verse is notable for introducing rhyme into High Medieval Literature in the 12th century. 

Rhyme entered European poetry in the High Middle Ages, in part under the influence of the Arabic Language in Al Andalus (Modern Spain). Arabic language poets used rhyme extensively from the first development of literary Arabic in the sixth century as in their long rhyming qasidas. 

Since dialects vary and languages change over time, lines that rhyme in a given register or era may not be clear whether one should pronounce the words so that they rhyme. An example is this couplet from Handle'S Judas Maccabaeus.