Rishonim

Rishonim (Hebrew: ראשונים‎; sing. ראשון, Rishon, "the first ones,") were the leading Rabbis and Poskim who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulchan Aruch (Hebrew: שׁוּלחָן עָרוּך, "Set Table", the code of Jewish law, 1563 CE) and following the Geonim (589-1038 CE). Rabbinic scholars subsequent to the Shulkhan Arukh are generally known as " Acharonim ("the latter ones"). However, in the highly regarded CODEX JUDAICA (Chronological Index of Jewish History) the author has presented a paper (Appendix D to the volume) that argues (quite convincingly) that there was a distinct major trend of scholars between the Rishonim and the Acharonim. Here presents a clearly delineated period between 1492 and 1648, that shows distinctive elements of scholarship (which he provides), and calls it (them, the scholars) Kov'im (Hebrew: קובעים) "the consolidators".