(Reference Chapter 8 Section 4)
scholasticism – in medieval Europe, the school of thought that used logic and reason to support Christian beliefs vernacular – the everyday language of ordinary people flying buttresses – stone supports that stood outside the church illumination – the artistic decoration of books Dante Alighieri – Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy Geoffrey Chaucer – English writer of The Canterbury Tales Gothic style – a style of architecture that used flying buttresses to support higher, thinner walls and left space for stained-glass windows Thomas Aquinas – a famous scholastic who wrote the Summa theologica and concluded that faith and reason exist in harmony
As economic and political conditions improved, the need for education grew. By getting an education, sons of wealthy townspeople could hope to qualify for high positions in the church or with royal governments. This is because Royals needed educated MEN to run the bureaucracies. Schools came about around the great cathedrals in order to train the clergy. This is where universities came from!
Earliest universities: Salerno, Italy – School of Medicine Bologna, Italy – School of Law Paris Oxford Women were NOT allowed to attend university, however some received an education through convents. The lives of university students in the Middle Ages were not like the lives of university students today!
5:00 A.M. Prayers, then five hours of class 10:00 A.M. First meal, then seven hours of class 5:00 P.M. Light supper, study until bed Programs of study typically included arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music, grammar, and logic.
Before the 1100s, Muslim scholars had translated and spread the works of Aristotle and other Greeks. Eventually these were translated into Latin, and therefore reached Western Europe. These ancient texts challenged Christian scholars because the side with reason. This caused conflict between reason and faith.
In order to resolve the conflicts, Christian scholars developed scholasticism, which used reason to support Christian beliefs. Thomas Aquinas was probably the most famous scholastic. Summa Theologica Scientific works from ancient Greece and Rome also reached Europe at this time. Science made little progress, however, because people believed knowledge had to fit with Christian teachings. Europeans adopted Hindu-Arabic numerals to replace Roman numerals.
New writings began to appear in the vernacular language. Dante Alighieri ◦ Divine Comedy Takes readers on a journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven. Geoffrey Chaucer ◦ Canterbury Tales Describes a group of pilgrims traveling to St. Thomas’s tomb.
Builders developed the Gothic style of architecture during this time. Flying buttresses allowed for thin walls and large windows. Medieval Churches (cathedrals) were a combination of art and architecture. The contained stained glass windows, paintings and sculptures with religious themes, and carvings of plants, animals and mythical creatures.
Other art thrived at this time. Gothic style that was applied to books was known as illumination. Artists also created woven tapestries. Not only were they art, but they also kept cold air out of castles.
Write an informative paragraph or two about what you learned in class today about learning and culture in the Middle Ages. Your paragraph(s) must: Include aspects of literature, architecture, and art. Describe the contributions of Thomas Aquinas, Dante Alighieri, and Geoffrey Chaucer. Tell how medieval universities were related to the Church. Include AT LEAST TWO vocabulary terms: scholasticism - gothic style – vernacular - illumination - flying buttresses