Art and Architecture Art was made for religious purposes Paintings and sculptures of Jesus and saints were placed in churches to help people worship Since most people didn’t know how to read, art helped tell the story Cathedrals- thrones upon which a bishop sits, were the tallest, largest buildings in medieval cities Churches from 1150-1400 were built in the Gothic style- stone arches, gargoyles, soaring roofs and high towers

Medieval Gothic Cathedrals

Stained Glass The stained glass windows of churches were also used to teach stories from the Bible to a mostly illiterate population.

Art and Architecture Gargoyles are a unique feature of Gothic Cathedrals Medieval people believed they were there to remind people of the Devil and evil spirits To obey the teachings of the church On average, it took 50-100 years to complete a cathedral

Medieval Education Medieval centers of learning were monasteries, convents, and cathedrals Their roll of centers of learning increased under Charlemagne The Church taught people to be guided by faith They were uneasy at first to promote the teachings of Aristotle and other Greek thinkers

Medieval Education Thomas Aquinas Bridged gap between philosophy and theology He saw no conflict between reason and faith Believed both were gifts from God His theory of Natural Law- stated that there was an order built into nature that could people’s thinking about right and wrong Since God created nature, natural law agreed with the teachings of the bible