Section 4 Learning and Culture Flourish Chapter 8 Section 4 Learning and Culture Flourish

Medieval universities emerge Education expands in the late Middle Ages Govt. & Church need educated people to fill positions Cathedral schools in major cities grew into your 1st universities Examples > Salerno, Bologna, Paris, & Oxford University life was tough Long hours, memorization, oral exams, and several years of mastery to earn a degree Women Not allowed to attend universities Could not become professionals Could get an education in a convent Noblewomen sometimes attend college classes Most women confined to domestic duties

Europeans Acquire “new” Learning Explosion of knowledge in the late Middle Ages Many ancient Roman and Greek texts were lost in the early Middle Ages Muslim scholars held on to them in the Middle East where they made their way back to Europe through translation Christian scholars developed scholasticism A blending of faith and reason Thomas Aquinas (scholastic) combines Greek philosophy and Christianity Science makes little progress Still believed true knowledge must fit with Church teachings Started using Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals Allowed for advancement in science and mathematics

Medieval literature Latin is the universal language Vernacular starts to emerge Examples > German, French, Italian, English, etc. Epic Poems are recorded in the vernacular Example > Song of Roland Dante Alighieri writes the famous Divine Comedy Imaginary journey through into hell and purgatory then a final vision of heaven Summarizes Christian ethics > how actions in this life affect afterlife Geoffrey Chaucer writes the famous Canterbury Tales Describes a band of pilgrims traveling to St. Thomas Becket’s tomb Gives us a picture of what medieval life was like (values and beliefs)

Art and Architecture Two styles of architecture Romanesque Style > Ancient Romans Gothic Style Flying buttresses > large stone supports outside the building Large stain glass windows > allows light to penetrate through Tall thin buildings > used in Cathedral construction Art most of the times was religious Scenes from the Bible Decoration of books > illumination > intricate designs and miniature paintings