Learning, Literature, and the Arts Medieval Learning, Literature, and the Arts
1100s - first universities evolved out of cathedral schools
Literature began to be written in the vernacular (everyday language of the people) rather than in Latin only. Scholasticism was developed by Christian scholars to resolve the conflict between faith and reason. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica - brought classical Greek philosophy together with Christian faith
Chanson de geste - long narrative poems that portrayed the ideals of chivalry - such as the Song of Roland and the Poem of the Cid Christine de Pizan: The City of Ladies - examined the achievements of women and men’s negative views of women Dante : Divine Comedy - Roman poet Virgil leads Dante on a visit to hell, purgatory, and later heaven Geoffrey Chaucer : The Canterbury Tales - pilgrims on their way to the tomb of Thomas Becket in Canterbury in southern England
Troubadour poems of love were popular among the nobility. The theme of all medieval art was religion.
Illuminated Manuscripts
Romanesque Cathedrals: 1000 - 1150 thick walls, rounded arches and domed roofs narrow slits for windows simple, solid, dark, gloomy fortress flat, masculine, and simply adorned
Gothic Cathedrals: 1150 - 1300 tall, light, and airy flying buttresses large stained glass windows complex, lacy, richly embroidered, feminine
Despite the lack of scientific observation and experimentation and the unquestioned authority of the Catholic Church, some scientific progress was made. 1200s - Roger Bacon : founder of experimental science Medicine was still poor - illness was the work of the devil herbal folk medicine, prayer, and pilgrimages to holy shrines
Art is flat and lacks proportion and perspective.