What system was discovered to help farmers grow crops more efficiently? What were some characteristics of towns in Medieval Europe? Who were three authors of this time and what were their major works?

Trade, Towns, and Financial Revolution Notes

a warmer climate existed from used horses to plow twice as much land as oxen used to, but they required better food and harnesses three-field system: farmers could grow crops on two-thirds of their land each year instead of just half, other one-third recovered more food and better food meant in increase in population and longer lives

goods traded in towns at fairs guild: an association of people who worked at the same occupation, they controlled all wages and prices in their craft, enforced standards of quality merchants had to borrow money to buy goods, but Christians were forbidden from lending money at interest, a sin called usury this led to many Jews becoming moneylenders

as trade grew, towns swelled with people serfs ran away from their lords to live in towns because they were unhappy with the feudal system, could be free after living there for a year and a day

narrow streets with no sewers, houses built of wood, people never bathing, and little fresh air in homes led to hazardous and unhealthy conditions in most towns at first, towns were under lords, but burghers (town dwellers) resented this, organized, and demanded their rights which they won by force

University: a group of scholars meeting wherever they could Came from Latin for universitas, or “guild” Medieval Univ. were educational guilds that produced educated and trained individuals 1 st Universities Bologna, Italy Attracted by great Roman law teacher Formed guild to protect their rights (1158) University of Paris Oxford By 1500 there were 80 universities for most students, the goal was a government job or a job in the Church

Very strict Awoke at 5am, in class until 10am, 1 st meal Afternoon class until 5pm, Light supper Study until time for bed Classes In rented rooms, Sat on hard benches Often expected to memorize texts Women Not allowed to attend University Exception Christine de Pizan Italian who lived at French Court Married at 15, husband died when she was 25, became a writer Wrote City of Ladies Asked if women were capable of learning University Curricula Traditional liberal arts curriculum Grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy Teaching done by lecture Oral examinations given when applied for a degree Usually 4-6 yr period of study Could go on to study law, theology, or medicine Could earn doctor’s degree after 10 years, could then teach

Dante Wrote Divine Comedy Takes readers on an imaginary journey through hell and purgatory Uses humor, tragedy, and medieval quests for religious understanding Highlights key idea of Christianity- people’s actions in life will determine their afterlife Chaucer Follows English band of pilgrims traveling to Thomas Becket’s tomb Each character tells a story

after Crusades, interactions with Muslims brought about knowledge of science, law, math, etc. Thomas Aquinas’ Suma Theologica about the idea that most basic religious truths could be proved by logical argument

Tried to reconcile faith and reason Tried to harmonize Christian teachings with works of Greek Philosophers Aristotle reintroduced during 12 th century He upset Christian theologians Taught people to reason through truth… questioning the church??? Wasn’t using logic undermining the church??? Thomas Aquinas Tried to reconcile Aristotle with the doctrines of Christianity in 13 th century Wrote Summa Theoligica Organized according to logical method of intellectual investigation used by scholars Asked “Does God exist?” Cited sources with opposing opinions before reconciling them and arriving at his own conclusions Process used by future philosophers Certain that two truths of religion and science would not contradict one another