The High or Central Middle Ages The Culture of the Middle Ages began to advance rapidly once people began to live in towns. During Middle Ages people began to speak local languages or use the vernacular. English, Spanish, Italian and French. The songs of the Troubadours were examples of the earliest use of the vernacular. National Epics were also ways of spreading the vernacular language, King Arthur in England, Song of Roland in France and the Nibelungenlied in Germany. Towns began to consume short comic stories such as the fabliaux, which poked fun at local traditions. Animal stories like Reynard the Fox.

We didn’t drop water bombs Speaking of trade

Dante and Chaucer Another form of vernacular were the Miracle Plays, usually dramas of biblical stories. Noye’s Fludde. (Noah’s Flood), and Second’s Shepherd’s Tale. Medieval Literature reached its zenith in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and Dante Alighieri. Dante in his Divine Comedy uses Virgil as his guide through heaven, purgatory, and hell. Dante uses a vernacular form of Italian to tell his tale. Chaucer’s work the Canterbury Tales is required reading in most English Literature courses. Chaucer uses his tales to teach, and poke fun at the English and the clergy. At first most of the education was provided by the Catholic Church. Towns attracted teachers, who attracted students, and set up schools.

Universities and Philosophy Students and Teachers united to form guilds or universitas or later Universities. Four great Universities, Oxford, Paris, Salerno, and Bologna. Each had its own specialty Oxford and Paris – theology, Salerno-medicine, and Bologna – Canon and Roman law. The schools set up the requirements for a degree, and students could earn a Bachelor’s degree – like a journeyman, or a masters and could teach. The works of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers came to Medieval Europe from the Crusades in Spain and the Holy Land. They tried to reconcile faith with reason – called Scholasticism – Thomas Aquinas and Peter Abelard.

Aquinas and Abelard Peter Abelard – writes Sic et Non – Yes and No which raises many questions about Church Doctrine and then answers them with decisions of the church. Thomas Aquinas – wrote Summa Theologica which summarized church doctrine of the time. Still used by the Catholic Church. In Science most reasoning was deductive not empirical or derived at by observation. Galen and Ptolomey were two known authorities and their writings were considered sacrosanct. The Bible as well The study of optics and mathematics were given serious attention by scientists. Not until the Renaissance is inductive reasoning applied to science.

Art and Architecture Most Art was church sanctioned and dedicated to the glory of God. 1000-1500 architects who used arches and domes but with heavy walls and high small windows. Romanesque style of architecture. Gothic architecture, high walls, huge stained glass windows-the famous rose window. Flying buttresses for wall support. High spires and tall arches. Statues adorned the inside of the church. The play of light from the large windows emphasized the glory of God. Romanesque-Church of San Vitale and the Cathedral group at Pisa. Gothic Notre Dame in Paris and Chartres as well as Reims, and Salisbury Cathedral.

The Hundred Years’ War The Hundred year’ war lasted from 1337 until 1453. It started because of the close ties between England and France and a dispute over the succession to the French throne. Edward III claimed the throne of France, the French picked the Valois, Charles IV. England and France also fought for control of Flanders the rich trading, and intellectual center of N. Europe.

The Black Death The Black Death or Bubonic Plague swept into Europe around 1346 AD. It was spread by merchant ships, rats, and the fleas on those rats. Two forms of plague Bubonic, which effected lymph glands, and pneumonic which effected the lungs. Over 1/3 of the population of Europe was wiped out. 75 million people worldwide died of the plague. The plague changed the face of Europe and the world and it took Europe over 100 years to recover. Many people thought it was the end of the world.

The Church in the 13th Century The Church on first examination may have appeared powerful and healthy as an institution. The H.R.E. Frederick II was dead, a brief reunion occurred with the Eastern Orthodox Church. The French king Louis IX went on two Crusades, which ended in misery and death for many French nobility However there were some glaring problems. Innocent III represented the Catholic Church and papal power at its zenith. By concentrating on the secular political world he neglected the spiritual. Urban IV expanded the church court system. Rome often came before local interests.

Political Fragmentation of the Church The internal political system of the catholic church began to break down. Rulers tried to bribe the College of Cardinals. Celestine V, a hermit was chosen as Pope, but died after a short time in office. Boniface VIII replaced him as Pope. Boniface came in direct conflict with English and French rulers. The English Kings Henry III, and Edward I help centralize English power. Philip IV or the Fair was the real thorn in Boniface’s side. He was a ruthless politician who wanted to throw the English out of France.