Life and Culture Learning Target Explore the changes in Language, Literature, Education, Philosophy, Science and Architecture in the late Middle Ages.
Education Early Middle Ages - Rare (clergy and nobles) Monasteries/tutors provided instruction. Crusades made people more interested in education. As towns grew, schools opened (for pay) Teacher/student guilds formed called: “universitas” – University Great univerities: Bologna (Law); Salerno (medicine); Paris (theology); Oxford (Math)
Reviving philosophy Greek/Roman philosophy had been kept alive by Muslims. Works of ancient scholars (Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle) were “rediscovered” during crusades, but they were all pagan- and church needed to make their ideas work with Christianity. Scholasticism- medieval philosophy: combine faith and reason. Peter Abelard – struggled with conflict between ancient philosophy/Bible/popes/church philosphers. Thomas Aquinas- Most famous. “Summa theologica”
Science Religious teaching dominated. Focused on Mathematics and Optics (light). “Scientific” advances were “practical” – Winch – Pulley – Iron plows – Oxen yokes Windmills and waterwheels (Asian Inventions)
Architecture Churches and church architecture are dominant Romanesque – domed roof, low walls with few windows, dark. Gothic – new form of church architecture. – Tall spires – Flying buttress – supporting structure – connected to church walls and supported weight of the roof. – Everything pointed to the heavens (symbolic) – Stained-glass windows – Statues – Sculptures Paris: Saint-Denis Abbey (1140), Notre Dame (1160s)