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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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