1. Education and the Arts in the High Middle Ages

2. Medieval Universities
The church wanted a higher educated clergy
The government needed highly literate men for representative bodies
With an education better job opportunities were available to you
Academic Guilds: the first universities with charters
Ex: Oxford
Generally speaking, women were exempt/left out of educational opportunities

3. A Knowledge Explosion
Texts from other areas-Middle East, Greece, and Spain were translated and seeped into Western Europe
This set off a revolution of learning
Philosophy:
Europeans felt challenged by the Greeks
Scholasticism: the use of “reason” to support Christian beliefs; Thomas Aquinas
Science and Math-Slowly integrated into European culture; greatly influenced by Spain; Byzantine Empire; Rome; and the Middle East

4. Literature Languages: Heroic Epics: Dante’s Divine Comedy:
Latin used by the church, nobility, and the educated
Vernacular used by uneducated people
Heroic Epics:
Ex: Song of Roland- glorified Charlemagne and his knights
Dante’s Divine Comedy:
Takes reader on a journey to an imaginary hell, purgatory, and heaven
Journey summarizes Christian ethics-life determines afterlife
Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer
Tale is a compilation of stories that portrays Medieval life

5. Architecture
Known for its towering stone cathedrals that symbolized wealth and religious devotion
Romanesque: Inspired by Rome
Thick walls and towers
A lot of stone
Little to no windows
Gothic:
Typically limestone
Stone supports outside the church
High walls and Stained glass windows

6. A Time of Crisis 3 main dilemmas: The Black Death
Upheaval in the Church
Many years of war

7. The Black Death
Fatal disease called “The Bubonic Plague” that originated at the Black Sea and spread by trade
1 in 3 died
Rats and fleas infested trading ships paving the way to an epidemic-outbreak of disease
Widespread crop failures brought famine and starvation prior to the plague
After the plague hit, war ensued and Europe was deep in crisis
Plague brought terror and bewilderment that led to social upheaval
Economic effects: Production decreased and the cost of labor soared, leading to inflation

8. Upheaval in the Church 3 main causes:
Church was unable to produce leadership in such desperate times
There was a drastic split within the Catholic Church due to decades of 2-3 “popes” claiming to be the true vicar of Christ
Heresies: Popular preachers challenged the Churches power
Ex: Wycliffe: insisted that the Bible was the source of Christian truth not the church; he is a Christian martyr that was burned at the stake

9. The Hundred Years War 1337-1453 England v. France (victor) Causes:
Economic rivalry
Growing sense of national pride
Joan of Arc
Felt led by God to lead the French in battle
Led several French victories
Burned at the stake by the English
Later declared a saint