Life and CultureLife and CultureLearning TargetLearning Target

Explore the changes in Language, Explore the changes in Language, Literature, Education, Philosophy, Science Literature, Education, Philosophy, Science and Architecture in the late Middle Ages.and Architecture in the late Middle Ages.

EducationEducation

• 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 philosophyReviving 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”

ScienceScience• Religious teaching dominated.• Focused on Mathematics and Optics (light).• “Scientific” advances were “practical”– Winch– Pulley– Iron plows– Oxen yokes

• Windmills and waterwheels (Asian Inventions)

ArchitectureArchitecture• 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)