Medieval Learning & Art

Refer to Pages 233- 241

Factors for the Revival of Learning Favorable political and economic

conditions Europe’s contact with the Byzantine and

Arab civilizations (post-Crusades era) Preservation of Greek & Roman texts in Arab

libraries Laws of Justinian Works of Aristotle

Need for education in towns/guilds

The University Organizations of instructors

Guilds: universitas Commitment to instructor

Bologna, Italy

Bologna, Italy Emphasized Law Supervised by students

“A professor might not be absent without leave, even a single day, and if he desired to leave town he had to make a deposit to ensure his return. If he failed to secure an audience of five for a regular lecture, he was fined as if absent . . . He was not allowed to skip a character in his commentary, or postpone a difficulty to the end of the hour, and he was obliged to cover ground systematically… (pg. 234)

Paris, FranceParis, France

Paris, France Emphasized Liberal Arts Supervised by a guild of masters or

professors

Philosophy & Theology Scholastic movement

Renewed interest in theology and philosophy Relied on Faith and Reason

Attempted to use logic and philosophy to explain or harmonize the church’s teachings with new knowledge that was being gained through the sciences

Anselm Lived from 1033 to 1109 Archbishop of Canterbury Believed faith is essential to proper

understanding/proving the existence of God

“I do not try, Lord, to attain Your lofty heights, because my understanding is in no way equal to it. But I do desire to understand Your truth a little, that truth that my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand so that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that ‘unless I believe, I shall not understand.’” (Pg. 235)

Peter Abelard “By doubting we arrive at inquiry, and

through inquiry we perceive the truth.” Searched for truth through

critical reasoning Sic et non (Yes and No)

Focused on reason and questioning to point out contradictory views and inconsistencies regarding the Church’s articles of faith

Many Church leaders saw him as a threat to faith

Thomas Aquinas Believed certain truths could be

understood by man and others could only be understood by God.

Summa Theologica: Because faith and reason were

both given by God there was no contradiction.

Tried to harmonize the Church’s teachings with Aristotle

Medieval Science Thinkers placed little emphasis on the current

world Faith and reason = only sure source of knowledge Observation and experimentation (scientific

method) was secondary Magic and superstition

Encyclopedias Unchallenged collections of recorded knowledge

Roger Bacon Advocated observation and

experimentation Recognized the dangers of adhering only

to traditional views Predicted the invention of:

Powered ships Powered cars Aircraft Nuclear physics

Language and Literature Latin was primary language of the learned Vernacular literature:

English Beowulf French Song of Roland Spanish El Cid

Troubadours

Dante Alighieri Divine Comedy Dante takes a journey through hell,

purgatory, and heaven Reflected his and popular politics, social

order, and religious beliefs Popularized medieval cosmology

Affected today’s Christian cosmology

Geoffrey Chaucer English poet; The Canterbury Tales Pilgrims’ stories journeying to shrine of

Thomas a Becket Critiques Church and English culture and

customs

Art and Architecture Primarily religious - Visual teaching Cathedrals: “Heaven on Earth”

Art and Architecture Romanesque

Modified Roman basilicas Thick walls, stone vaults, rounded arches,

heavy columns, small doors/windows Dark & gloomy

Gothic High ceilings, thinner walls, larger

windows/doors Light, airy, delicate, “heavenly” Stained glass windows