Culture in the High Middle Ages World History I
Mar 22, 2016
Culture in the High Middle Ages
World History I
The Rise of Education• Universities developed in Europe in the Middle
Ages.– Attended only by men.– Students studied a liberal arts curriculum.• Grammar, logic, math, music, astronomy
– After completing the liberal arts curriculum, students could study medicine, law, or theology.
– Theology is the study of religion and God.• Students who complete these programs and pass their exams
were granted a doctor’s degree.
Scholasticism• The study of theology was strongly influenced by
scholasticism, which combined faith and reason.• It harmonized Christian beliefs with the works of Greek
philosophers.• Works of philosophers, such as Aristotle, upset many Christians
because his beliefs contradicted those of the church.– Saint Thomas Aquinas made the most famous attempt
at reconciling Aristotle with Christian beliefs.• In Summa Theologica, Aquinas used logical methods of
questioning in an attempt to answer theological questions.
Vernacular Language• Latin was the language of medieval Europe.– By the 12th century, more literature was being written in
vernacular, the language of everyday speech in a particular region.• The desire for new entertainment led to a growth in vernacular
languages.• More people spoke vernacular languages.
– Examples: Spanish, French, English, and German
Architecture• Architecture changed during the middle ages.– The Romanesque style of architecture was being
replaced in many areas by Gothic architecture.• Stained Glass windows are one famous example of Gothic
architecture.
Romanesque Architecture Gothic Architecture