Faith and Education

The High Middle Ages marks the start of a collegiate educational system. At the time, members of the clergy did the most educating. These church scholars lived, worked, and preserved ancient literature in monasteries. Specifically, church scholars translated Greek and Arabic works into Latin, a skill set that enabled them to read works from many different languages and pass that knowledge along. Moreover, Latin was the universal language of medieval civilization, as it was the language of Rome, and commonly spoken. In addition, colleges and universities chose to use Latin, which allowed students of different cultures to understand the teachings.

As people began to make more discoveries in science, a new school of thought called scholasticism developed. This critical thinking method allowed medieval church officials and educators to show a harmony between what was being learned and what was accepted with faith. During this time, two types of truths emerged. The first was religious truth, and included that which was revealed by faith and not proven scientifically. The other was scientific truth, and included that which was proven by science. St. Thomas Aquinas made great strides in the field of scholasticism. In his work, Summa Theologica, he wrote about his belief that both faith and reason came from God, and that they supported one another instead of being in competition.

The Rise of Universities

Most medieval universities began as educational guilds, or associations composed of people with similar interests. Students at the first medieval university, located in Bologna, Italy, formed a guild in 1158 A.D. (C.E.). Shortly after, the University of Paris and Oxford University in England were established. Students attending a college or university studied grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Since books were rare and expensive, teaching was mostly by lecture, whereby teachers read from books and students took notes. Unless they applied for a degree, students were not tested. While degree-seeking students were given an exam to test their knowledge, there were not a lot of degree programs - just theology, law, or medicine. Upon completion of a four-to-six year formal education, students earned a bachelor of arts degree, and could choose to continue and earn a doctorate, which would allow them to teach others. In this interactivity, you will learn more about the locations and founding dates of various medieval universities. Click the player button to begin.

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Guilds

In medieval times, everyone did not have the opportunity to receive a formal education. However, in each town and city, opportunities existed to learn a craft or trade through guilds. For example, merchants in medieval towns formed guilds similar to business associations. It was a guild's responsibility to manage carpenters, bankers, and banks. They even monitored merchants of silk, wool, and spices. In addition, guilds set quality standards, and prices for goods and services. Those who wanted to operate a business had to belong to a guild. Often guilds had a town meeting space solely for their use. Take a moment to hover your cursor over the following steps and see how someone became a master at their trade.

A Revival of Learning Review

Now that you have discovered how learning was revived during the High Middle Ages, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player button to get started.