Ch. 14 Sec. 4

1. Ch. 14 Sec. 4 Life & Culture in the Middle Ages

2. Language & Literature • While Latin remained the language of educated people, ordinary people spoke vernacular languages, everyday speech that varies from place to place • During the Middle ages writers began using vernacular languages in literature

3. Early forms of vernacular literature included the songs of troubadours, traveling singers who entertained people w/ poems about love & chivalry • Romances such as the adventures of King Arthur were also popular • The French wrote short comic stories in verse & animal stories, or fables • Another vernacular form was the national epic, a long poem about a hero

4. Dante Alighieri – his work The DivineComedy is considered one of the world’s greatest works of literature • In his imaginary journey through the afterlife, Dante criticized Italian society by placing key figures in hell • Bcuz he wrote in the Tuscan dialect, it became Italy’s written language & some consider Dante the father of Italian language

5. Geoffrey Chaucer – most famous work is The Canterbury Tales, a group of stories told by 30 pilgrims traveling together to the shrine at Canterbury • Chaucer’s pilgrims poke fun at English society, especially clergy who were profiting from their occupation • Chaucer wrote in a vernacular dialect known as Middle English & he greatly influenced the language & style of later writers

6. Education • As towns grew larger, schools opened & teachers & students often formed a guild called a universitas to protect & gain rights for themselves • Universities soon arose throughout Europe • Students had to pass certain stages of study to receive degrees

7. The first degree was the bachelor of arts, which was like finishing an apprenticeship in a craft guild • The second degree was the master of arts, which admitted students to the guild of teaching • Some students went on to study law, medicine or theology

8. Philosophy & Science • Medieval philosophers studied Greek & Roman philosophers • They tried to make Aristotle’s ideas, based on reason, work w/ early Christian writings, which were based on faith • Scholasticism was the medieval philosophy that attempted to bring together faith & reason

9. Peter Abelard, an important philosopher of scholasticism, questioned many of the church’s teachings • Perhaps the greatest medieval philosopher was Thomas Aquinas, a scholar & monk who summarized medieval Christian thought

10. Few scientific advances were made during the Middle Ages bcuz the Bible & church were the main sources for info. about the world • Some technical advances, such as windmills, helped w/ everyday life

11. Architecture • Church architecture was the main art form in the Middle Ages • At first most architecture was Romanesque, like that of the Romans • During the mid-1100s, builders developed a style of church architecture called Gothic, characterized by tall spires & flying buttresses

12. Buttresses carried part of the roof’s weight, allowing church walls to reach high toward heaven • Large stained-glass windows filled churches w/ light • Magnificent Gothic cathedrals were constructed throughout Europe