Middle Ages
Overview
Benefits of the Roman Empire
n
Roman Empire provided:
n
Security
n
Communication
n
Trade
n
Culture
Roman Empire 120 AD
Rome falls 476 A.D.
n
Barbarian
Invasions
n
Destruction
of larger social institutions
n
Empire
Divides into 3 parts:
n
Latin
Christendom (Western
Europe)
n
Byzantium (Eastern Europe-Constantinople)
n
Arab
World
Roman Empire after Breakup
Dark Ages
in Latin Christendom
500-1000A.D.
n
Loss
of Security
n
Trade
died
n
Chaos-
roaming bands of thugs
n
Disintegration
of social Institutions
High Middle
Ages
1000-1300 A.D.
n
Last
invasions (Viking and Magyar) end in 10th Century
n
Greater
security leads to the resumption of society on a larger scale
n
Corporate
life begins to grow
Feudalism
n
Government
developed in the absence of the State
n
Decentralized,
reciprocal government structure
n
Exchange
of land for service
n
Feudal
Pyramid (peasants not in pyramid)
n
Mutual
obligations
n
No
Sovereign, No State
Manor
n
The
Lords Land
n
Economic
Unit
n
Self
sufficient
n
Provided
everything for all residents
n
Made
up of farm land, Church, blacksmith
n
Serfs-peasants
tied to land, differ from slaves
Improved farming techniques
n
Iron
tipped Plow replaces wood
n
Harness
for Horse
n
Three
Field system replaces two field
n
Leads
to increase in food production
n
Allows
population to grow
n
Actually
now have a surplus population-not everyone needs to produce food.
Notes from Friday:
Continued
Pop Trivia
n
Question:
I was the Ancient Greek Philosopher most used by the Scholastics in all
academic areas, other than religion.
Scholasticism and
Universities
n
Education
in Early Middle Ages
l
Society
organized for war and defense
l
Slight
support for education
n
Improved
Economy and stability led to the possibility for education
n
The
Scholastic method was the method used to gain knowledge
n
Latin
was the language use in all Universities
Key Concept:
n
Medieval
thought began with the existence of God and the truth of his revelation as
interpreted by the Church. The Medieval
mind rejected the fundamental principle of Greek Philosophy-the autonomy of
reason. Without the guidance of revealed
truth, reason was seen as feeble.
Scholastic Purpose
n
Provide
rational explanation for what was believed on faith
n
Prove
reason and faith were harmonious
n
Reconciled
traditional Christian teaching and the new body of information recovered from
the Ancient Greeks after 12th Century
n
Use
human reason (Aristotle) to understand the supernatural content of Christian
revelation
Key Term: Dogma
n
Definition:
l
A
doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and
authoritatively proclaimed by a Church
Influences on Scholasticism
n
Aristotle
l
Translation
of Aristotle into Latin opened up new world of information that could not be
ignored
l
Aristotle
was the Authority on all areas other than religion
Scholastic Philosophy
n
Convinced
of fundamental harmony between reason and revelation
n
When
conflicts arose between faith and reason faith was supreme
l
Philosophy
was the servant to theology
l
Theology
defined as the intellectual study of religion
l
Theology
known as the “Queen of the sciences”
Scholastic Method
n
Reliance
on authority
n
Use
of precision in language
n
Use
of Deductive Logic
l
From
large accepted truth to smaller truths
n
Not
at all like the scientific method
Scholastic Philosophers
n
Peter
Abelard 1079-1142
l
Wrote
Sic et non “Yes and No”
l
Utilized
systematic doubting
l
“By
doubting we
come to questioning and by questioning we perceive the truth”
l
Use
of dialectics: Any systematic reasoning
that juxtaposes two contradictory ideas and seeks to resolve
their conflict
Scholastic
Philosophers (cont.)
n
St.
Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274
n Summa Theologica
n
Foremost
Scholastic Philosopher
n
Created
a synthesis of western philosophies and attempted to reconcile to Christian
belief
n
Drew
distinction between faith and reason
l
Reason
can demonstrate many
basic principles such as the existence of God, Trinity can’t be
proved by logic
Medieval Architecture
From Romanesque to Gothic
Romanesque Architecture
n
Viking
invaders had burned wooden Churches in the 9th and 10th Centuries
n
After
1000 AD Church building increased dramatically
n
Fire
proofing was essential
n
Stone
replaced wood building
n
Romanesque-heavy
roof, thick walls, little light
Romanesque:
Durham Cathedral
1100 AD
Fontenay- Romanesque
Gothic Architecture
n
Pointed
arch, flying buttress
n
Thinner
walls, Stained glass
n
Uninterupted light
n
Built
Cathedrals to glorify God
n
Huge
time and $ investment
Gothic
Architecture cont.
n
Main alter faced East, toward Jerusalem
n
West
faced setting sun-Last judgment
n
North-least
light; old testament
n
South-most
light; new testament
Chartres Cathedral 1145-1220
Chartres
Chartres- Flying Buttress
Notre Dame 1163-1250
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Medieval Art
n
Art
in the Middle Ages served a religious function which
was to lift the mind toward God.
n
It
depicted a spiritual universe in which the supernatural was the supreme reality
n
Left
side of painting depicted the damned, right side the saved
Medieval Art