PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 7

The Penguin History of Medieval Europe
By: Maurice Keen
Chapter 7: New Movements in Thought and Letters
Presented By: Rebecca Boe

-A new outburst of intelligence and literary activity occurred in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which generated multiple forces and a many sided movement.

-A spirit of curiosity created a demanding why and wherefore for old values and assumptions – “New Movement in Thought”

-Traditional centers of learning were in the monasteries, but cathedral chapters were beginning to flourish, especially in northern France.

-Cathedrals had certain advantages over the monasteries because they could develop more freely, more speculative, and they studied logic.

-Aristotle and Porphyry showed a means by which statements, meanings, and argument could be categorized, classified, and valued - First time in centuries scholars were familiarized with intellectual standards which were completely “human and rational”.

-Viewing sacred truths in the eyes of everyday human reason could be seen as improper – Conservative minded saw it as questioning the teaching which Christian society had adopted as its “guiding light”.

-Even in the monasteries, the Cistercians were opening their studies to the “literate lay brothers”.

-Abelard was the greatest philosopher is his day and Bernard was the most influential Cistercian of history. He began to question the doctrines and wanted them to be reviewed with logic.

-Peter Lombard wrote “The Sentences”, which became a companion to the bible and the standard theological text book of the Middle Ages. His text systematically addressed the inconsistencies in scriptures and Christian doctrines and became the starting point for all theological study and controversy for three hundred years. Lombard taught in School of Paris, along with Abelard.

-Gratian, a contemporary of Abelard and Lombard, taught canon law at Bologna. His book, “Concordance of the Discordant” played the same role in the study of canon law as “The Sentences” by Lombard in theology.

-There were two problems facing the canon law student: (1) How to decide what was authoritative and what was not and (2) How to reconcile the conflicts in the remaining body of the authoritative legislation.

-John of Salisbury and Hugh of St Victor were able to present a systematic Christian view of society based on an examination of its nature components and functions. Their methods for analyzing could be used for any problem. This was the beginning to break free of thinking dominated by theology.

-At the same time writings began to appear about Arthur and the kings of Britain. These writings were of feelings, woman, men, and the story of the Holy Grail. However, the basis of authority was Christian teachings.