What system was discovered to help farmers grow crops more efficiently?

What were some characteristics of towns in Medieval Europe?

Who were three authors of this time and what were their major works?

Trade, Towns, and Financial Revolution Notes

a warmer climate existed from 800-1200

used horses to plow twice as much land as oxen used to, but they required better food and harnesses

three-field system: farmers could grow crops on two-thirds of their land each year instead of just half, other one-third recovered

more food and better food meant in increase in population and longer lives

goods traded in towns at fairs

guild: an association of people who worked at the same occupation, they controlled all wages and prices in their craft, enforced standards of quality

merchants had to borrow money to buy goods, but Christians were forbidden from lending money at interest, a sin called usury

this led to many Jews becoming moneylenders

as trade grew, towns swelled with people

serfs ran away from their lords to live in towns because they were unhappy with the feudal system, could be free after living there for a year and a day

narrow streets with no sewers, houses built of wood, people never bathing, and little fresh air in homes led to hazardous and unhealthy conditions in most towns

at first, towns were under lords, but burghers (town dwellers) resented this, organized, and demanded their rights which they won by force

University: a group of scholars meeting wherever they could Came from Latin for universitas, or “guild” Medieval Univ. were educational guilds that produced educated

and trained individuals 1st Universities

Bologna, Italy Attracted by great Roman law teacher Formed guild to protect their rights (1158)

University of Paris Oxford By 1500 there were 80 universities

for most students, the goal was a government job or a job in the Church

Very strict Awoke at 5am, in class until

10am , 1st meal Afternoon class until 5pm,

Light supper Study until time for bed

Classes In rented rooms, Sat on hard

benches Often expected to memorize

texts Women

Not allowed to attend University Exception

Christine de Pizan Italian who lived at French Court Married at 15, husband died when

she was 25, became a writer Wrote City of Ladies

Asked if women were capable of learning

University Curricula Traditional liberal arts

curriculum Grammar, rhetoric, logic,

arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy

Teaching done by lecture Oral examinations given when

applied for a degree Usually 4-6 yr period of study Could go on to study law,

theology, or medicine Could earn doctor’s degree

after 10 years, could then teach

DanteWrote Divine ComedyTakes readers on an imaginary journey

through hell and purgatoryUses humor, tragedy, and medieval quests

for religious understandingHighlights key idea of Christianity- people’s

actions in life will determine their afterlifeChaucer

Follows English band of pilgrims traveling to Thomas Becket’s tomb

Each character tells a story

after Crusades, interactions with Muslims brought about knowledge of science, law, math, etc.

Thomas Aquinas’ Suma Theologica about the idea that most basic religious truths could be proved by logical argument

Tried to reconcile faith and reason Tried to harmonize Christian teachings with works of Greek

Philosophers Aristotle reintroduced during 12th century

He upset Christian theologiansTaught people to reason through truth… questioning the church???Wasn’t using logic undermining the church???

Thomas Aquinas Tried to reconcile Aristotle with the doctrines of Christianity in

13th century Wrote Summa Theoligica

Organized according to logical method of intellectual investigation used by scholars

Asked “Does God exist?” Cited sources with opposing opinions before reconciling them and

arriving at his own conclusions Process used by future philosophers

Certain that two truths of religion and science would not contradict one another