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8: The Rise of
the Medieval
University
Background to Universities
9th-13th centuries: population explosion
Primogeniture
Earlier schools monastery schools,
cathedral schools, private tutors/schools
Birth of Universities
Founded on guild principle
University = group of organized workers.
Denotes totality of the group.
Mobile universities own no buildings and
are not tied to locations.
Paris
University of Masters
Charter granted 1200,
organized 1150-70
Known for theology
Bologna
Officially organized in 1200; actually
organized ~1150
Known for Law
University of Students
Defense against townspeople
Defense against their other enemies, the professors
Other Universities
Oxford: 1220
Salerno: 1231, known for medicine (but it
was a center for medical learning before
then)
Size of universities: 200-800
Biggest = ~2,500.
~1200: universities have become
intellectual centers of Europe
Student Life
I, a wandering scholar
lad,
Born for toil and
sadness,
Oftentimes am driven by
Poverty to madness.
These torn clothes that
cover me
Are too thin and rotten;
Oft I have to suffer cold,
By the warmth forgotten
Curriculum
B.A. liberal arts + 3 philosophies. 4 yrs.
Emphasis on grammar declines; emphasis on
logic increases
Natural Philosophy
Scholastic Humanism
Scholasticism attempt to collect and assimilate all
knowledge. Very optimistic
Humanism affirmation of human reason.
Even though the natural light of the human mind is inadequate to
make known what is revealed by faith, nevertheless what is divinely
taught to us by faith cannot be contrary to what we are endowed with
by nature. One or the other would have to be false, and since we have
both or them from God, He would be the cause of our error, which is
impossible.
- Thomas Aquinas