Art and Culture of the Middle Ages

Art and Culture of the Middle Ages - Transcript

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Art and Culture of the Middle Ages
Preview
Main Idea Reading Focus Visual Arts Literature Thinking and Learning Faces of History Thomas Aquinas

The High Middle Ages Main Idea

Section 3

Art and Culture of the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages great achievements were made in the visual arts literature and thinking and learning

Reading Focus
What were the major achievements of the visual arts during the Middle Ages What were the great literary works of the Middle Ages What new developments were made in medieval thinking and learning

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Visual Arts
Many art historians consider the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris to be one of the finest artistic achievements of the Middle Ages Like most art in the Middle Ages it was created as a symbol of God Gothic Architecture Some of greatest examples of religious feelings found in churches Built in new Gothic style Taller brighter than previous churches Engineering Gothic designs possible through advances in engineering New type of support flying buttress Supported walls from outside Airy Feeling Flying buttresses allowed higher ceilings eliminated columns Larger windows possible Stained glass showed Biblical scenes saints

The High Middle Ages Decorations
Cathedrals lavishly decorated Statues of saints kings figures from Old Testament

Section 3

Exterior had gargoyles spouts to drain rainwater from roof Many gargoyles carved into likenesses of hideous beasts

Adornments
Walls painted with elaborate murals of religious scenes Candleholders crosses statues intricate works of art Many decorated with gold precious stones Clothes of priests heavily embroidered woven with gold threads

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Visual Arts
Illumination
Religious texts richly decorated by illumination decorating manuscript with pictures designs Illuminators brought pages to life with scenes from manuscript painted plants animals people Decorated the first letter on a page making it large colorful and flowing

Tapestry
Most medieval art religious some showed daily life history Tapestries large woven wall hangings hung in castles to prevent drafts Many tapestries show scenes from daily life fantastic creatures unicorns dragons Bayeux Tapestry story of William the Conqueror

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Find the Main Idea What were three forms of medieval art
Answer s architecture illumination and tapestries

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Literature
Writers from the Middle Ages produced works that covered a wide spectrum including religion romance and epic adventures

Religious Texts
Many writings dealt with religion Few people other than monks priests could read or write Range of works
Sermons on how to live Interpretations of Bible passages Lives of saints

Songs and Poems
Medieval writers created religious songs poems Hildegard of Bingen famous poet nun Wrote dozens of poems music to accompany them Hildegard other writers used Latin language of Roman Catholic Church

Widely read by nobility clergy

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Literature
Literature included epics romances Long poems stories of heroes villains written in language people spoke every day Epic Poems Tell tales related to war heroes The Song of Roland Charlemagne s fight against Muslims in Spain Romances Tell tales of true love chivalry Many tell stories of King Arthur and knights of Round Table Epics romances often performed by troubadours

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Major Works
Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer s collection of stories Group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury each tells story to entertain others Characters give insight into what life was like in the Middle Ages

The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri s story of his imaginary trip through the afterlife Composed in three parts or cantos On journey met people from own life as well as figures from history

Contributions
Chaucer helped increase use of written English language in England where many had been speaking French Dante s writing shaped development of Italian language for centuries

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Summarize What subjects did medieval authors write about
Answer s religious subjects heroes villains love chivalry

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Thinking and Learning
New Ideas
Religious writers of Middle Ages spread new ideas throughout Europe New ideas gave rise to new ways of thinking and learning

Alchemy
People in Middle Ages curious about how world worked Began to conduct scientific experiments in alchemy early form of chemistry

Constrictions
Experiments constricted by reliance on authority of Greek writers Also by teaching of the Catholic Church

Great Secrets
Alchemists convinced they could find way to turn base metals into gold but could not Work in alchemy influenced later growth of science

The High Middle Ages Universities

Section 3

Growth of European universities influenced by Islamic scholarship Blending of European Islamic cultures led to translation of Aristotle other Greek scholars from Arabic into Latin European scholars exposed to new ideas Universities taught mainly religious courses first but later broadened scope to include medicine law

Thomas Aquinas
One of most influential medieval scholars Thomas Aquinas Keenly interested in works of ancient philosophers especially Aristotle He tried to use Aristotle s methods of logic to prove existence of God

Teachings
Aquinas use of intellect and logic to bring together opposing ideas became known as Scholasticism Teachings helped expand former ways of thinking understanding New methods helped Europeans place themselves in wider world

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

The High Middle Ages

Section 3

Analyze How did thinking and learning change in the Middle Ages
Answer s experiments in alchemy universities appeared Aquinas s development of Scholasticism