what subjects were included in the course of study in medieval universities

by Sienna Kreiger 9 min read

The medieval university curriculum was predominantly based on ancient Greek and Roman ideas of education. A medieval student began his studies with the Seven Liberal Arts, divided into the Trivium

Trivium

The trivium is the lower division of the seven liberal arts and comprises grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The trivium is implicit in De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii by Martianus Capella, but the term was not used until the Carolingian Renaissance, when it was coined in imitation of the earlier quadrivium. Grammar, logic, and rhetoric were essential to a classical education, as explained in Plato's dialogues. …

(Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic), and the Quadrivium (Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and Music).

The trivium comprised the three subjects that were taught first: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The quadrivium consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. The quadrivium was taught after the preparatory work of the trivium and would lead to the degree of Master of Arts.

Full Answer

What was the curriculum of medieval universities?

During the medieval period, European universities taught the same broad curriculum, although some chose to study a slightly different selection of texts within these topics. The medieval university curriculum was predominantly based on ancient Greek and Roman ideas of education.

Why did medieval universities focus so heavily on science?

In fact, the European university put Aristotelian and other natural science texts at the center of its curriculum, with the result that the "medieval university laid far greater emphasis on science than does its modern counterpart and descendent."

What were the subjects taught in the Roman Empire?

All instruction was given in Latin and students were expected to converse in that language. The trivium comprised the three subjects that were taught first: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The quadrivium consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.

What were the subjects taught in the trivium?

All instruction was given in Latin and students were expected to converse in that language. The trivium comprised the three subjects that were taught first: grammar, logic, and rhetoric.

Why did universities run grammar schools?

What is the meaning of the English University?

What subjects can you study in a university?

What was a common occurrence in the life of a medieval student?

What are the requirements of a church cleric?

What is the basis for learning and teaching the principle of logic?

How did the rise of the university in England affect the trade of books?

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What subjects were included in the course of study in medieval universities quizlet?

Unified program of study offered by Medieval universities which included theology, law, medicine, and the arts.

What did students study in the Middle Ages?

Just like today they learned math and grammar (or, the study of language) as well as music, art, and science. And, they played sports like archery, hammer-throwing, horseshoes, and wrestling. Unlike today, most subjects centered around theology (or, the study of religion).

Which was the most highly regarded course of study in medieval universities in the Middle Ages?

TheologyTheology—the study of religion and God—was the most highly regarded subject of the medieval university. The study of law, medicine, or theology could take 10 years or more.

What was the most important university subject in the Middle Ages?

The most important subject at universities in the Middle Ages was theology, which involved the study of religion and God. Scholasticism as a philosophical system had the strongest influence on theology.

What was life like for medieval university students?

Students were not allowed to attend more than two lectures per day… Some leisure time was allowed. Besides life at the bursa, which was not always agreeable – parodic songs were written about the bad food – the Saxon nation apparently had a lot to offer, such as celebrations of saints' days and the like.”

What were the seven subjects studied in cathedral schools of Middle Ages?

The subjects taught at cathedral schools ranged from literature to mathematics. These topics were called the seven liberal arts: grammar, astronomy, rhetoric (or speech), logic, arithmetic, geometry and music.

How is the curriculum of the medieval university best described?

The medieval university curriculum was predominantly based on ancient Greek and Roman ideas of education. A medieval student began his studies with the Seven Liberal Arts, divided into the Trivium (Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic), and the Quadrivium (Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and Music).

What is medieval education?

Medieval education was largely centred around religion and was almost exclusively for the children of wealthy families. There were monastic and cathedral schools, where students were taught Latin and often prepared for a life in the church. Knights also received a different kind of education.

List of medieval universities - Wikipedia

The list of medieval universities comprises universities (more precisely, studia generalia) which existed in Europe during the Middle Ages. It also includes short-lived foundations and European educational institutions whose university status is a matter of debate. The degree-awarding university with its corporate organization and relative autonomy is a product of medieval Christian Europe.

Medieval University Life | History Today

‘When Oxford draws knife, England’s soon at strife’ As the old rhyme indicates, university riots are nothing new. In medieval times internecine disputes often spread far beyond the student community; and frequently the scholars banded together in bloody battles against the townspeople.

A Comparison of Universities During the Medieval and Modern Times

Universities: Medieval and Modern Universities have existed since the Twelfth Century AD and have been evolving ever since. There have been many changes however many things have remained unchanged throughout the years. The student and teacher roles have evolved as well as the general purpos...

The Rise of Medieval Universities | Encyclopedia.com

The Rise of Medieval UniversitiesOverviewThe European university is a particular organization that emerged out of the conditions of medieval society. Students and teachers in Europe applied the medieval trend of guild organization to protect themselves from local laws, high prices, and prejudices. Wider needs within medieval society for people with skills and learning boosted student numbers ...

Universities in Middle Ages - 4200 Words | Studymode

It was a continuation of the Middles Ages- for example “That king of yours (Henry VIII of England) may bring back the golden age, though I shall not live to enjoy, as my tale draws to an end” But I also agree that it was a period of distinct from the Middle Ages, there were so many changes- economic, religious, and art after the Middles Ages came to the Renaissance.

What was the purpose of medieval universities?

A medieval university was a corporation organized during the Middle Ages for the purposes of higher education . The first Western European institutions generally considered to be universities were established in the Kingdom of Italy (then part of the Holy Roman Empire ), the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of France, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Kingdom of Portugal between the 11th and 15th centuries for the study of the arts and the higher disciplines of theology, law, and medicine. During the 14th century there was an increase in growth of universities and colleges around Europe. These universities evolved from much older Christian cathedral schools and monastic schools, and it is difficult to define the exact date when they became true universities, though the lists of studia generalia for higher education in Europe held by the Vatican are a useful guide.

What was the development of the medieval university?

The development of the medieval university coincided with the widespread reintroduction of Aristotle from Byzantine and Arab scholars. In fact, the European university put Aristotelian and other natural science texts at the center of its curriculum, with the result that the "medieval university laid far greater emphasis on science than does its modern counterpart and descendent."

What were the first universities?

Among the earliest universities of this type were the University of Bologna (1088), University of Paris (1150), University of Oxford (1167), University of Modena (1175), University of Palencia (1208), University of Cambridge (1209), University of Salamanca (1218), University of Montpellier (1220), University of Padua (1222), University of Toulouse (1229), University of Orleans (1235), University of Siena (1240), University of Valladolid (1241) University of Northampton (1261), University of Coimbra (1288), University of Pisa (1343), Charles University in Prague (1348), Jagiellonian University (1364), University of Vienna (1365), Heidelberg University (1386) and the University of St Andrews (1413) begun as private corporations of teachers and their pupils.

What was the Western style of education?

From the Early Modern period onward, this Western -style organizational form gradually spread from the medieval Latin west across the globe, eventually replacing all other higher-learning institutions and becoming the pre-eminent model for higher education everywhere.

How were universities structured?

Universities were generally structured along three types, depending on who paid the teachers. The first type was in Bologna, where students hired and paid for the teachers. The second type was in Paris, where teachers were paid by the church. Oxford and Cambridge were predominantly supported by the crown and the state, which helped them survive the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 and the subsequent removal of all principal Catholic institutions in England. These structural differences created other characteristics. At the Bologna university the students ran everything—a fact that often put teachers under great pressure and disadvantage. In Paris, teachers ran the school; thus Paris became the premiere spot for teachers from all over Europe. Also, in Paris the main subject matter was theology, so control of the qualifications awarded was in the hands of an external authority – the chancellor of the diocese. In Bologna, where students chose more secular studies, the main subject was law.

Why did universities go into decline during the Renaissance?

Although it has been assumed that the universities went into decline during the Renaissance due to the scholastic and Aristotelian emphasis of its curriculum being less popular than the cultural studies of Renaissance humanism, Toby Huff has noted the continued importance of the European universities, with their focus on Aristotle and other scientific and philosophical texts into the early modern period, arguing that they played a crucial role in the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries. As he puts it " Copernicus, Galileo, Tycho Brahe, Kepler, and Newton were all extraordinary products of the apparently Procrustean and allegedly Scholastic universities of Europe... Sociological and historical accounts of the role of the university as an institutional locus for science and as an incubator of scientific thought and arguments have been vastly understated."

When was the University of Paris recognized?

The University of Paris was formally recognized when Pope Gregory IX issued the bull Parens scientiarum (1231) . This was a revolutionary step: studium generale (university) and universitas (corporation of students or teachers) existed even before, but after the issuing of the bull, they attained autonomy. " [T]he papal bull of 1233, which stipulated that anyone admitted as a teacher in Toulouse had the right to teach everywhere without further examinations ( ius ubique docendi ), in time, transformed this privilege into the single most important defining characteristic of the university and made it the symbol of its institutional autonomy .... By the year 1292, even the two oldest universities, Bologna and Paris, felt the need to seek similar bulls from Pope Nicholas IV ."

What are the two types of advisors in the College of Liberal Arts?

There are two types of academic advisors in the College of Liberal Arts: College Advisors and Faculty Advisors. Both types of advisors can assist you with your academic progress in different ways and you are able to meet with both types of advisors.

How many credits do you need to complete a minor?

To complete the minor, students must complete 18 credit hours, which must include courses from at least two departments. Of these credits, 12 must be earned in courses numbered 300 or above. A list of courses offered that may be used to fulfill minor requirements are below.

What is a faculty advisor in liberal arts?

The faculty advisors are academic faculty members that advise specifically for their department’s major and minor programs. In addition to their roles as instructors and scholars, faculty advisors can serve as mentors to students as they progress through their degree.

What was the curriculum of medieval universities?

The medieval university curriculum was predominantly based on ancient Greek and Roman ideas of education. A medieval student began his studies with the Seven Liberal Arts, divided into the Trivium (Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic), and the Quadrivium (Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and Music). This required 8 or 9 years to complete.

What was the arithmetic system of the medieval era based on?

Medieval arithmetic was based on the teachings of Ancient Greece. However, during the Twelfth-Century Renaissance, the Hindu-Arabic numerical system was introduced to Europe, gradually replacing the use of Roman numerals, and introducing the concept of zero.

Why was astrology used in medieval times?

As well as being used to calculate the date of Easter, astrology was used heavily by medieval medical practitioners. Medieval doctors consulted the stars to determine if a patient was likely to live or die from their illness.

What are the seven liberal arts?

1. Grammar . The Seven Liberal Arts. Grammatic and Priscianus. According to a German clergyman who attended the University of Paris in the fourteenth century, boys began learning grammar at the age of seven. This suggests that a university student should arrive with a good level of grammatical knowledge.

What did a university scholar learn in a year?

Nevertheless, a university scholar still had to spend an entire year studying grammar. During this term, they learnt the art of speaking, writing, and pronunciation. Students also analysed, memorised, and wrote their own texts. 2. Rhetoric.

What was the first medical school in Europe?

Salerno was the first medical school in Europe – as it only taught medicine, it is often not classified as a university. However, Salerno quickly began to decline in importance and Bologna, Montpellier, and Paris became known as the best centres for medical teaching.

When was theology studied?

Prior to the development of universities in the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries, theology was studied and debated by religious orders.

What were the early English universities?

Medieval English universities include, of course, only Oxford and Cambridge . These universities emerged in a wider context of the growth of higher learning across Europe, and their origins lie concomitant with those of the universities of Paris, Bologna, and Salamanca for example. These early institutions represent the growth of learning out of the context of monastic and cathedral settings, and provided dedicated environments for the pursuit of studies in the arts, theology, law, and medicine. The stimulus to higher learning came from a variety of sources, particularly the rediscovery of Arabic learning and a growing interest in classical authors: in many ways, the early days of universities should be seen within the context of the “twelfth-century Renaissance.” The term “university” is drawn from Roman law, to refer to the institutional corporation that, in the case of Oxford, arose out of preexisting schools of higher learning: a university was a self-regulating community of scholars, recognized by civil or ecclesiastical authority. Records of teaching in Oxford stretch back to 1096, and over the course of the 12th century, the town became, through a process of cumulative reputation, a center of learning. The head of the university was named as a chancellor in 1201, and the masters were recognized as a universitas in 1231 by the pope; a royal charter was granted in 1248. The origins of the University of Cambridge lie, famously, in an exodus on students from Oxford in 1209 following a dispute between town and gown. Initially these universities looked very different from the collegiate institutions into which they evolved: colleges, with the exception of a few early outliers (Merton, Balliol, and University College in Oxford; Peterhouse in Cambridge), were founded rather later in the 14th and 15th centuries as endowed fellowships of scholars with a remit to work as a community dedicated to the service of God through higher learning. While Oxford and Cambridge stood alone throughout the Middle Ages, this was not inevitable: in 1338, a group of Oxford scholars seceded to Stamford, but failed to found a university there; Owain-Glyn Dwr attempted to found a university in Wales; Scotland saw the foundation of the universities of Aberdeen, St Andrew’s and Glasgow in the 15th century. Students at Oxford and Cambridge could be as young as fourteen. Historians have debated their prosopographical make up, and while it is clear that the lowest social strata would never have been in a position to meet the entrance requirements, higher education did indeed provide some opportunities for social mobility, and increasingly so as scholarship provisions increased. Students studied a course in the arts and could then progress to a higher degree in theology, law, or medicine. The universities of medieval England are well documented and provide a rich source for historians of ideas, those interested in changing institutional structures, the social history of youthful (mis)behavior, relations between town and gown, prosopography, and the shifting political and religious role of universities in the wider polity.

How do historians of universities begin?

Historians of universities must begin by considering their origins and developing functions over time. This has been done most effectively in comparative European perspective, and it is widely acknowledged by historians that, despite Henry III’s 1167 prohibition on English students’ study abroad, international networks of scholars rapidly developed ( Courtenay and Miethke 2000 ). Traditionally the focus has been on institutional origins, with the papacy given a prominent role in Rashdall 1987. The institutional approach was followed by Cobban 1975, which argues that two basic models of universities emerged in Bologna and Paris, and explores the distinctiveness of the English case in its early days: in this model, focus is upon administrative structures and the development of student privileges. An alternative approach lies in the intellectual impetuses that drove the schools, seminally explored in Haskins 1972. The intellectual and the institutional were most effectively shown to intersect and to drive development in Leff 1968. Southern 1987 explores a shift under John XXII from the independent authority and jurisdiction of the masters of theology to that of the papacy at Avignon: the implications of this are far reaching since Southern demonstrates the way in which this created an international need for university-trained men; this view was challenged in Courtenay 1989 (see Censorship ). Fifteenth-century universities once again appear vulnerable to the complaint that intellectual freedoms were undermined by pragmatic political needs: de Ridder-Symoens 2003 includes articles that address this question of decline from a variety of perspectives (prosopographical, social, intellectual) to argue for the continued vitality of these institutions and to explain the raft of new foundations in this period. Indeed, the period is treated as one of explicit transition in the edited collection Kittelson and Transue 1984, and the argument of political expediency is turned on its head with the argument that it was precisely this ready adaptation of universities that ensured their survival.

Why did universities run grammar schools?

In many cases universities ran grammar schools in the towns they were located in to educate the local children. These grammar schools did not have an extensive curriculum, focusing mostly on Latin, and were established as preparation for the more rigorous universities.

What is the meaning of the English University?

The English University as a Means of Social Advancement and Source of Culture. Social advancement was primarily possible in the Middle Ages through the Church, the professions, or through the achievement of a university education.

What subjects can you study in a university?

Students could pursue studies in one of four subjects — law, medicine, theology, or art. A degree in theology qualified an individual for an administrative position in the clergy, or in the university itself.

What was a common occurrence in the life of a medieval student?

A common occurrence in the life of a medieval student was a scarcity of money. Many students wrote home often, begging for their parents to send more money. A common excuse for the money was the necessity to purchase more books, but likely it was needed for food or other pastimes (Haskins).

What are the requirements of a church cleric?

A church cleric would be expected to read and write proficiently in Latin, understand the laws of the physical and celestial worlds, perform practical tasks and participate in church ceremonies. Due to the nature and demands of this position, grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy were the subjects that made up the university curriculum.The first three were clearly applicable to the reading and writing of Latin. Geometry and astronomy taught the potential clerics about the divine precision and logic of earth and the heavens. Arithmetic was far more practical and would aide clerics in their accounting tasks, and music would ensure that they would be able to participate in the regular church services. (Renaissancemagazine.com)

What is the basis for learning and teaching the principle of logic?

Logic (or Dialectic) : the basis for learning and teaching the principle of logic is founded upon the theory that debate is an integral component of the learning process. In the medieval universities, it was common for both students and masters to participate in debates. (csupomona.edu) The Quadrivium.

How did the rise of the university in England affect the trade of books?

With the university came a need for secular, academic texts, commentaries and reference works that could not be produced by religious authorities (Clement). This segment of publishing became a “licensed appendage of the university, consisting of stationers, scribes, parchment makers, paper makers, bookbinders, and all those associated with making books” (Clement).

Overview

Students

Students attended the medieval university at different ages—from 14 if they were attending Oxford or Paris to study the arts, to their 30s if they were studying law in Bologna. During this period of study, students often lived far from home and unsupervised, and as such developed a reputation, both among contemporary commentators and modern historians, for drunken debauchery. …

Antecedents

The university is generally regarded as a formal institution that has its origin in the Medieval Christian setting. Prior to the establishment of universities, European higher education took place for hundreds of years in Christian cathedral schools or monastic schools (scholae monasticae), in which monks and nuns taught classes. Evidence of these immediate forerunners of the later univ…

Establishment

Hastings Rashdall set out the modern understanding of the medieval origins of the universities, noting that the earliest universities emerged spontaneously as "a scholastic Guild, whether of Masters or Students... without any express authorization of King, Pope, Prince or Prelate."
Among the earliest universities of this type were the University of Bologna (1088), University …

Characteristics

Initially medieval universities did not have physical facilities such as the campus of a modern university. Classes were taught wherever space was available, such as churches and homes. A university was not a physical space but a collection of individuals banded together as a universitas. Soon, however, universities began to rent, buy or construct buildings specifically for the purposes of teachi…

See also

• Ancient higher-learning institutions
• Ancient universities of Scotland
• List of oldest universities in continuous operation
• Nation (university)

Bibliography

• Cobban, Alan B. English University Life in the Middle Ages Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8142-0826-6
• Ferruolo, Stephen: The Origins of the University: The Schools of Paris and their Critics, 1100-1215 Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8047-1266-2
• Haskins, Charles Homer: The Rise of Universities. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1972. ISBN 0-87968-379-1

External links

• The Shift of Medical Education into the Universities
• The Educational Legacy of Mediaeval and Renaissance Traditions.
• From Manuscript to Print: Evolution of the Mediaeval Book.
• Life of the Students at Paris.