Culture in Europe

Chivalry

• Knights were expected to be brave in battle and limit their fighting to armed knights

• Called chivalry

• Peace of God – church property was off limits for fighting– This was to protect those not directly involved in

the fighting• Truce of God – restricted fighting to certain

days of the week

Universities

• Education was not available to most Europeans

• Students were trained in the liberal arts• Studies were reserved for “free” men rather

than “common” men• All subjects were taught in Latin• Universities sprouted up where well-known

teachers instructed

• Paper was expensive and hard to find, so students spent hours each day memorizing their lessons

• Typical day was from 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM

• Parisian pattern – made up of teachers who earned masters of arts degrees.– They regulated the university

• Bologna pattern – groups of students who regulated the university and hired teachers

• Warfare made travel difficult, so countries started up their own universities

• Universities increased literacy and scientific advancement

Art

• Christian themes and subjects dominated most art

• Art served to visually teach stories from the Bible and the Roman Church

Architecture

• Centered around the construction of cathedrals

Architecture Styles

• Romanesque – used many elements of the Roman Style

• Gothic – used external support called flying buttresses

Literature

• Latin was the language in the Roman Empire, but it was not the language spoken by most of the people in Europe

• Started to print in the vernacular (common spoken language)

Two of the best known writers

• Dante – Divine Comedy– Poem about an imaginary journey through hell,

purgatory, and paradise

• Chaucer – Canterbury Tales• About a group of pilgrims traveling to visit the

tomb of a famous religious leader in England