The Formation of Western Europe

800-1500

Part 1: Social Changes in Europe

Urban Life Flourishes• 1000-1150 population in W. Europe increased from 30

million to 42 million• Towns were small, but a powerful force• The excitement of trade drew people to towns

– Advantages: economic, social opportunity– Disadvantages: dirty, dangerous, crowded

• Feudal lords tried to tax and govern towns, causing resentment

• Towns are taken over by burghers—town merchants

The Revival of Learning• Christian scholars

read translations of Greek works written in Arabic by Muslims

• Crusaders return with Muslim knowledge of navigation, ships, weapons

• Groups of scholars gather to teach/learn; form universities

• Creation of written works in vernacular - everyday language

• Dante - The Divine Comedy• Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales

• Brought literature to many people

Medieval Philosophy

• Thomas Aquinas, a religious scholar, mixes ancient Greek and Christian thought

• He is a scholastic—university man; debates issues to increase knowledge