Savanna Hoffman
The curriculum at medieval universities was largely shaped by the ultimate career that awaited students after graduation: a role within the church. Students could pursue studies in one of four subjects: law, medicine, theology, or art. The seven liberal arts were taught: arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music theory, grammar, logic, and rhetoric. 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—arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy—was taught after the preparatory work of the trivium. The curriculum also included the three Aristotelian philosophies: physics, metaphysics, and moral philosophy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main subjects | Theology, law, medicine, art, philosophy |
| Sub-subjects | Grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, music theory, geometry, astronomy, physics, metaphysics, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, civil law, canon law |
| Instruction language | Latin |
| Student age | 14-30s |
| Degree | Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Masters, Doctorate |
| Duration | 4-12 years |
| Teaching style | Scholastic textual commentary, disputation or dialectic |
| Textbooks | The Sentences (Quattuor libri sententiarum) of Peter Lombard |
| Location | Paris, Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge, Rome, Prague, Naples, Sicily, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Salerno, Italy |
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What You'll Learn
Trivium: Grammar, logic, rhetoric
The medieval university curriculum was based on the seven liberal arts, which were taught by the faculty of arts. The trivium was made up of three of these liberal arts: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. This was considered more important than the quadrivium, which consisted of the remaining four: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
The trivium was taught first and formed the basis of further studies in theology, philosophy, medicine, and law. The study of grammar, logic, and rhetoric was thought to be suitable for the development of intellectual and moral excellence.
Grammar, including literature, was a key part of the trivium. All instruction was given in Latin, and students were expected to converse in that language. Latin was the language of the monks, and surviving texts were often based on poor translations from Greek. The trivium's focus on grammar and rhetoric, therefore, helped students to engage with these texts and develop their understanding.
Logic, or dialectic, was also a central component of the trivium. Disputation and debate were important aspects of medieval university education, and students would debate different viewpoints, such as items of scripture or features of the natural world. Logic was key to these discussions and to the understanding of theological texts.
The trivium was an essential part of a medieval education, providing the foundations for further study and helping to shape the way education is taught today.
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Quadrivium: Arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy
The medieval university curriculum was based on the seven liberal arts, which were organised into two categories: the trivium and the quadrivium. The quadrivium consisted of four mathematical subjects: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. These were studied after the preparatory work of the trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric), and would lead to a Master of Arts degree.
The quadrivium, or "four ways", was a medieval grouping of four subjects considered essential to a well-rounded education. It built upon the trivium, which provided a foundation in language and logical reasoning. Together, the trivium and quadrivium comprised the seven liberal arts, which were thought to be essential for the development of intellectual and moral excellence. The quadrivium, in particular, was believed to help students delve into the depths of philosophy and theology, and explain the universal principles behind existence.
Arithmetic, the first of the quadrivium subjects, was the study of numbers and their properties. It included the study of number theory, proportions, and the relationships between numbers. Geometry, the second subject, focused on shapes, space, and measurements. It involved the study of lines, angles, shapes, and their properties, as well as the principles of geometric construction.
Music, the third subject of the quadrivium, encompassed both theoretical and practical aspects of music. This included the study of musical scales, intervals, and harmony, as well as the practice of singing and playing instruments. Astronomy, the fourth and final subject, was the study of the heavens and the motions of celestial bodies. It involved the observation and prediction of the movements of the sun, moon, planets, and stars, and was closely tied to the study of time and calendars.
The quadrivium provided a foundation in mathematical and scientific principles that supported further study in a variety of disciplines. It reflected the medieval belief in the importance of a well-rounded education that encompassed both the arts and sciences, and it helped to shape the way education is taught today.
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Theology
Theological education at medieval universities was influenced by the work of prominent local scholars such as St Augustine, whose "Civitas Dei" was quite influential in Christian society. It stated that a citizen needs to know what God intends for man. As such, part of medieval education was to determine what that plan is through arguments and discussions. This required knowledge of grammar, rhetoric, and dialectic to reason the theological texts.
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Law: Canon and civil
Law was one of the primary subjects taught at medieval universities, alongside theology, medicine, and the arts. The University of Bologna, regarded as Europe's first university, was founded in the 11th century and was known for its focus on law. The study of law at medieval universities was primarily divided into two categories: civil law and canon law.
Civil law, in the context of the Middle Ages, referred to the historical study of Roman law rather than European law. The foundation of civil law instruction was the Corpus Juris Civilis of Justinian, which encompassed the entire system of Roman law. Students were expected to master this system and apply it to the emerging European law system. Civil law was considered a revival of the Roman legal tradition, and its diffusion from Bologna to other medieval universities influenced the development of jurisprudence across Europe.
Canon law, on the other hand, was more closely aligned with the needs of the medieval church. It built upon the basic concepts of civil law but incorporated new ideas according to ecclesiastical study. The focus of canon law was to serve the legal needs of the church. The emergence of canon law as a distinct field of study was marked by Gratian's Decretum, a comprehensive compilation and synthesis of church law. Canon law studies were particularly important for those aspiring to hold positions of high dignity within the medieval church.
The study of law attracted students from across Europe to Bologna, and Bologna-trained scholars went on to establish other great centres of legal learning in medieval universities such as Oxford, Paris, Montpellier, Orleans, and Salamanca. The reputation of Bologna as a centre of legal scholarship was closely linked to the work of renowned teachers and glossators like Irnerius, Bulgarus, Azo, and Accursius. Their contributions to the revival of Roman law and the development of jurisprudence as a science were instrumental in shaping the legal landscape of the time.
The University of Bologna played a pivotal role in the advancement of medieval jurisprudence, and its influence extended beyond Italy and across the Alps. The diffusion of civil law from Bologna to other medieval universities left a lasting impact on the European legal tradition, setting the foundation for centuries of legal development.
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Medicine
The study of medicine in the Middle Ages was heavily influenced by ancient Greek and Roman ideas, as well as religious and philosophical thought. At the core of medical teaching was humoral theory, which stated that the human body consisted of four humours: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Illness was believed to occur when there was an excess or imbalance of one of these humours. For example, too much phlegm was thought to cause lung disease, and bloodletting and purging were common treatments. Medieval medical scholars also studied the works of Avicenna, Galen, and Hippocrates.
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, was the oldest university in the world and was particularly renowned for its focus on law and medicine. By the 14th century, it had become the most prestigious medical school in Europe. The university was run democratically, with students electing their professors and a rector who had precedence over everyone, including cardinals.
In the United Kingdom, medical training at the University of Oxford began in the 12th century but was based on apprenticeship and lacked structure. The earliest mention of a medical faculty at Oxford is from 1303, and by the 14th century, only a small number of physicians had graduated from the university. Cambridge University followed a similar trajectory, with the earliest known medical statute dating to 1396, although a medical degree had been conferred as early as 1350.
The town of Salerno in southern France was also an important centre for medical learning in the 12th century. The Salerno medical school was highly regarded, and by 1224, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II mandated that anyone practising medicine in the kingdom of Naples must seek approval from its masters. However, as Salerno only taught medicine and did not offer a broader curriculum, it is often not classified as a university.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven liberal arts were taught at medieval universities. The trivium, or the more popular linguistic option, included grammar, rhetoric, and logic. The quadrivium, the less popular mathematically-based option, included arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
Theology, philosophy, medicine, and law were also taught at medieval universities.
Theology students were required to lecture on or write commentaries on the textbook, *Sentences (Quattuor libri sententiarum)* by Peter Lombard.
Law was divided into two categories: civil law and canon law. Civil law was the study of the entire system of Roman law and how it could be applied to the European law system. Canon law was sought after by the church to serve its interests.
Medicine was a very underdeveloped subject in medieval universities. Most medical knowledge was based on books, such as those of Avicenna, rather than significant medicinal practice.
