Pope's Role: Popes in the Middle Ages became central figures
of power and influence. Many people came to see the pope. Popes promised the
redemption of sin.Conflicts between
church and state eventually weakened the Pope’s power. Also, the end of the
feudal system and the Protestant Reformation led to a further weakening of the
Pope’s power.
Education: The social and judicial society of
medieval period was influenced by ancient Roman and Germanic culture, however,
the increasing influence of Church became the guiding force to develop
educational system in The Middle Ages.
Monks, priests and bishops took the
responsibility of teaching and the whole educational pattern became purely
religious.Bishops and monks started to
educate pupils of upper class while education for serfs and their kids was a
rare. Fees for education was required by the Church, monasteries and cathedral
schools and were often too high for a common serf to pay for.
The whole education system was
designed to keep serfs and peasants uneducated.Boys of upper class used to learn how to read and write Latin which was
the official language of the medieval ages. Schools were run by monks. Bishops
were also engaged in education system as they used to run and manage cathedral
schools. Some of the cathedrals attained great fame and became centers of
higher education and established themselves as universities.
Schooling System and Curriculum of education in The Middle Ages:
The education system of Middle Ages
was highly influenced by the Church. Basic course of study used to contain
Latin language, grammar, logic, rhetoric, philosophy, astrology, music and
mathematics. Scholars, monks and bishops used ancient writings from Roman and
Greek resources to teach their students while most of the educational courses
were mostly based on superstitions and beliefs.
Any student who could prove that he
knew arts well was announced as Master of Arts. Students had the choice to
learn theology, medicine or philosophy and after mastering any of these
subjects they were declared doctors.
The general feeling was that women
were secondary and they needed to serve and remain under protection of men.
Whatever education a woman could attain was designed to help her in becoming a
good wife and mother in future.