Important People of the Middle Ages Rough Draft

Why is it so important to understand _ [i.e. the topic of your expert group] if one is to really understand the culture of the Middle Ages?

In the Middle Ages, there were many extraordinary events that took place. There were people that accomplished important feats as well. All of these occasions shape the Middle Ages, but to really understand this time in history, it is vital to know the philosophers and their influences. It is important to understand the philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages if one is to really understand the culture of this time; St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Peter Abelard are excellent examples of the influential people that changed the way of thinking for the rest of the world. The philosophers have nothing to do with understanding the culture of the Middle Ages.

St. Augustine of Hippo was one of the most influential people of all time. He was not born in the Middle Ages, but was important to the later philosophers, such as St. Thomas Aquinas and Peter Abelard. St. Augustine once said, “But as this is not a good which can discharge its devotees of all distresses, this city is often divided against itself by litigations, wars, quarrels, and such victories as are either life-destroying or short-lived.” (Augustine) This quote is from one of his books called City of God. St. Augustine was a very peaceful man. He had many morals and values that were well respected. He spread Christianity throughout Africa and the West. He eventually was credited for founding Western Christendom. St. Augustine was a leading theologian and philosopher, who sparked a trend that many would later follow.

St. Thomas Aquinas was born much later than St. Augustine, but he was just as important. St. Thomas stated, “If they are contradictory, this is for one or both of these two reasons: either because the agent cause must precede the effect in time, or because non-being must precede the effect in time, for we say that what God creates comes to be out of nothing.” (Thomas Aquinas) St. Thomas was a priest and an excellent teacher. He founded his own theology called Thomism. He wrote books and manuscripts that supported his theories about Ontology, Cosmology, and Psychology. This was a significant change for the people of the Middle Ages. It was a different way of thinking that would last throughout this period in time.

Another philosopher was Peter Abelard. He was influenced by St. Augustine as well. He said, “By doubting we come to examine, and by examining we reach the truth.” (Abelard) This was a new way of thinking for the people of the Middle Ages, because questions were being asked and research was being done. Abelard is most famous for his affair with his student, Heloise. Peter Abelard influenced an amazing event to happen though. Before the Middle Ages was the concept of Realism. This changed into his idea called Conceptualism. This changed the world completely and helped form the Middle Ages.

These three outstanding thinkers; St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Peter Abelard, were the foundation of the culture for the Middle Ages. One would have to understand what these men did and their influence to understand the culture of this time period. They all changed the way of thinking and approaching problems. They were teachers, priests, and logicians. Without these philosophers the Middle Ages would not be what it is today.

Bibliography

Medieval Sourcebook: Augustine of Hippo:  The City of God, excerpts. (n.d.). FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/aug-city2.html

Medieval Sourcebook: Peter Abelard: From Sic et Non, 1120. (n.d.). FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1120abelard.html

Untitled. (n.d.). FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-eternity.html