Origins of Medieval English Education

The twelth century saw a new enthusiasm for learning from great teachers. The reasons for this were twofold. In an age of great religious piety many were inspired by the preachers. Men like St. Francis of Assisi or the unorthodox lay preachers like Waldo of Lyon caught the public imagination. For the preaching of the crusades had shown the power of the preachers to inspire popular responses on a grand scale, and this view combined with a general sense of dissatisfaction with the ideals of perfection and the simple faith of an earlier age would lead to thousands of young men (and perhaps , also by some young women) into giving themselves to study. Thus from the start it was the church that took the lead in promoting learning among the general population .Many people, even of quite low birth and status, saw in the church an opportunity for advancement.

Education however would not be just a monopoly of the clerics . The need for professional scribes within Royal Service inevitably brought the monarchy into close involvement with the learned and therefore religious communities of Christendom. This was particularly notable during the reign of King Henry II of England. For with the acquisition of Aquitaine and part of Gascony the literate resources of the realm would become thoroughly stretched. The King required the resources of the church to administer his enlarged Kingdom . Henry's chancellor , Thomas Beckett , who himself had been schooled at Bologna, would become particularly responsible for increasing the number of literate Royal servants, educated sufficiently enough to administer the King's Exchequer and Law Courts. The founding of new schools and studies in France during the 12th century also attracted many English Students and equipped them to serve an English society which was much in need of methodical, dedicated and often public spirited servants, although for long the clergy would play an important part in the Royal Administration

In Europe too, Henry's contemporaries Louis VII a of France , Frederick I of Germany and Roger II of Sicily all attracted men of talent, but it would be Henry's insatiable appetite for information that would see the greatest involvement and advances in standards of literacy increasing within England.

Article added: 2005-07-25 @ 11:52 pm | Last Modified: 2006-04-24 @ 3:17 am

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