Philosophies and Ideologies 600 CE to 1450 - AP World History: Modern

Scholastic theology developed in the monastic approach to education and theology that was prevalent in Europe throughout the Medieval period. Scholastic theology was primarily concerned with teaching and rationally proving the existence of God.

Thomas Aquinas was an Italian friar who lived in the thirteenth century. He is closely associated with the monastic tradition of scholasticism. Thomas Aquinas wrote extensively on philosophy, natural law, and scholastic theology and is an extremely influential figure of all three traditions. He was also a strong advocate for Aristotle and is unique in his attempts (at the time) to marry ancient Greek philosophy with Christian traditions.

Neo-Confucianism emerged during the Tang Dynasty in China and became popular during the Song Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism was a synthesis of some aspects of Confucianism with the less “mystical” aspects of Buddhism and Taoism.

After the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century most of ancient Greek culture was forgotten in Europe and the continent fell into a relative “Dark Age.” The Crusades began at the end of the eleventh century and raged intermittently for the next few centuries. The Crusades were initially intended to recapture the Holy Land (Jerusalem) for Christendom, but eventually fractured as different European armies sought to extend their power into the Middle East. Greek culture, which had long been held and preserved by the Byzantine Empire, was rediscovered after the brief conquest of Constantinople by crusaders in the thirteenth century. This would lead, indirectly, to the Renaissance and the ‘rebirth’ of classical knowledge and understanding.

Neo-Confucianism first emerged in China during the Tang Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism may be understood as a revival of Confucian teachings during the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty and a subsequent synthesis of Confucianism with aspects of Buddhism and Taoism. It reached the height of its cultural significance during the Northern Song Dynasty.

The Heian period of Japanese history lasted from 794 to 1185 CE It is a time period when Japan was most closely connected to and influenced by Chinese culture - Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were all influential in Japan during this period, as was Chinese language and culture.

Zhu Xi lived from 1130 to 1200, during the period of the Northern Song Dynasty in China. He is primarily remembered as a leading Confucian scholar and the most influential figure in Neo-Confucianism. Among other contributions Zhu is credited with compiling the four most important books in Confucian tradition (The Four Books) - Analects of Confucius, Great Learning, Mencius, The Doctrine of the Mean.

During the Middle Ages, Europe underwent a gradual transition from a state of relative darkness and backwardness at the beginning of the period (called the Early Middle Ages or the Dark Ages), towards a state of cultural accomplishment and refinement at the end of the period (called the High Middle Ages). Still, it is worth noting that throughout this period, Europe’s cultural accomplishments lagged behind those of the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia.

Boccaccio was an influential figure in the Italian Renaissance. He is one of the early leading figures associated with humanism. His most famous work is called The Decameron.

Peter Abelard is most notable for his contributions to scholasticism. Scholasticism was one of the most important philosophical and theological disciplines of the Middle Ages. It was primarily concerned with marrying the insights of Greco-Roman civilization with the Christian world.

While the code of Chivalry had deep roots in religious and social piety, it was designed as a code of conduct for soldiers. As a result, the code promoted "defending Christianity" from "the infidel" and showing "no mercy" to enemies.

The ancient Egyptian language change and evolved, but only became extinct after the conquest of Arabic speakers during the 7th century.

Although the Egypt had been a province of both the western and eastern Roman empires, Latin never replaced Egyptian as a language of the masses.

Alexander the Great visited Egypt before his Asian invasion, but that had no effect on Egypt's language.

The Egyptians won a (costly) victory at Kadesh against the Hittites; it did not change the language of Egypt.

French was never widely spoken by Egyptian's even during Napoleon's invasion.

Scholastic theology developed in the monastic approach to education and theology that was prevalent in Europe throughout the Medieval period. Scholastic theology was primarily concerned with teaching and rationally proving the existence of God.

Thomas Aquinas was an Italian friar who lived in the thirteenth century. He is closely associated with the monastic tradition of scholasticism. Thomas Aquinas wrote extensively on philosophy, natural law, and scholastic theology and is an extremely influential figure of all three traditions. He was also a strong advocate for Aristotle and is unique in his attempts (at the time) to marry ancient Greek philosophy with Christian traditions.

Neo-Confucianism emerged during the Tang Dynasty in China and became popular during the Song Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism was a synthesis of some aspects of Confucianism with the less “mystical” aspects of Buddhism and Taoism.

After the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century most of ancient Greek culture was forgotten in Europe and the continent fell into a relative “Dark Age.” The Crusades began at the end of the eleventh century and raged intermittently for the next few centuries. The Crusades were initially intended to recapture the Holy Land (Jerusalem) for Christendom, but eventually fractured as different European armies sought to extend their power into the Middle East. Greek culture, which had long been held and preserved by the Byzantine Empire, was rediscovered after the brief conquest of Constantinople by crusaders in the thirteenth century. This would lead, indirectly, to the Renaissance and the ‘rebirth’ of classical knowledge and understanding.

Neo-Confucianism first emerged in China during the Tang Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism may be understood as a revival of Confucian teachings during the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty and a subsequent synthesis of Confucianism with aspects of Buddhism and Taoism. It reached the height of its cultural significance during the Northern Song Dynasty.

The Heian period of Japanese history lasted from 794 to 1185 CE It is a time period when Japan was most closely connected to and influenced by Chinese culture - Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were all influential in Japan during this period, as was Chinese language and culture.

Zhu Xi lived from 1130 to 1200, during the period of the Northern Song Dynasty in China. He is primarily remembered as a leading Confucian scholar and the most influential figure in Neo-Confucianism. Among other contributions Zhu is credited with compiling the four most important books in Confucian tradition (The Four Books) - Analects of Confucius, Great Learning, Mencius, The Doctrine of the Mean.