Mysteries of the Middle Ages

Thomas Cahill, in his recent book, Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe, gives a brief introduction to important people and events that shaped the modern world in the areas of Women’s rights, science and technology, and music and the arts. While many historians focus on the negative aspects of the Middle Ages, especially of the corruption of the Popes and the resistance of the Catholic Church to science and progress, Cahill looks at the positive side of the Middle Ages, pointing out many of the brilliant men and women who helped bring change and reforms that laid the foundation for modern society.

Cahill begins the book by laying the historical foundation for the Middle Ages. He explains how ancient Greece and Rome flourished, providing a rich cultural heritage that was nearly forgotten by the fall of Rome to the barbarians. Even though it wouldn’t be until the Renaissance that this cultural heritage was rediscovered, the near millennium between these events wasn’t as “dark” as many have been led to believe. During this time, men and women of great intellect and character continued to make discoveries and add to the cultural development of Europe.

Hildegard of Bingen became a nun at age 8 and lived most of her early life in seclusion in a monastery. However, she read widely and educated herself far beyond any woman of her time, as well as most men. She was outspoken and daring, stepping consistently outside the norms of society and paving the way for the liberation of women in Europe. She also created a new genre of music that was more complex and free than anything the church had ever seen. Even though she lived from 1098 to 1179, she had an influence on the church and society that lasted for centuries.

Peter Abelard was another brilliant man who pressed the envelope by his enquiries and radical theology. While he was constantly harassed for his cutting edge ideas, he never stopped thinking and teaching what he believed was a better understanding of the world and the Bible. Unfortunately, he fell in love with Heloise and married her secretly after getting her pregnant. However, the secret got out and heloise’s father castrated Abelard and he had to live out his days separated from the woman he loved.

Thomas Aquinas was a solid, steady thinker who reshaped Catholic theology by using Aristotle’s ideas as a foundation instead of Plato’s. The newly rediscovered philosopher captivated Aquinas’ imagination and he wrote volumes integrated what he was learning from Aristotle with Christian doctrine. His writings have influenced Catholic doctrine more than any other theologian even to this day.

Dante transformed the world of literature with his Divine Comedy, written between 1308 and 1321. Dante was enamored with the Roman poet Virgil whose Latin style influenced Dante’s Italian style. Dante was also inspired by the love of his life, Beatrice, with whom he never actually had close intimate contact. These two loves shaped all that Dante wrote, the most famous being the Divine Comedy, which describes his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and finally Paradise, in which he places many historical and contemporary figures in one of the three realms. His works have influenced popular Catholic thought for centuries.

Finally, Giotto was a brilliant and prolific artist in Florence, Italy from1267 to 1337. His works are considered the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. His paintings, sculpture and architecture ignited a new artistic movement that lasted centuries.