Medieval life
Life in medieval colleges represents what still prevails in the modern world now. There were several players who included the students, clergy, town leadership and the lecturers. All these influenced life in medieval times. The student life during this time varied according to country and the climatic conditions. University life also made great appeal to the life in Europe. The church and state equally had a strong influence on life in this period.
Bologna was of great significance in medieval times. At Bologna, lived a great teacher in civil law and another great writer in Canon law. By this, many students flocked there. Many were not law students. Most of the students there did philosophy and theology. Furthermore, most students at Bologna were from England. Often times there would arise several tussles between students of different countries as most of them had deep seated stereotypes about others from different countries. It is from such disputes that the King outlawed the clergy from England. This led to the rise of a new school in Cambridge. Many other institutions sprung up in towns such as Reggio, Palencia, Orleans, Lyons etc. this brewed greater rivalry between the new ones and their older contemporaries. This rivalry was quite inevitable.
The Pope played a great role in the foundation of several schools. For instance, he could give several privileges to students as well as masters. The emperor also had such powers. As some schools were accorded privileges by the Pope, others would be accorded by the emperor. Most of the institutions which got such recognition assumed universal recognition. The great seats of learning were at Bologna and Paris. The two were Studia Generalia. Bologna comprised student guilds while that of Paris was a guild of masters. During these medieval periods, great institutions of learning were either universities of students or universities of masters.
In some universities, students legislated for themselves. In such situations, their rules were not many. In fact most of their rules lacked in detail, thus, life in the student universities had its own trajectory. Even in Italy many students were foreign. These foreign students suffered many afflictions. Firstly, they did not have any rights; both civil and political. However, the state had some other provisions for them. For instance, they could form a union, if their numbers permitted. It is from such unions that many could articulate their issues. Most of the people who came to study law at Bologna were mature enough. There was the provision for students to create communities. Perhaps this practice has prevailed up to the present time. Students thus would be distinguished into “nations” as is still done in the modern renowned universities. The members of such communities had common interests, beliefs and were safe-guarded by their solemn oaths.
Terms used in the university had several denotations. For example the terms “master” and “student” meant “teacher” and “the taught” respectively. So, the masters were the teachers while the “students” were the taught. These two groups also formed their guilds. One could only teach if they had been admitted to the guild of masters. However, this privilege became theoretical at Bologna as teachers merely became a close community of professors. So the universities had to contend with two other challenges. For example there was the guild of masters and the city authorities. The city authorities had a bigger say in the affairs of the universities.
At first the masters depended on fees for their living expenses. However, by and by, the masters started earning a salary. They moved from this level to being paid by the city. By this the city authorities had an intension of curbing migrations. However, the students, under the support of the papacy, managed to overcome this onslaught. The student organization rights were further strengthened.
Life in medieval college had its path. In Paris, students used to live in private houses. However, after an incident in 1336, college halls were constructed. Hence students were expected to abide by the several stringent rules set by the university authority. Students were supposed to wear certain clothes. The burial of their fellow was equally captured in the rules. In such a case, the rest were supposed attend. The Bishop of Paris could chastise most of the excesses on the precincts of the university. In most cases, no evil would go unpunished. The bishop had powers to even detain any criminal offender in the university. All the same, students were held in high esteem. For instance no student was to be punished for indebtedness.
Life in the medieval period versus the modern student life
Both universities that existed in the medieval period and the modern ones comprise the institutions of highest learning. Medieval universities existed long time ago, but one does not fail to notice that both institutions are still firmly grounded on their basis of their foundation and purposes. The major purpose is endeavoring to instill knowledge and skills with a view of bringing up a well rounded individual useful to the society. This is despite the modern university having introduced more disciplines. However, the modern institutions still offer the traditional courses that were offered in the medieval period.
Just like the universities in the medieval period, the modern universities not only teach different subjects but also spend a lot of their resources in research. That is why many come up with several innovations in almost all areas of society, this is true since cures to diseases have been developed, and cutting edge technologies have been discovered as well etc. to improve life. All these achievements would not have come to fruition, had it not been for the research conducted at the universities.
Admission into university in the medieval times was not for everybody. Only the best students could be given a chance to join such institutions. The same is replicated in the modern universities. The modern student admission still advocates for the top performers who get the necessary skills to come and improve society. The students eventually emerge as leaders in their society, thereby improving the quality of life of many.
Just like in medieval times when people flocked into the universities to listen to great lectures by renowned lecturers such as Anselm of León and Peter Aberlad, the present universities have bequeathed the teaching responsibility to professors of very high ability. They profess knowledge and wisdom to all and sundry.
Finally it can be noted that student discipline was not something that was compromised in medieval times. Students had to follow rules and regulations set the university authority. Presently, the same high standards are still expected of students. Students who behave in the contrary are summoned by the senate and corresponding punishment meted on them.
In conclusion, the life of a student in medieval times and that in the modern times do not differ much. The high standards of practice expected then are still in place today. This shows that life in medieval university and that in modern life is had great similarities. The universities have still maintained their core practice of imparting knowledge and conducting research.
References
Alan B. Cobban, the Medieval Universities: Their Development and Organization (London: Methuen & Company, 1975), p. 21- 30
Gray Cowan Boyce, The English-German Nation in the University of Paris in the Middle Ages (Bruges: Saint Catherine Press, 1927)
Marcia L. Colish, Medieval Foundations of the Western Intellectual Tradition 400 - 1400 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998)
Pearl, Kibre, “Scholarly Privileges: Their Roman Origins and Medieval Expansion,” American Historical Review 59, no. 3 (1954): 543–67.
