What institutions preserved learning in the middle ages?
In Europe?
Primarily, education was in the hands of the Roman Catholic Church, and because of the Church, many children of the upper class received education. Read lots!
http://www.thefinertimes.com/Middle-Ages/education-in-the-middle-ages.html
During the Middle Ages, several institutions played a crucial role in preserving and promoting learning. These institutions included:
1. Monasteries: Monastic communities, such as Benedictine monasteries, served as centers of learning and knowledge preservation. Monks dedicated their lives to prayer, work, and scholarship. They meticulously copied ancient texts, including religious, philosophical, and scientific works, preserving valuable knowledge that would have otherwise been lost.
To learn more about how monasteries preserved learning in the Middle Ages, you can search for terms like "monasticism" and "Benedictine monasteries."
2. Cathedrals and Churches: Many cathedrals and churches had associated schools or scriptoria. These schools provided education to aspiring priests and scholars, focusing on subjects like theology, philosophy, natural sciences, and the liberal arts. The scriptoria were writing workshops where artisans produced illuminated manuscripts, which were highly valuable and ornate books containing religious texts and other important works.
To explore more about the role of cathedrals, churches, and scriptoria in preserving learning, try searching for terms like "medieval cathedral schools" or "illuminated manuscripts."
3. Universities: The establishment of universities, particularly during the later Middle Ages, was a significant development for the preservation of learning. These educational institutions emerged primarily to foster higher education and research. Universities offered a broader range of subjects, including law, medicine, theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts. Prominent examples of medieval universities include the University of Bologna, University of Paris, and University of Oxford.
To delve further into the topic of medieval universities and their impact on preserving learning, you can search for terms like "medieval universities" or "University of Bologna."
These institutions, in combination, acted as a foundation for preserving knowledge throughout the Middle Ages.