CULTURE OF WESTERN EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the history of cultural development in Western 
Europe. The Middle Ages in the history of Western Europe cover more than millennia - from 
the 5th to the 16th centuries. In the Middle Ages, as in other eras, complex and contradictory 
processes took place on the European continent, one of the main results of which was the 
emergence of European states and the whole West in its modern form. At the same time, 
progressive changes took place in some areas of life already at the early stage of the Middle 
Ages.
Along with religion in the Middle Ages, other areas of spiritual culture existed and 
developed, including philosophy and science. The highest medieval science was theology. It 
was theology that possessed the truth that rested on Divine Revelation. Philosophy was 
declared a servant of theology.
During this period, medieval art actively addresses the ancient heritage, consistently 
overcoming the barbarian character. Therefore, this time is sometimes called the "Carolingian 
revival."
Medieval architecture in its development went through two consecutive stages: the early 
- period of the Romanesque style (VI-XII centuries) and the late - period of the Gothic style (XIIXV centuries). A kind of synthesis of sculpture and architecture arose. The sculpture was an 
integral part of the design of the portals of cathedrals. Sermon in stone is often called sculpture 
in Romanesque cathedrals. The images of sacred characters frozen in stone had no less power of 
influence than a word. France became the cradle of Gothic. Here it was born in the second half 
of the XII century, and then for three centuries it developed along the path of increasing 
lightness and decorativeness. The culture of the Middle Ages - for all the ambiguity of its 
content - occupies a worthy place in the history of world culture. The modern crisis of 
spirituality prompts us to turn to the experience of the Middle Ages, again and again to solve 
the eternal problem of the ratio of spirit and body