The cultural lite of the Middle Ages was deeply marked by the Christian faith. The centers of cultural life were the cities, and their focal points were their cathedrals, like the one at Reims in France and Notre Dame at Paris (lower far right). Their soaring arches were intended to lift one's thoughts and aspirations heavenward. Stained-glass Windows seen from within and statuary carved on their walls and doors told stories from the Old and New Testaments. Such pictorial representations of familiar stories could be under-stood by the faithful, who generally could not read.
For those who could read, there were exciting new works of literature, written in the vernacular. In English, there was Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. In Italian, there was Dante's Divine Comedy. Its last section, Paradise, tells of Dante's journey and that of his beloved Beatrice through heaven. For those seeking higher learning, there were great centers like the medieval University of Paris, run for young scholars under the direction of the Church.
