In the renaissance of the 12th century there was more interest in classical literature and the ancient philosophers. More and More works of Cicero and Horace began to be translated from Greek yo Latin or from Arabic to Latin. This would be the last Renaissance where people all over Europe would be able to read the same language, Latin. A particular interest in the ancient Greek philosophers was formed and scholars just referred to Aristotle as, “The philosopher.” This did cause a lull in actual scientific experimentation however because scholars thought so highly of the ancient thinkers. Instead of studying physics you would just read Aristotle, instead of learning about and studying medicine you would just read Hippocrates. But out of this Renaissance you got great thinkers such as Peter Abelard and St. Thomas Aquinas who believed that you didn’t have to believe in just reason or religion but they could work together and combine.
In 1225 Thomas Aquinas was born to a well to do influential family in the castle Roccasecca in Italy. At the age of fourteen he started his studies at the university of Naples. When he was nineteen he resolved to join the Dominicans and lead a life of poverty. According to the story his family imprisoned him in a castle for a year to try and dissuade his decision. After a year they let him go where he traveled to the university of Paris to study where some of his fellow students called him a, “Dumb ox.” His teacher however proclaimed,”You call him the dumb ox, but in his teaching he will one day produce such a bellowing that it will be heard throughout the world.” He went on to write over four million words and write works such as Suma Theologica, Summa Contra Gentiles and Contra Errores Graecorum.