The short answer is that the Church was most important in the preservation of learning, but there were others involved.
In Western Europe, learning was preserved primarily by the Catholic Church, which was the most important source of education through the Early Middle Ages. There were state run schools, and these opened surprisingly early; Northumbria opened the Beverley Grammar School in 700 AD, and it is still operating today in Yorkshire. There were private schools of different kinds, and there were tutors.
Universities opened in the West in the 11th and 12th centuries when schools of higher education were formally chartered. Some of these were Church run, but others were state supported and still others were run independently of both Church and state.
In the East Roman Empire, a system of state supported primary education was opened in 425 AD, and it remained open through the rest of the Middle Ages, until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The schools that eventually became the University of Constantinople were also opened in 425, and the Byzantine Empire also ran other Universities.
Aside from schools, books were copied, and their contents were thus preserved. The business of copying manuscripts was usually done by the Church, but there were some books that were copied privately. The great medieval libraries all depended on copied manuscripts, as the originals did not survive all that long.
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hitler
Through the agency of Arabic sources and the writings of Aritstotle.
In western Europe, the Church ran most of the schools for primary education in the Early Middle Ages and High Middle Ages (5th through 13th centuries). After that, secular education became more common, especially in Italy. Universities were founded and run by Church organizations in many places, but were funded by the state or commercially in others. The English universities were state run, which is why they survived the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. In the Byzantine Empire, the educational system, which was extensive, was state run.
The Middle Ages is a long period. Muslims ruled in Spain and thrived for a long period. Arab libraries preserved learning and literature. Some states thrived. The question needs more precision.
monasteries and roman catholic church
There were several groups of people who preserved culture and learning in the Middle Ages. First of these was the Byzantine Empire, which had schools open during the entire time. The second was the Church, which always had schools and scriptoriums in monasteries. Another was Arabs and other Muslims, who brought their own knowledge, derived from Greece, India, China, and their own scientific inventiveness, to Europe when they invaded Spain in 711. Yet another was Jews who lived throughout Europe and had their own understanding of medicine, philosophy, finance, and law, and who were very good at preserving culture and learning.
Judith A. Willis has written: 'Inspiring middle school minds' -- subject(s): Brain, Education (Middle school), Gifted children, Learning, Psychology of, Psychology of Learning 'Inspiring middle school brains' -- subject(s): Brain, Education (Middle school), Gifted children, Learning, Psychology of, Psychology of Learning
hitler
Some positive effects of the Crusades on education in Europe include the introduction of new ideas, cultures, and knowledge from the Middle East, leading to the establishment of universities and increased interest in learning. The interaction with Muslim scholars also helped to translate and preserve classical Greek and Roman texts, contributing to the revival of learning known as the Renaissance.
the dark ages
Primarily in the realm of the church.
Europe experienced a blossoming in education, literature, and the arts during the High Middle Ages due to factors such as the rise of universities, increased trade and economic prosperity, growth of cities and the merchant class, revival of classical learning, and patronage by the Church and noble families. This period saw the emergence of renowned scholars, artists, and writers who made significant contributions to the cultural and intellectual development of Europe.
Charlemagne's intellectual impact on the Middle Ages was significant. He promoted learning and education by establishing schools, supporting scholars, and preserving classical works. His efforts helped lay the foundation for the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of cultural revival in Europe.
The fall of the Roman empire
The Classical education became Christianized since Augustine claimed and explained how Classical education fit into the Christian World-view.
The Roman alphabet was preserved primarily by Church organizations, mostly monasteries, and largely in Britain and Ireland.
Education is a broad general that encompasses all learning. College education is a more specific level of eduction (or learning). Other examples would include university education, high school education, technical education, etc