Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

In medieval European universities, which language was primarily used to study classical texts?

1. Latin

2. Greek

3. Hebrew

4. Aramaic

The correct answer is: Latin

In medieval European universities, Latin was the primary language used for scholarly study, particularly for classical texts from ancient Rome and Greece. Latin served as the lingua franca of educated Europeans during this period, enabling communication and the exchange of ideas across different regions and cultures. The vast majority of important works in theology, philosophy, law, and science that were studied at the time were written in Latin, which was deemed essential for higher education. Greek, while significant for accessing original texts from ancient Greece, particularly in philosophy and literature, was less commonly used in the universities of medieval Europe. Hebrew and Aramaic were important in religious contexts, especially within Jewish scholarship and Christian theological studies, but they did not have the same broad scholarly application as Latin during the medieval period. Thus, Latin stands out as the central language for academic discourse and study in medieval universities.