Page 46 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

thomas aquinas, st. 1823

The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its
own actions. A thing which is always subject to the direction of another is
somewhat of a dead thing. • Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

twenty-first century, rotary screen-printing with pigments philosopher Aristotle and was the author of what remains
is economically and environmentally expedient. the most comprehensive effort at reconciling reason and
Textiles have influenced economics, technology, art, religious faith ever attempted by a Catholic thinker.
religion, government, customs, and many other human The son of Count Landulf of Aquino, Thomas was a
endeavors.The production, design, and use of textiles are member of the south Italian nobility. Born at Roccasecca,
also a mirror held up to history. between Rome and Naples, he received his preliminary
education at the nearby monastery of Monte Cassino. In
Margaret T. Ordonez
1239 Thomas’s parents sent him to the University of
See also Dress Naples, where he first engaged in intensive study of Aris-
totle under the scholar Peter of Ireland. During his years
at Naples, Thomas made two important decisions: to
Further Reading devote the rest of his life to philosophy and theology and
Balfour-Paul, J. (1998). Indigo. London: British Museum Press. to become a Dominican friar. The two decisions were
Barber, E. J. W. (1991). Prehistoric Textiles: The Development of Cloth in
the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University related because Dominicans were already among the
Press. leading scholars of the day.When Thomas became a friar
Barber, E.W. (1994). Women’s Work:The First 20,000 Years. New York:
W.W. Norton. in 1244 he received permission to leave Naples for Paris
Brédif, J. (1989). Printed French Fabrics: Toiles de Jouy. New York: to study under the renowned Dominican philosopher
Rizzoli. and scientist Albert the Great (c. 1195–1280).
de’Marinis, F., ed. (1994). Velvet: History, Techniques, Fashions. New York:
Idea Books. This move was opposed by his family, who intended
Geiger, A. (1979). A History of Textile Art. Leeds: W. S. Maney & Son. for him to become a bishop or the abbot of a prominent
Harris, J., ed. (1993). Textiles: 5,000 Years. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Phillips, B. (1994). Tapestry. London: Phaidon Press. monastery. Abducted by his family as he was traveling
Sandberg, G. (1994). The Red Dyes: Cochineal, Madder, and Murex Pur- northward through Italy, he was held captive at Roc-
ple, A World Tour of Textile Techniques. Asheville, NC: Lark Books. casecca for a year before being allowed to proceed on his
Seiler-Baldinger, A. (1994). Textiles:A Classification of Techniques. Wash-
ington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. chosen path.
Toomer, H. (2001). Antique Lace: Identifying Types and Techniques. Thomas studied under Albert the Great at both Paris
Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing.
Wada, Y., Rice, M. K. & Barton, J. (1983). Shibori, The Inventive Art of and Cologne, Germany, where Albert relocated in 1248
Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing: Tradition, Techniques, Innovation. to establish a Dominican studium generale, a college for
Tokyo: Kodansha International. study of the liberal arts.Thomas served as one of his assis-
Wilson, K. (1979). A History of Textiles. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
tants, giving introductory lectures on biblical interpreta-
tion. In 1252, his academic apprenticeship completed,
Thomas returned to Paris to take up the position of lec-
turer on the Bible and the Sentences of the Italian
Thomas Aquinas, St. theologian Peter Lombard (c. 1095–1161), the core

(c. 1225–1274) textbook of the theology curriculum. He also began to
Italian philosopher and theologian publish his own work and in 1256 was appointed to the
position of master of theology, the highest title attainable
t. Thomas Aquinas represents the culmination of in the academic hierarchy.
Sphilosophical and theological achievement during the In 1259 Thomas traveled to Italy and remained
European Middle Ages, and his influence on subsequent through 1268, lecturing at Dominican convents and col-
generations of Western philosophers and Christian the- leges in Naples, Orvieto, and Rome. He frequently
ologians has been profound. He proved a powerful and attended the papal court, providing his services as
influential advocate of the philosophy of the Greek preacher and liturgist. He returned to Paris at the height