1221–1274

Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure: the Peak of Scholasticism

Albert the Great taught in Paris and Cologne. His pupil Thomas Aquinas became a Dominican in 1244, against his family's wishes, and studied and taught in Paris. His main works were the unfinished "Summa Theologiae", written in his last decade, and the "Summa contra Gentiles", intended to convince Jews and Muslims. Shortly before his death in 1274, Thomas had a mystical vision, called his writings "straw", and stopped working. He was canonized in 1323, but he did not win acceptance right away.

Bonaventure was elected Minister General of the Franciscans in 1257 and was called the order's "second founder". He reconciled strict and moderate Franciscans, built his theology on the Augustinian tradition, and opposed the extremes of Aristotelianism. Both theologians died in 1274, on the way to, or during, the Council of Lyon.