The ideas of important thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and Peter Abelard played a big role in the Renaissance and how Western civilization developed.

1. Key Ideas:

   • Aquinas mixed Greek philosophy with Christian beliefs. He wrote a famous book called "Summa Theologica," which helped create important ideas about natural law. This influenced politics and ethics, or how we decide right from wrong.

2. Changes in Education:

   • Scholasticism focused on logical thinking and asking questions. This led to the creation of many universities. By the end of the 13th century, Europe had over 60 new universities, which helped people learn and share ideas.

3. Blending Faith and Reason:

   • The Scholastic method showed that faith and reason could go together. This opened the door for Renaissance humanism. Thinkers like Erasmus and later Descartes used these ideas, encouraging people to explore and question the world around them.

4. Widespread Influence:

   • Between the 15th and 17th centuries, over 70% of academic works referred to Scholasticism. This shows just how much it influenced scholars of that time.

In short, the work of Scholastic thinkers laid down important ideas about philosophy, education, and religion. These ideas helped shape how Western civilization grew during the Renaissance and after.