Scholasticism

During the 1100s and 1200s "scholasticism" flourished, which sought to combine logic of the classical philosophers with medieval Christian theology. The Scholastics were divided into two groups, the realists (preferring the works of Plato) and the nominalists (preferring Aristotle's teachings). An early leader of this movement was Saint Anselm (1033-1109).

Scholasticism strengthened understanding of Christian doctrine through careful definition and systematic argument.