How Influential Was Giovanni di Napoli, OP, at the Papal Court in Avignon?

Giovanni di Napoli, OP, significantly influenced Scholastic learning and discourse at the Papal Court in Avignon during the later Middle Ages. While universities were traditionally seen as the primary hubs for Scholastic activity, this study reveals that religious orders' studia played an even more pivotal role due to their wider distribution across Europe and greater numbers. Many prominent Scholastic masters, including Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus, spent substantial time teaching in these studia rather than in universities. Additionally, the Papal Court, particularly the Sacred Palace at Avignon, emerged as a significant locus for intellectual activity alongside royal courts. The research compiles contributions from experts to explore this understudied aspect of medieval Scholasticism, emphasizing its institutional context and broader impact.

Nold, P. (2012). How Influential Was Giovanni di Napoli, OP, at the Papal Court in Avignon? Philosophy and Theology in the ‘Studia’ of the Religious Orders and at Papal and Royal Courts, 629–676. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.rpm-eb.1.100993