Chapter 7.3 The Medieval Church FQ: How did the Medieval Church play an important role in medieval life? Pilgrimages, the sacraments, help the sick, schools, libraries, agric. improvement, politics, limits on war…….. Roman Church emerged as the most powerful force in the region Had much economic and political power

Medieval Church England

Wells Cathedral, England, built from 1175-1490

Who’s more corrupt? The rich or poor? What we’ll learn Why? The Christian Church was the most influential, powerful force in Medieval Times Kings and countries were not able to control large areas b/c of invasions of Vikings, Magyars, Muslims Who’s more corrupt? The rich or poor? Who are the most moral people in society?

Focus Q Who is the most influential, powerful country on Earth? Have any evidence? During the Middle Ages the Christian Church had the most influence in Europe.

Reading Passage Summary Turn to page 230. How (why) were Jews both persecuted and valued in Medieval Europe?

tried to curb feudal warfare  only 40 days a year for combat. The Power of the Medieval Church bishops and abbots played a large part in the feudal system. the church controlled about 1/3 of the land in Western Europe. tithe  1/10 tax on your assets given to the church. tried to curb feudal warfare  only 40 days a year for combat. curb heresies  crusades; Inquisition Peter’s Pence  1 penny per person [paid by the peasants].

Church Dominates Medieval Life Most important achievement Converting people to Christianity in Western Europe If you didn’t belong to the church, you were viewed with suspicion Guess what religion was especially suspect?

Role of the Parish Priest In villages, the only contact people had with church was the priest Gives mass and sacraments (7) baptism, confirmation, marriage, communion, reconciliation (confession), holy orders (ordination), anointing of the sick **Participating in sacraments would lead to salvation—everlasting life w/ God**

Can you ID them?

Role of the Parish Priest Only contact people had w/ the Church Administered the sacraments—your way to salvation Assisted on moral issues, sick and poor people Some ran schools Preached in Latin—any questions?

Importance of Village Church **Social center and religious center** Main events of your life took place at church: baptism, marriage, burial Much pride in the village church Some build large, stone churches, collect relics which people come to pray over Tithe required—10 % of income, supports local church

Rise of Cathedrals Big churches = cathedrals Bishops supervised parish priests and managed larger churches, Cathedrals Gothic style Cities competed to have the grandest, tallest Cathedral

Cathedrale Notre Dame Paris

Exeter Cathedral Devon, England

Amiens Cathedral, France

Reims Cathedral, France

Church Attitudes Towards Women Church doctrine taught equality b/f God **On Earth, women viewed as: Weaker, more likely to sin, needed guidance from men** 3. Church tried to protect women— min. age for marriage But punished them more severely for same sins

Monasteries and Convents Monks and nuns devote their lives to spiritual goals Live in Monasteries and Convents

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan

thessaly Thessaly, Greece

Desert in Israel

Meteora, Thessaly, Greece: St. Trinity Monastery

Monastery Immaculate Conception Indiana

A Medieval Monk’s Day

Monastic Life: Benedictine Rule **3 vows: obedience, poverty, chastity (purity)** They studied, worked in fields and at other physical tasks, experiment w/ agriculture Develop better agricultural methods

Obedience Poverty Chastity

Service and Scholarship 1. Monastaries/convents provide Basic health and education services Food, lodging to travelers 2. Some monks/nuns become missionaries 3. Kept learning alive—”Dark” Ages? Libraries had Greek and Roman works Wrote/taught in Latin—lang. of the church

Opportunities for Women Couldn’t become priests Could be nuns in convents **Later Middle Ages, the Church withdrew rights that nuns had enjoyed—teaching the Gospels**

Church Power Grows 1. It controlled the spiritual life of Christians **Became the most powerful secular (worldly) force in Medieval Europe**

Church’s Role in Society The pope was the leader of the Western Christian Church ***Pope: religious leader who also exercised secular power*** Eventually claim *PAPAL SUPREMACY* ***Authority over all secular rulers, Kings, emperors*** Pope, Archbishops, bishops had their own lands and armies, like feudal lords

Vatican City: Pope’s crib

Church’s Role in Society Popes lands, called Papal States, in central Italy Monasteries had large tracts of land Church official were close to and sometimes related to secular rulers

Religious Authority and Political Power 1. Christians believed people were sinners and had to do stuff to avoid hell Do good works believe in Christ participate in the sacraments 2. B/c church gave the sacraments and could refuse them, it had much power

Religious Authority and Political Power Canon Law: church law, had courts too 1. Most severe penalty: excommunication Couldn’t receive sacraments or Christian burial Powerful nobles who opposed the church could face the interdict Order excluding his town, region from receiving most sacraments or Christian burial

Corruption and Reform As wealth and power grew, discipline weakened—surprised? Some monks and nuns forgot vows of poverty Some clergy live in luxury Priests could marry: surprised? Any thoughts?

Two Movements for Reform 1. Cluny monks Revived obedience, poverty, chastity Refused to allow nobles or bishops to interfere in monastery affairs Many monasteries and convents copied this

Cluny Monastery

Two Movements for Reform Pope Gregory VII Church chooses church officials Outlawed marriage for priests Prohibited simony (selling church offices)

Jews in Medieval Europe In Middle Ages, Jewish communities all across Europe Spain had large Jewish population Christians and Jews lived side by side in relative peace Many rulers in Northern Europe valued and protected Jewish communities, but taxed them heavily

Jews in Medieval Europe **By the late 1000s, Western Europe had become more Christianized and prejudice against Jews increased** Disasters like illness and famine blamed on Jews Church forbid Jews to own land or work in certain professions

Jews in Medieval Europe **Popes and rulers still got advice from Jewish doctors and bankers** In response, many Jews migrated to Eastern Europe

Ch. 7 left side activity Draw 3 pictures w/ captions for the following topics: Vassals, lords, knights or serfs. Treatment of Jews in Medieval times. Anything to do w/ the power, influence of the Christian Church in Medieval times. Think: papal supremacy, women, sacraments, Benedictine Rule, etc.