Behavior in villages, cities, and even the government in Catholic kingdoms. The Church sought to convert non-Christians and increase its power. Priests were involved politically as members of lord’s courts and socially as officials at civil ceremonies including knighthood. Kings in Catholic kingdoms regularly sought council from senior members of the church hierarchy. Teachings of the church bonded people together despite the difference created by feudalism; in addition a sense security was developed during the political turmoil and warfare. Canon Law- a system of justice to guide people’s conduct

The Papacy/Pope-heads church in Rome Decrees of the Pope are seen as words of God/law Clergy-religious officials Sacraments-important religious ceremonies to achieve salvation Communion, baptism, and confession Punishments for not following canon law include interdict and excommunication Based on the teachings of Christ Bible Latin

Gothic architecture and Gothic art are the aesthetic expression of that epoch of European history when paganism had been extinguished, the traditions of classical civilization destroyed, the hordes of barbarian invaders beaten back, or assimilated; and when the Catholic Church had established itself not only as the sole spiritual power, supreme and almost unquestioned in authority, but also as the arbiter of the destinies of sovereigns and of peoples.

He lived in the time of the fall of Rome. In The City of God, he asked why God is letting barbarians destroy the Christian civilization of Rome. He concluded that no earthly city can last forever. Only the “City of God” in Heaven is eternal. Because our understanding is limited, he said we must put our faith in God, who will reward us in he afterlife.

Lived 800 years after St. Augustine. His most famous book, Summa Theologica, provided a summary of Christian beliefs. He wrote at the time when Muslim and Jewish scholars had just discovered lost works by Aristotle. Some Christian scholars felt such pre-Christian thinkers had no value. He showed how these works by Aristotle were compatible with Christian teachings. He said that God had given man the power of reason to help him explain and interpret the world. Therefore, we should trust reason as well as faith.

Natural law is universal laws independent of any laws passed by government. These laws are based on reason. Our reason tells us what we must do in order to “do good and to avoid evil.” Aquinas believed that we can use our understanding of natural law to evaluate the laws of governments. If a human law conflicts with natural law, it is not a law and we do not have to obey it. “Laws of this kind are acts of violence rather than laws.” He believed that citizens even have the right to remove rulers who continually enact unjust laws. Although Aquinas thought a ruler’s power came from God, he felt this power came from God through the people.

The Catholic Church was the most powerful organization in Western Europe. The Pope was the head of the Church. Christians believed the Church held power to send persons to Heaven or Hell. Church was the main center of learning. Church wealth grew as many nobles who died left their land to the Church in order to gain entry to Heaven. Crusades – Christian Europeans challenged Muslims for control of the Holy Land. The Crusades increased interest in trade with the East.