Chapter 10, Lesson 4 Culture and the Church It Matters Because: Architecture, education, literature, and religion played very important roles in medieval life.

European Culture By 1100s, Crusades and strong monarchies led to growth in trade, banking As cities grew, huge churches, called cathedrals, were built Romanesque architecture combined Roman and Byzantine styles Gothic architecture featured towering spires and stained glass Universities were founded in Europe First were in Bologna, Italy; and Paris, France Teachers read from a text, students took notes on slate chalkboards Students did not have books; books were rare until printing press was invented

Gothic Cathedral Romanesque Cathedral

Religion, Language, and Literature New school of religious thought, Scholasticism, changed theology Theology – the study of religion and God Showed that Christian faith does not contradict science Greatest scholastic thinker was Thomas Aquinas Aquinas showed that Christianity and Greek philosophy did not contradict each other Wrote Summa Theologica, and used logic to explain Christian faith Believed people had God-given rights to live, learn, worship, and marry Latin was the language of religion and universities Local languages developed, called vernacular (early forms of English, French, etc.) Poetry and epic tales (Beowulf, Roland, etc.) written in vernacular

Friars and Everyday Religion Religious orders before 1200 lived separated from the outside world Lived, prayed, and worked in monasteries In 1200s, new orders called friars were founded with goal of serving people Took Christianity to towns; preached, served as missionaries, aided the poor Friars could not own property or keep wealth Two orders were Franciscans and Dominicans Took vows of poverty Most everyone in Europe attended weekly church service called Mass Ceremonies called sacraments were observed at mass Communion the most well-known Only priests could give sacraments

Heresy Even though the Church was powerful, heresy was a problem Heresy – ideas that conflict with church teaching; a very serious crime 1233, Pope set up the Inquisition, an organization to question and deal with people accused of heresyInquisition People found guilty were allowed to confess and receive forgiveness Those who refused to confess were banned (excommunicated) from the church Went to prison, lost property, or were executed

Trials by Ordeal If a person was accused of a crime before criminal trials existed He or she would be subjected to a Trial by OrdealTrial by Ordeal Person would endure a physical test God would judge their guilt or innocence If person passed the test, he or she was innocent Example: The Bishop’s Ring Accused would retrieve a ring from kettle of boiling water Wound was wrapped, checked in 3 days If wound was healing, accused was innocent If wound was infected, accused was guilty

Anti-Semitism Jews blamed for problems in Europe like famine, plague, economic trouble Anti-Semitism – hostility and discrimination against Jews Jews forced to live in separate neighborhoods Most banks owned by Jews, because Catholics could not loan money and charge interest to other Christians Jews often forbidden to own land, or practice certain professions Many kingdoms drove Jews out, and many settled in Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Ukraine, etc.)