CHAPTER 6.4 CLASS NOTES THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY St. Michael’s Mount, England Notre Dame, France Duomo, Italy

I. Religion and Society A. New religious orders developed. The Cistercian order were monks who farmed, worshiped, and prayed. The most famous Cistercian monk was Bernard of Clairvaux. B. Many women, mostly from nobility, entered convents between 1000 AD – 1200 AD and became nuns. Hildegard of Bingen was a famous nun who composed music for the church. C. Most monks lived in religious communities called monasteries. Friars were different. They traveled around the world to preach and lived by begging.

D. Francis of Assisi founded the first order of friars, who became known as Franciscans. The Dominican Order was founded by Dominic de Guzman. E. In Medieval Europe life revolved around the Catholic Church. F. Saints were holy men and women who had died. Mary, the mother of Jesus was the most honored saint. G. The Catholic Church tried people for heresy, or beliefs that were in conflict with Church teachings. The Church established a court called the Inquisition where people were brought to confess their sins. If they did not confess they could be punished or executed.

H. Leaders of the Catholic Church persecuted Jews. Christians blamed the Jews for economic problems. Hatred of Jews is called anti-Semitism. In much of Western Europe Jews lost rights and were forced to move to other countries. Edict of Expulsion: (Alhambra Decree) 1492 – Forced the Jews to leave Spain

Possible Motives for the Spanish Inquisition 1.To establish political and religious homogeneity. To make all of Spain Catholic. 2. To weaken the political opposition to Catholic Monarchs. 3. Fear that the Jews would encourage the Muslims to conquer Spain. 4. To rid Spain of the powerful converso minority (this was a group of Jews that had converted to Christianity but many in Spain felt they were still a threat to Christianity). 5. For economic profit. Those convicted lost their property to to the monarchs.

II. Medieval Culture A. Architecture of the Middle Ages reflected the importance of r eligion;. People bu i lt large churches called cathedrals in Romanesque and Gothic styles. B. Oxford University was one of the first universities established in Europe. University students studied g rammar, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy for four to six years. C. College graduates could continue their education and earn a doctorate in law, medicine, or theology, t h e s t udy of religion and God.

SEGOVIA CATHEDRAL - SPAIN

Toledo Cathedral - Toledo, Spain

Milan Cathedral – Milan, Italy

York Cathedral – York, England

Notre Dame – Paris, France GOTHIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE

D. Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican friar and prie s t. He was f a mous for his contributions to scholasticism, a new way of thinking that changed the natu r e of theology. H e combined the ideas o f the church with Aristotle. He wrote about natural law and that people have natural rights that a r e part o f human nature and do not co m e from governme n ts. The right to be free is a natural right. “Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness” – Thomas Jefferson

E. L a tin was the language of educated people in Europe during the Middle Ages. Everyday languages of local people were called the vernacular. F. Vernacular litera ture began in the Middle Ages. Troubadour poetry and the heroic epic, two types of ver n acular literature, became p o pular in the educated classes. T he S ong of Roland is about a k n i ght named Rola n d who fi g hts against the Mu s lims.