The Medieval Church

 For most Western European people, the Church was the center of their lives.  The bishop of Rome (now called the Pope) was the spiritual authority over European Christians.

Spiritual Role  Church taught all were dependant on God’s Grace  Grace was received through sacraments  Peasants learned Christianity through art

Political and Social Role  After the decline of Rome, the pope began to gain more power  Church was the central structure in most people’s lives  Began to dictate who had control (Charlemagne) as well as the social norms of medieval society Political and Social Role  After the decline of Rome, the pope began to gain more power  Church was the central structure in most people’s lives  Began to dictate who had control (Charlemagne) as well as the social norms of medieval society

The Church had its own courts and laws. They could keep people out of heaven by preventing them from receiving the sacraments. The Church received donations of land from kings who wanted to ensure salvation. Political and Social Role

Monasteries  Pope Benedict founded a monastery in 529 that laid the framework for future monasteries  Monks preserved ancient texts  Provided schools, charity, & hospitals  Served as missionaries, converting many throughout Europe

Monks dressed in simple robes of coarse material. Most monasteries required vows of silence. Women could do the same in convents, but focused on spinning, weaving, and medicinal herbs. Monte Cassino Monasteries

Although monks and nuns lived apart from society, they were important in society. They taught reading and writing, preserved and copied religious texts, and ran hospitals for the needy. Monasteries

Political and Social Role  Church had its own courts and laws which were applied to rich and poor  Many church officials were nobles who had land and knights to fight for them  Led to corruption and a change of focus from the spiritual mission of the church Political and Social Role

Friars Friars who were wandering preachers, encouraged further reform in the 1200’s. They followed monastic rules, but lived among common people to preach.

Franciscan Friars Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan Friars about They tried to reproduce the simple life of Jesus and his disciples. The Friars became known for their cheerful trust in God and respect for nature. Franciscan and Dominican Friars lived lives of simplicity and poverty that gained the clergy more respect

Church Reform  Monks modeled way of life  Cardinals elected the pope  Innocent III fought to remove heresy from the church and offenders were excommunicated  Inquisition was established to seek and punish heretics ExcommunicationPunishment for HeresyFinding the Truth

Anti-Semitism  By 1100 Christians blamed Jews for their problems  Some church leaders required Jews to wear ID badges  Were forced from their land and had to become peddlers and money lenders  Many Jews moved to Eastern Europe