1. Rise of the Church

2. The Church
The most powerful religious organization of the time was the Roman Catholic Church.
It became the greatest source of stability and self-identification in Western Europe.
The grandest building in any medieval city was almost always a cathedral- an especially large church. This showed the importance of religion.

3. Reims Cathedral in France.

4. Canterbury Cathedral in England.

5. Why was the Church so powerful?
The main reason is because people had short and hard lives and were comforted by the thoughts of heaven…

6. Monasteries
Monasteries began to develop as a place where people could separate themselves from society and live a life of isolation in their dedication to God.
The clergy performed services of the Church including marriages, funerals, blessing the sick and dying, and listening to confessions.
Men who dedicated their entire lives to the Church were called monks; women were called nuns.

7. In the 6th century, monasteries became caretaker & disseminator (spreader) of the Christian message.
Monasteries became centers of learning and maintained the culture.
1. preserved Christian writings (the Bible)
* produced hand-made copies
* this led the way for medieval art to develop.
2. created universities (degrees in theology)

8. Notre Dame Cathedral in France.
The 1st universities began to grow from the monastic schools and students could study under any teacher. Most degrees were in theology.
Notre Dame Cathedral in France.

9. This cathedral in Aachen, Germany is the burial place of Charlemagne.
Charlemagne’s decree was to educate boys, primarily in training for priesthood. The monastic centers expanded their curricula to include a wider range of subjects.
This cathedral in Aachen, Germany is the burial place of Charlemagne.

10. The Church did many of the jobs government does today such as making laws, running courts, and collecting taxes.

11. The Church also limited wars among the lords
The Church also limited wars among the lords. If a lord disobeyed, the Church could excommunicate him, or prevent him from taking part in Church life. If this happened, no one would speak to him ever again! Most lords did NOT disobey the Church…

13. Roman Catholic Church
The primary goal of the RCC & core purpose of monasteries were to influence people to become Christians.
Monasteries attempted to:
1. Became ideal communities for people to live a holier & more dedicated life.
2. Created religious orders, some that placed emphasis on spreading Christianity & promoting teachings of the Catholic Church.

14. Up next…The Black Plague!!!
Culture and Learning
By 1200, cathedral schools became universities of learning in mathematics, law, and medicine.
Writing about chivalry (noble qualities of a knight) blossomed during the Middle Ages.
Traveling performers called troubadours sang about the heroic deeds of knights for their ladies.
Up next…The Black Plague!!!