Church in the Early Middle Ages

Church in the Early Middle Ages

1. The Church in the Middle Ages

2. The Church The Roman Catholic Church grew in importance after Roman authority declined. It became the unifying force in western Europe. Missionaries spread Christianity to the Germanic Tribes , and bring with them the remains of Roman culture.

3. The Church , being the only organization left standing after the fall of Rome, becomes the central institution of the Middle Ages. The Church served the social, political, and religious needs of the people. The Church was the cultural center of the manor

4. Church Organization/Hierarchy Pope Archbishops Bishops Priests Administered the Sacraments , gave advice, taught about right and wrong Monks and Nuns Lived apart from society in monasteries or convents . Devoted their lives to prayer and good works . Might teach skills like carpentry and weaving. Often set up hospitals and gave shelter to travelers. These were also the missionaries of their day. Supervised priests , settled disputes over Church teachings and practices Supervised bishops and elected Popes Head of the Roman Catholic Church

5. The Church and Medieval Life Canon Law – church’s code of laws Excommunication – to be cut off from the church Heretics – people who denied the truth of the church’s principles or who preached beliefs not approved by the church

6. The Church and Medieval Life Church also had the power to tax Tithe – 1/10 of a Christian person’s income

7. Church Problems Corruption in the church People could buy high positions in the church Some monks and nuns lived in luxury even though they had vowed to live in poverty Inquisition – the search for heretics (Church’s Justice System) During the inquisition, those who did not confess were punished (execution)

8. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=un2qxIlqLP8 http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKE8X4piyKw

9. Inquisitions (torture was used to get people to confess.

10. The Pope could interdict a noble which excludes an entire town, region or kingdom from receiving sacraments. If you were excommunicated you would not receive proper burial and the belief was you would not go to heaven

11. Influence of the Church The Church reached out across Europe in several ways: As Roman authority declined , the authority of the Church grew Popes claimed Papal Supremacy (authority over all religious rulers)

12. Influence of the Church The Church reached out across Europe in several ways: Missionaries carried Christianity and the Latin alphabet to the Germanic tribes

13. Influence of the Church The Church reached out across Europe in several ways: Like Byzantine libraries, and Islamic universities, monasteries preserved Greco-Roman culture

14. Influence of the Church A monastery is a place where a community of monks live Monks are men who have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=9wVTP2016G0

15. Influence of the Church Parish priests, the local priests, served the religious and social needs of the people. Parish priest would baptize babies , perform weddings , and administer final death rites.

16. Church and Education Education was confined to the clergy during the Middle Ages. The peasants were too busy working the lord’s land (uneducated) The Nobility were too busy fighting and taking care of their feudal obligations (uneducated)

17. Church and Education Church scholars preserved classical literature in monasteries throughout the Christian world. This is the time before copy machines. Many monks’ job was to copy and recopy the ancient texts .

18. Church and Education Over a long period of time, church scholars slowly became interested in the knowledge of the ancients . European church scholars began to interpret and value this ancient learning.

19. The Role of Church Scholars Church scholars were among the few in the Middle Ages who could read and write Church scholars usually worked in monasteries . Church scholars would translate Greek and Arabic works into Latin .

20. The Role of Church Scholars Monks made available knowledge in the fields of philosophy , medicine , and science , which had been imported from the East (Byzantium and Islam) Church scholars laid the foundation for the rise of universities in Europe

21. Review Questions How did monks serve god? Who was in charge of a group of parish priests? What was Canon law? What was the purpose of the inquisition, and how were people treated during it? Why was the church such a powerful force in the Middle ages?