The Medieval Church
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Transcript of The Medieval Church
The Medieval Church
The Roman Catholic Church grew in importance after Roman authority declined
It became the unifying force in western Europe
Impact of the Medieval Church
During the Medieval period, the Catholic Church proved to be very powerful
The Catholic Church became the center of life for nearly all Western Europeans
The primary job of the Church was spiritualThe Church became involved in politics and
social issues
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The Pope became the most powerful figure in Europe
Nearly all of Europe fell under the Pope’s controlAll the people were Catholic, giving the Pope
control over peasants, nobles, and kingsThe Church taught that all people were
sinners
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The Pope anointed the Holy Roman EmperorsMissionaries carried Christianity to the
Germanic tribesThe Church served the social, political, and
religious needs of the people
Growth during the Middle Ages
Medieval ChurchThe only way to
reach salvation was by gaining the Grace of God
To gain God’s grace, one had to participate in the sacraments
BaptismPenanceEucharistConfirmationMatrimonyAnointing of the sickHoly Orders
Most Europeans were very religious even though they truly did not understand Christianity
The Mass was said in Latin—a language that only the clergy understood
Many of the priests were uneducatedMost people learned about Christianity by
looking at religious paintings, statues, and stained glass
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There were 2 types of Catholic Clergy1.) Secular Clergy
Pope, Bishops, Priests2.) Regular Clergy
Monks and nuns
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520—St. Benedict created a monastery in Italy
He issued very strict rules for monks to followMonks could never marryMonks could not own propertyMonks had to be obedient
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St. Benedict
Influenced by the classical heritage of RomeInfluenced by Christian beliefs, and bythe customs of Germanic tribes
Foundations of early Medieval Society
Monastic LifeMonks were very simple peopleClothing was simple—a long, loose robe made
from dark, coarse materialAte 1 to 2 meals a dayMost monks had to take vows of silenceLived in monasteries
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Monastic LifeWomen also participated in a life devoted to
religionThese women were nunsNuns lived in conventsNuns are known for their gown and veil
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Monastic LifeMonks and nuns lived isolated from the rest
of the peopleYet, they played a large part in the peoples’
livesThe monks preserved classical Roman and
Greek texts by hand copying the works
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Monastic LifeMonasteries and convents provided schools
for the youngThey were hospitals for the sickThey were hotels for the travelersMonks and nuns taught the people new skills
in carpentry, farming, and weaving
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Roman authority declined while church authority grew
Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements
Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic Tribes
Influence of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman authority declined while church authority grew
Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements
Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic Tribes
Influence of the Roman Catholic Church
Power of the ChurchThe Catholic Church was powerful both
spiritually and politicallyThe rich gave $ to the ChurchThe Church was becoming very corrupt from
the $ and power it hadChurch leader cared less about salvation and
more about $
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Church ReformPeople began to call for reform because
the Church was becoming too secularMonasteries led the reformA College of Cardinals would choose the
popes1073—the Pope outlawed the Practice of
Lay Investiture—when secular rulers appointed Church officials
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Church Reform1215: Pope Innocent III tried to reform the
clergyHe condemned drunkenness, feasting,
hawking, and dancing among the clergyInnocent III issued Church laws to stop
heresy—the denial of the Church’s teachingsHeretics could be killed or excommunicated
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Medieval ChurchChurch ReformInnocent also started
the Inquisition—a Church court designed to find, arrest, judge, and sentence heretics
The Inquisition punished heretics in several ways
1.)imprisonment2.)excommunication3.)taking of property4.)execution
Church ReformFriars—wandering preachers—also attempted
to make reforms in the ChurchThere were two groups of friars
FranciscansDominicans
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