March 6, 2014

• I will investigate how the Catholic Church was a major part of life for all people in the Middle Ages and how its influences carries over into today’s world.

3.1 Introduction• How was the Catholic Church considered

the center of Medieval Life?

– There was a church in every village.

– It was used for religious services, town meetings, plays, concerts

– Markets (for merchants and famers), festivals, and fairs were all held near the church.

– Education, health, and explanation of world events (storms, sickness, etc)

– “Age of Faith”

3.2 The increasing power of the Church

• Which Roman Emperor issued a decree allowing Christians to practice their religion freely? How had Christians been treated by Romans before that time?

• The Roman emperor Constantine issued a decree in 313 C.E. allowing Christians to practice their religion freely. Prior to that, Christians had been persecuted by the Romans

3.2 The increasing power of the Church

• Describe two roles the Roman Catholic Church played in society after the fall of Rome.

– Economic: Largest land holder and collecting of tithes (taxes equaling 1/10th of their pay or product to the church)

– Political: Latin was the common language in Europe, church officials were the only people who could normally read (they kept track of records and money since many others couldn’t)

3.4 Pilgrimages and Crusades

• Why did people undertake pilgrimages during the Middle Ages? What were some of the popular destinations of pilgrims?

• People went on pilgrimages to show their devotion to God, as an act of penance for their sins, or in hope of being cured of an illness.

• Some popular pilgrimage destinations were Jerusalem, Rome, and Canterbury.

3.4 Pilgrimages and Crusades

• What were some of the challenges pilgrims faced on their journeys?

• Travel was difficult and sometimes dangerous. Pilgrims often traveled on foot. Robbery was a constant threat.

3.4 Pilgrimages and Crusades

• What was the goal of the Crusades?

• The Crusades were military expeditions to the Holy Land that attempted to recover Jerusalem and other sites of pilgrimage from Muslims.

3.5 Art & Architecture• In what ways did the art of medieval

Europe reflect the influence of the Roman Catholic Church?

• Most art was made for religious purposes. Paintings and sculptures in churches helped people to worship. Since most people couldn’t read, art helped to tell the story of Jesus’s life or Bible stories in a way everyone could understand.

• The best result of the Catholic Faith were their:– Cathedrals

Christ Church Cathedral

St. Patrick’SCathedral

Flying Buttress

Nave/Transept

Stained Glass

3.6 Education

• Explain two advances in education during the Middle Ages.

• A new form of writing with both upper- and lowercase letters made reading easier. Also, universities were created for advanced study.

3.6 Education

• Who was Thomas Aquinas? How did he bring together ancient philosophy & Christian theology?

• Thomas Aquinas was an Italian scholar of philosophy and theology. He tried to bridge the gap between reason and faith by writing logical arguments to show how reason and religious belief worked together.

3.7 Holidays

• The word holiday comes from ______________________________.

• What types of things did Christian holidays celebrate?

• Christian holidays celebrated Christian saints, events in the life of Jesus, and important religious ideas.

Holy Day

3.7 Holidays

• What were some of the ways in which people celebrated religious holidays?

• They attended Church services, and then celebrated with feasts and entertainments including bonfires, acrobats and jugglers, dancing bears, and plays.