An Age of Faith

Forms of Devotion Roman Catholicism was the dominant form of Christianity Religion was so important in the Middle ages that it is sometimes called the Age of Faith Religious orders By the 1200s monasteries were centers of agricultural production

Medieval Religion and Culture Religion also had a great influence on the arts during the Middle Ages Revival of drama The Church disapproved of drama because of its association with the pre-Christian world (Greece) The Church allowed played based on stories from the bible New Architecture Gothic style emerged Combined religious symbolism with engineering advances Higher than any seen before in western Europe Earlier churches were dark and gloomy New churches had larger windows, taller ceilings, spacious and airy Gothic churches first appeared in France

The Church shapes chivalry Medieval Europe was a place of constant conflict Chivalry helped control the behavior of knights Bravery and loyalty to the king The Church tried to shape chivalry to reflect Christian values of generosity, humility, and mercy Knights were expected to defended the Church and to protect weaker members of society The values of chivalry left a permanent mark on European manners

A Growth of Learning Growth of education was also influenced by the Church Medieval universities Students were trained for the priesthood at schools Eventually schools were set up to provide further education (universities) Classes were held in churches Works of ancient Greece had been preserved in the Byzantine empire that traveled to Europe to be studied in Universities The Church had preserved Latin as the language of learning

Thomas Aquinas One of the best minds in Europe Impressed by the writings of Aristotle Argued that both faith and reason came from god