The Church in Medieval Life During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church became the main stabilizing force in Western Europe. The Church provided religious leadership as well as secular, or worldly leadership. It also played a key role in reviving and preserving learning. CHURCH HIERARCHY The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He is believed to be the spiritual representative of Jesus on earth. Below the Pope came the Archbishops, bishops, and local Priests. For peasants and town dwellers, everyday life was closely tied to local priests and the village church.

Spiritual Role of the Church: The main responsibility of the Church was to serve the spiritual needs of medieval society. Local priests instructed peasants & townspeople in the faith and provided comfort to them in troubled times. The Church taught that all men and women were sinners but that Christians could achieve salvation, or eternal life in heaven, through faith in Jesus, good works, and participation in sacraments, or sacred spiritual rituals. To escape the punishment of hell, believers needed to take part in the sacraments of the Church

Economic Power- The Church filled many secular, or worldly, roles during the Middle Ages. As the largest landowner in Europe, the Church had significant economic power. The Church also gained wealth through the tithe, a tax. Christians were required to pay an amount that equaled 10% of their income.

Political Power- The Church had its own set of laws called Canon Law, and its own courts of justice. The Church claimed authority over secular rulers, but monarchs did not always recognize this authority. As a result, there were frequent power struggles between the Pope in Rome and various kings. Popes believed that they had authority over the kings. Popes sometimes excommunicated, or excluded from the Catholic Church, secular rulers who challenged or threatened papal power.

Monastic Orders- Some men and women became monks or nuns, leaving worldly society and devoting their lives to God. They entered monastaries, communities where Christian men and women focused on spiritual goals. Monks and nuns fulfilled many social needs, such as tending to the sick, helping the poor, and educating children.

Centers of Learning- In monasteries and convents (religious communities of women), monks and nuns also preserved ancient writing by copying ancient texts. Some monks and nuns taught Latin and Greek classics; others produced their own literary works.

Missionary Work- Not all monks and nuns remained in monasteries. Some because missionaries, risking their lives to spread the message of Christianity. The Church sometimes honored its missionaries by declaring them saints.

Food for Thought… the Medieval Church 1. Four ways in which the RCC affected economic or political affairs: Largest landholder in Europe Tithe= taxes that Christians must pay (10%) of income Cannon Law & courts of justice 2. Excommunication = being excluded from the Catholic Church 3. Monks and Nuns preserved Greco-Roman culture in their monasteries and convents. They copied ancient texts, taught Latin & Greek classics, and produced their own literary works. THIS IS WHERE LEARNING WAS PRESERVED!!! 4. The foundations of Anti-Semitism (prejudice against Jews) were laid during the Middle Ages because the Church barred Jews from owning land or practicing many occupations. Christians also blamed Jews for the death of Jesus. 5. Art & Architecture served religious purposes/ were inspired by Religion 6. Contributions in Literature… new stories written in every day languages of people; Dante Contributions in Architecture… towns reflected Roman architecture; Gothic style of architecture seen in churches

What are these paintings focusing on ???!!! Examples of Medieval Art… What are these paintings focusing on ???!!! RELIGION!!!!

Gothic Cathedrals “Whether lifting our eyes to the soaring nave vaults, or peering into the depths of the aisles, the whole atmosphere is one of religious mystery… One cannot but experience a little of that unearthly joy so keenly felt by the devotes of our cathedral.” Reflecting the central role of the Church in people’s lives during the Middle Ages, cathedrals were built for the glory of God. During the C.E. 1100s, a new system of construction that originated in France signaled a change in architectural style from Roman to Gothic. The Gothic style of Architecture would allow people to achieve new heights in honoring God. A fine example of Gothic architecture, our Lady of Chartes was rebuilt following a fire in C.E. 1194. The new structure, with a vault that reaches 11 stories into the sky, attests to the success of medieval builders in devising new ways to distribute the weight of cathedral walls. Ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and flying buttresses allowed stained-glass windows to fill the interior with light and the walls to stretch to the heavens.

Gothic Cathedrals RIBBED VAULTS brought new height to cathedral ceilings with support from pointed arches. The arches were formed by narrow stone ribs that extended from tall pillars. FLYING BUTTRESSES helped “open up” the interior space. These stone beams supported the main walls which could then enclose stained-glass windows.