The Age of Faith In Europe the most powerful organization was the Roman Catholic Church, often replacing the powers of a government. Reasons for this power: People were very religious and felt the Church represented God and it held the power to send a person to Heaven or Hell. The Church was largest land owner and the tithes (money given to the church) increased its wealth. Churches were centers of learning, often they were the only people who could read and write.

The Age of Faith The Catholic Church was based in Rome and was led by the Pope. The Church controlled the lives of the people from birth ‘til death. Monks lived in monasteries and often were the only people who were able to read and write. Nuns lived in convents and spent their lives in prayer.

Christian Thinkers St. Augustine – St. Thomas Aquinas – Lived during the fall of the Roman empire. Asked why God let barbarians destroy the Christian civilization of Rome. Believed we must put our faith in God to receive reward in the afterlife. St. Thomas Aquinas – Lived in the 1200s Men could judge government laws and overthrow unjust rulers USA’s founding fathers believed in this idea, it led to the American Revolution.

The Crusades For hundreds of years Christians had been making pilgrimages to the Holy Lands to visit Jerusalem. In the 11th century the Seljuk Turks (Muslims) gained control of the Holy Lands and refused to allow Christians the right to visit. (see map) This action would lead to a series of wars lasting hundreds of years.

The Crusades In 1095, Pope Urban II was asked by the Byzantine Emperor to help against the Muslim invasion of Christian controlled Constantinople. Pope Urban II issued a call for all Christians to fight a Holy Crusade to free the Holy Lands from Muslim control. Christian people of all types joined the Crusades to gain salvation, freedom, or riches by fighting the Muslims. Muslim vs. Christian

The Crusades The word ‘Crusade’ meant ‘war of the cross’. Crusaders used a red cross against a white background as a symbol of their strength. The Crusades brought together rulers and nobles from different parts of Europe. Several Crusades were fought over the next 200 years, sometimes the Crusaders were victorious and other times the Muslims won.

Effects of the Crusades The Crusades did not achieve the goal of Christians gaining control of the Holy Lands. But the effects of the Crusades lasted, Europeans had greater exposure to new ideas Concept of Zero in math, silk, spices, coffee, perfumes Increased demand in Europe brought increased trade Products like lemons, oranges, spices, cotton clothing, rugs and other luxury items became common in Europe Growth of Intolerance (still happening today) Christians killed Muslims and Jews Muslims killed Christians Feudal system was weakened because knights were ineffective at fighting in the climatic conditions of the Middle East.

The Later Middle Ages As barbarian invasions began to decease the cities began to prosper. The Crusades had increased the interest in luxury items from the East. As trade grew a new merchant class grew trying to provide the wanted luxury goods. Merchants and craftsmen organized into powerful associations called guilds.

Guilds Guilds were developed to maintain the quality of workmanship and protect the wages of the craftsmen, journeymen, & apprentices. New inventions like mechanical clocks, windmills, and watermills improved life. People began to make money and they began to spend it .

Cities Grow Cities like Bologna and Paris, started universities. Towns competed to see who could build the grandest church or cathedral. A new art style called Gothic was developed. Churches had pointed arches, high spires, and beautiful stained glass windows that gave the building a heavenly feeling.

English Political Traditions During the Middle Ages, England developed traditions of limited self-government and liberty that were unique in Europe. Parliament – England’s lawmaking body, which influenced the USA’s version of Congress. USA’s Congress England’s Parliament

English Political Traditions Magna Carta – 1215 document signed by English King John that limited the kings powers and increased those of the nobles. It stopped the king from : Taking property with due process Imprisoning a free man without reason Consent of the noble council before raising taxes Our U.S. Constitution is based on these ideas in the Magna Carta.