Middle Ages – The Roman Catholic Church

1. Recreate the feudal chart. 2. Explain how feudalism worked. Feudalism Quiz 1. Recreate the feudal chart. 2. Explain how feudalism worked. 3. Why was feudalism necessary?

1. king Lord Vassal Knight Nobles all above Commoners all below Peasants, serfs, merchants, craftsmen 2. Kings gave land to powerful lords in exchange for loyalty. Lords in turn provided land to lesser nobles, called vassals in exchange for loyalty and services. Commoners worked the nobles land in exchange for protections, food and shelter. 3. Feudalism was necessary because it provided all Europeans with food, shelter, order, structure, government, and economy.

1. Read the information regarding the Roman Catholic Church. Lesson 1. Read the information regarding the Roman Catholic Church. 2. After each topic, write the main idea or a question you have regarding the topic.

Daily Life Throughout Western Europe in Medieval times, each community was centered around a church, playing a powerful role in nearly everyone’s personal life. The church offered religious services, established orphanages, and helped care for the poor, sick, and elderly. Most Europeans were baptized, married, and buried by the Catholic Church. They also hosted feasts, festivals, and other celebrations. As communities grew, their members often donated money and labor to build new and larger churches.

Cathedral

Parish Church The parish church was the center of every town. It was generally the largest building in town often built in the shape of a cross. Churches had stained glass windows and statues that told stories from the Bible to the commoners and nobles who, for the most part, could not read. Every Sunday, every commoner and noble went to church to a service spoken in Latin (which they didn't understand) and a sermon read from a Bible written in Latin (which they did not understand). The parish church was overseen by a parish priest, whose duties were to teach the Christian gospel to his parishioners, and help them to live their lives by God's laws. Because most nobles were illiterate (they could not read or write), the staff priests would write important letters and documents. They would also give advice about wars, laws, and family quarrels, and the education and marriage of noble sons and daughters.

Pilgrimages Pilgrimages were journeys made to places that held special religious significance. Usually, this was a shrine where a saint was buried or a visit to the Holy Land itself. Making a pilgrimage was long and often dangerous. Almost everyone traveled on foot and bandits and pirates lay in wait for the unarmed pilgrims. However, people went on these journeys anyways because they felt that prayers made at a saint's tomb were especially powerful. If a loved one fell ill, a relative might promise to make a pilgrimage if the person got better, or someone might go to show that they were sorry for their sins. Some went on pilgrimages as penance, or punishment by the Church, for a sin they committed. Gambling, stealing, etc.

Monks & Nuns Monks were men who devoted their time to praying and studying in communities called monasteries. They preserved Greek and Roman knowledge by hand-copying illuminated manuscripts (colorful handwritten books). Later, the Church also founded the first universities in Europe, teaching the ancient world and God. Nuns were women who prayed, sewed, taught young girls, cared for the poor, and also copied and decorated books in convents.

Power of the Church 1.) If a commoner or nobleman refused to obey the commands of the Church, the Pope might punish him/her with excommunication, or being kicked out of the Church. All the churches on the Lord’s land would be closed, and neither he, his family, nor anyone within his territory could be baptized, married, or buried with the Church’s blessings = going to Hell! One could find a quicker route to heaven by purchasing indulgences = a get out of Hell card. 2.) The Pope insisted he had the supreme authority over all Christian lands, causing arguments and even wars between kings and the Pope. King John of England was excommunicated at one time for angering the Pope. 3.) Crusades were military expeditions sent by Pope Urban II to capture the Holy Land (Palestine/Israel) from the Muslim Turks. Several Crusades between 1096 and 1272 failed to win the Holy Land. However, outcomes occurred such as increased trade, better ships and maps, and decrease of feudal lords (many were killed in battle).

Indulgences – get out of hell card

Crusades

Inquisition People who committed acts against the authority of the church were accused of heresy and called heretics. Jews, Muslims, witches, commoners, nobles, anyone you didn’t like. An Inquisition was a court set up by the power of the Church to find heretics. Accused were usually “found guilty”. Heretics would be put to death usually before enduring torture. Torture = wheel, rack, hot oil, impalement, drawn Death = torture, hanging, burned or buried alive.

The Great Schism In 1054 A.D., the Christian Church split. The Emperor of the Byzantine Empire and the Bishop of Constantinople did not agree with the Pope’s “supremacy” on earth. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome – the Emperor and Bishop of Constantinople claimed all bishops were equal, and that the Pope had no authority over leaders of countries. They also argued over certain interpretations of the Bible and beliefs. The two divisions of the church became known as Catholics in the West and Orthodox Christians in the East.

The Great Schism

Non-Christians Muslim armies from North Africa – called Moors – conquered Spain and Portugal in the 700’s AD, and ruled 800 years. Wars and violence occurred between the Moors and Christians (native inhabitants) for the next 800 years. Despite fighting, Moors brought new discoveries and also helped preserve the ancient Greek and Roman ideals. Muslim communities in Spain were eventually : forced to convert (become a Christian), killed or driven out by the Christian leaders in the 1490’s. Although Jews had been living in Europe since the times of the Roman Empire. Jewish communities lived under discrimination and persecution in Europe. They were forbidden to own land. They could only work in certain professions. Christians often blamed Jews when disease or natural disasters struck. Many Jews were kicked out of countries and fled to Eastern Europe. Others were tortured or killed. However, Jewish communities remained intact and preserved their traditions. Jewish scholars continued to make contributions to learning for all Europeans.

Socratic Seminar 1. Who was the more powerful? King or Pope? 2. Did the Pros out way the Cons of the Roman Catholic Church? 3. Why was Latin used when the majority of Europeans did not understand this ancient language? 4. How useful would indulgences have been? For the people buying them and the Church selling them? 5. What was the purpose of the Inquisition?