Church and Society Main idea: Catholic Church played an important role in medieval Europe and used its power to uphold church teaching Cistercian Monks: Invented new farming techniques Bernard of Clairvaux – advised pope, defended the poor Hildegard of Bingen – headed convent in Germany composed worship music Until 1200s most religious orders lived in monasteries separate From the world.

Friars: 1 st order founded by Francis of Assisi called Franciscans Lived in towns & taught Christianity Helped the poor and were Missionaries Friars: Dominic de Guzman founded the Dominicans Defend Church teachings / studied for years teach

Role of Religion Mass: Catholic worship service (Sundays / holiday) Rituals called sacraments (communion = Bread &Wine) Saints – Mary most honored Relics – some believed they had special powers to heal Inquisition: (AD 1233) a Court to try heresy or crime against God Heretics - Anti-Semitism – hatred of Jews used as scapegoats blamed for disease (plague) Christian mobs attacked and killed thousands Governments made Jews wear special badges

Architecture Romanesque Church Thick walls w/ huge pillars to hold up long rounded roofs Small windows, set back in thick walls that let in little light

Gothic Cathedrals Ribbed vaults w/ pointed arches instead of round barrel vaults Gothic churches were taller than Romanesque churches Flying buttresses were stone supports built onto outside walls that made it possible to have thinner walls w/ large stain glass windows