1. The Medieval Period: The Age of Faith Read the following passage below
According to this Christian writer of the Middle Ages, God has given everyone a special gift, or talent.
People in the Middle Ages were encouraged to use their talents in service to Christianity.
Do you think people make use of their talents today?
“Each one has his own gift from God, the one in this way, the other in that… The heart of the Church lies in the heart of its servants. The greatest gift is to have a willingness to serve”
(The Rule of Saint Benedict, 530 AD).

2. Why was the Roman Catholic Church Powerful in Medieval Society?
It owned land (1/3rd in Europe)
It controlled people’s beliefs- told people when they die, their souls go to heaven or hell
It was rich
- people paid tithes
- collected rents from
lands
- Sold pardons, or
Indulgences, for past and
future sins
4. It was international, not
controlled by kings
5. Clergy were only people who read and write

3. The Church Hierarchy

4. What were their Jobs?

5. The Village Church The center of village affairs and social life
Daily life and holidays revolved around the Christian calendar
The church required Christians to pay a Tithe or tax equal to 1/10th of their income.
Baptism marked the entrance into the community and the dead were buried in the church yards.

6. Why Was the Church Important?
Religion helped explain difficult events, (illnesses, astronomical phenomenon)
Escape from drudgery of life
Impressive building, constructed & decorated by the local community
Center of social life, (church fests)

7. Jobs of the Parish Priest
The Parish Priest will:
Say mass in the village church (and say it in Latin).
Perform weddings and baptisms.
Hear confessions.
Visit villagers regularly and listen to their problems.
Bury the dead.
Heal the sick.
Teach children of wealthy nobles to read and write.
Work the land, growing crops in the church grounds.
Keep village records.

8. Monasticism Monasticism
•About 1 in 10 lived a monastic life (life devoted to the service of God)
Many monks took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

9. A Medieval Monk’s Schedule

10. Duties of a Medieval Monk
Monks farmed the land and raised livestock on Church property.
They ran inns (which included restaurants) and hospitals to serve others.
They gave refuge to people in time of war or crisis
Monks maintained libraries and “scriptoria” to copy books and illuminate manuscripts.
Monks provided schools for children of upper class.
Eventually, monasteries became too small to teach all who wanted to be educated.
“Classes” began meeting outside monastery.
Those buildings grew into universities.

11. Video Clips Medieval Minds- The Monastic Life
Medieval life in the Monastery
Life in the Middle Ages: The Monk

12. Medieval Universities

13. The Medieval Monastary
Complex community of many different buildings
–Granaries
–Breweries
–Bakeries
–Wineries
–Abbey church
–Library / scriptorium
–Hospital
–School