1. Marcus Falcon Mrs. Eckman Wissler CP English 12 19 September 2017
Medieval Pilgrimages
Marcus Falcon
Mrs. Eckman Wissler
CP English 12
19 September 2017

2. What is a Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimage- A journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion. MF

3. What Were Medieval Pilgrimages?
During the Middle Ages the church urged people to go on pilgrimages to holy places known as a shrine. They believed that if you prayed at these shrines, you would be forgiven for your sins and have a chance to go to heaven. MF

4. Medieval Pilgrimages Pilgrims wanted to journey to a holy place
Anglo- Saxon and Celtic texts relate PIlgrimages to exile or banishment.
Christianity spread through England and many people decided to live in exile on pilgrimage seeking salvation
The spread of Christianity in Britian influenced people to go voluntarily on pilgrimages MF

5. Who went of Medieval Pilgrimages
Jews, Christians, and Muslims went on Pilgrimages. They rode by horse or simply walked long journeys to a holy place. Women, children, and men went on Pilgrimages. When they got to their destination they prayed at the shrines and they brought souvenirs back home.
Christians went to Chartres to visit the Tunic of Mary.
Muslims traveled on the Haj which was a pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia).
The Jewish people went on Pilgrimages to Jerusalem MF

6. A typical Pilgrim
A pilgrim wore a Tunic which with a red cross. They carried a wooden staff to help for walking purposes and wore a long scarf to keep them warm. They had leather bags which carried food and supplies and brimmed hats which gave them shade from the sun. MF

7. Dangers of Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages were typically a long journey. Pilgrimages were dangerous causing people to go in groups to protect themselves against outlaws. Rich people sometimes payed others to go on pilgrimages for them. MF

8. Shrine of Thomas Becket
One of the most famous shrines is of Thomas Becket. When Thomas Becket was murdered, people were able to obtain a piece of cloth drenched in his blood. People believed that if they touched the cloth then they would be cured of illnesses. Monks at the Canterberry Cathedral then soon began selling bottles containing Becket’s blood to pilgrims. MF

9. King Henry VIII
In August of 1535, Henry VIII sent a group of officials to investigate the monasteries. As a result 376 monasteries were closed down andt he land was sold to Nobles and Merchants cheaply. In 1538 Henry VIII decided to close down the shrines and the money that had been earned off them to be given to him. The Pope and the Catholic Church excommunicated Henry VII from the Catholic church after he destroyed the shrine of Thomas Becket. MF

10. Works Cited
“Pilgrimage.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com,
Accessed 22 Sept

11. Works Cited: Pictures