1. The Role of the Church in Medieval Europe

2. Clergy
Society in the Middle Ages consisted of “men of prayer, men of war, and men of work.” - Alfred the Great
Clergy influenced all levels of society, especially kings, because they were educated

3. Clergy
Church guided life of people… from baptism to marriage and to death
Power to condemn or to forgive very powerful in people’s lives

4. Church Hierarchy · Pope – head of church, Latin for “Father”
·    Cardinals – advisors to the Pope, controlled the archbishops and choose new Pope from the cardinals
Current Pope:
Benedict XVI
El Grego, Portrait of a Cardinal

5. Church Hierarchy Archbishops – controlled archdiocese and bishops
Bishops – controlled “diocese”
in larger cities or
provinces made of
many parishes

6. Church Hierarchy Abbots – in charge of monasteries and local parishes
  Priests - local church or parish; led religious services(weddings,
baptisms, and funerals),
cared for sick

7. Church Hierarchy: Monks
Lived in monasteries
“Hard” or physical labor to support their communities
Occasionally preached
“Low man” on the Church Hierarchy “totem pole” but crucial since they were in contact with people the most.
Church Hierarchy: Monks

8. Self contained like a town
Monastery
Complex community of many different buildings
Granaries
Breweries
Bakeries
Wineries
Abbey church
Library / scriptorium
Hospital
School
Self contained like a town

9. Monastery Illuminated letters
Inside libraries monks copied manuscripts
Wrote in beautiful handwriting
Drew elaborate illustrations…………
Illuminated letters

10. “Spreading the Word” Religious communities formed
Monks could travel, spread Christianity, and do “good deeds” for the poor
Saint Francis of Assisi began his own group of monks ….helping the poor and sick
St. Francis of Assisi

11. Medieval Christian Church

12. Church Hierarchy: Women
Women were excluded from church employment except as nuns or directors of Abbeys
Nuns were “Brides of Christ”; swore never to marry, devoted to charitable work

13. Church Hierarchy: Women
Worked with the poor, provided shelter, medicine and helped their religious community
Abbesses: nuns in charge of convents--- communities for the nuns
Illuminated letters were an art form and common practice for nuns and monks copying texts for sale to help the convent or monastery.

14. Saint Clare of Assisi

15. Power of the Church
·      Church encouraged Christians to save their souls by donating money to the churches
Nobles were encouraged to leave their lands to the church (upon death) in return for saving their souls>>> increasing the church’s holdings and wealth

16. Power of the Church
·  Clergy> most often the only members of society able to read and write
Most kings were illiterate>> clergy were advisors to the king = very powerful

17. Kings >> conflict with the Church
800 c.e., Kings and nobles tried to take power from church.
Kings appointed their own people/ relatives to church positions, such as bishops and cardinals

18. Kings >> conflict with the Church
New pope> Gregory VII wanted to give back power to church.
Announced that Pope was higher than king and that only the Pope could appoint members to church

19. Kings >> conflict with the Church
King Henry IV refused Pope’s edict (formal announcement)
Pope excommunicated King Henry IV

20. Education Spreads in Europe
· Monasteries became too small to teach those who wanted to be educated
Began meeting outside or in taverns ….eventually began to construct buildings, which grew into universities and colleges

21. Music of Medieval European Christianity

22. Art of the Medieval Church
Most art (paintings and sculptures) were religious and featured Christ or people from the Bible or lessons
Flat, stylized art… not three dimensional

23. Art of the Church
Filled with art, stained glass,, sculpture, and paintings
Tribute to God ….built to strike “awe” in those who viewed the art in these cathedrals