1. The Church in the Middle Ages
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2. Objectives
Describe the role of monasteries, convents, and cathedrals in society
Analyze the Crusades and their effects on Europe
Explain the effects of the Black Death on Europe

3. The Spread of Christianity
King Charlemagne brought Christianity to conquered lands
In Ireland, priests brought the new religion
Eventually, Christianity became central to life to almost everyone in Europe

4. What role do you predict Christianity might play in European civilization during the Middle Ages?

5. Other Religions in Europe
Not all Europeans were Christian
Jews lived in villages and towns since the early days of the Roman Empire
Muslims had come to Spain around 700 A.D.

6. An “Age of Faith” Christianity spread gradually throughout Europe
Over time, most people of other religions began to accept the Christian faith
The Christian belief became so strong that the Middle Ages became known as the “Age of Faith”

7. Life in Europe Revolved Around Religion
Monks: men who devoted their lives to religion
Monasteries: communities where monks lived
Nuns: women who vowed to devote their lives to religion
Convents: communities where nuns lived
Many people entered convents and monasteries at young ages and stayed their until death

8. Monks
Italian monk Benedict wrote the first plan for monasteries in the 500s A.D.
Monks had to obey the head monk, who was called an abbot

9. Life in Monasteries Served as centers of learning in the Middle Ages
Scriptorium: a room for making books
All books were carefully copied by hand
Monks wrote books of prayer and poetry
Copied Greek and Roman texts
Beautifully decorated books are called manuscripts

10. Checkpoint What are monasteries and convents?
Monasteries: communities where religious men live and work
Convents: communities where religious women live and work
How were monasteries and convents similar to manors?
Both were self-contained worlds that could supply their own needs
What attitude did monks have toward learning? How do you know?
They considered it important; they preserved ancient knowledge by copying it and recorded new knowledge that they developed

11. The Roman Church
For years, there was tension between the Pope in Rome and other Christian leaders in Constantinople
1054: tensions split the Christian church
The Church based in Constantinople was called the Eastern Orthodox Church
The Church based in Rome was the Roman Catholic Church

12. Cathedrals Grand churches
Began to be built when towns grew in size and wealth
Skilled craft workers created stained glass windows to show scenes from the Bible
Slideshow of Cathedral images: h?v=O5Z1gxGhRQQ

13. Chartres (SHAHRT) Town in France
Chartres Cathedral took 36 years to build
Other cathedrals took longer to build: some up to 400 years!
Many cathedrals still stand as the great legacies of the Middle Ages

14. Saints and Pilgrimages
Christians showed their devotions through pilgrimages
Europe’s Christians traveled great distances to Rome or Jerusalem
Pilgrims also traveled to shrines, or special buildings that had been built for saints
Saints are men and women considered to be especially holy
One of the most honored saints of the Middle Ages was Francis of Assisi
Devoted his life to serving the poor and sick in Italy
Followers were known as Franciscans

15. Checkpoint What is a cathedral?
A grand church
Why did people of the Middle Ages want to build cathedrals?
To express their religious beliefs
How might cathedral building have reflected both the pride of towns and rivalry among them?
Cathedrals gave townspeople a way to show their success, and they strove to build a bigger, more beautiful cathedral then the next town

16. The First Crusade
1095: Pope Urban II called for Christians throughout western Europe to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Also urged pilgrims to capture Jerusalem from the Seljuk Turks, who were Muslim
Thousands of Europeans responded to the Pope’s call
Those who went with the Pope were call Crusaders

17. The First Crusade Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyndhJqJReA
Crusaders attacked others who were not Christian as they marched through Europe
One shocked Christian wrote:
“They should have traveled their road for Christ. Instead they turned to madness and shamefully, cruelly cut down the Jewish people in the cities and towns through which they passed.”
Battled Turkish armies before even reaching Jerusalem
The Crusaders suffered hunger and sickness on their journey; half died before reaching Jerusalem
Succeeded in capturing Jerusalem

18. Checkpoint
What generalization can you make concerning ideas the pilgrimages, shrines, and saints reveal about life in Europe during the Middle Ages?
The period was marked by a strong drive to be holy and to do holy things
How would you support the generalization that the Crusaders were not always true to Christian teachings as they went on this march?
The recorded slaughter of Jews along the way does not seem to be in keeping with Jesus’ teaching of love for all

19. Other Crusades Others took place over the next 200 years Most failed
With more people passing through, however, trade routes were established
With changes in economy, the system of feudalism was gradually breaking down

20. The Bubonic Plague
Siena, Italy was bustling with activity – trade flourished, people had been building a cathedral since the 1100s
Cathedral remains unfinished to this day… its construction was halted in 1348
A plague hit Europe: a plague is a terrible disease that spreads very quickly
The plague was caused by bacteria that was spread by rats and fleas

21. The Black Death At the time, no one knew how disease was spread
The Black Death wiped out one third of Western European population
In Siena, 2/3 of the people died
Towns in France flew black flags from church towers to warn travelers of the plague
Nearly 130 years would pass before the plague was completely gone from Europe
Video: cxc9DPrnY

22. The Black Death
Plague article: /01/plague-dna-found-in-ancient- tooth-suggests-black-death-isnt- dead-yet/

23. Checking for Understanding
What Christian institutions served as centers of faith and learning?
Monasteries, convents
What did Christians accomplish in the first Crusade?
Capturing Jerusalem from the Muslims
What did the Black Death do to the population of Europe?
Killed 1/3
What was the greatest religious influence on Europe during the Middle Ages?
The Christian Church
What architectural works remind us of the “Age of Faith?”
cathedrals