Christianity and Medieval Christianity and Medieval SocietySociety

It is not just about It is not just about religion anymore…religion anymore…

Religious InfluenceReligious Influence

Service to the ChurchService to the Church

Monastic LifeMonastic Life(structured life devoted to service to (structured life devoted to service to

God)God)

Benedictine RuleBenedictine Rule– Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience

to abbotto abbot

ConventsConvents– The other choice for womenThe other choice for women

Powers of the ChurchPowers of the Church

Powers of the ChurchPowers of the ChurchSacramentsSacraments – All rites of passage in a persons life are overseen by the ChurchAll rites of passage in a persons life are overseen by the Church

ExcommunicationExcommunication– Follow their rules or you will be asked to leaveFollow their rules or you will be asked to leave

InterdictInterdict– Follow their rules or your whole community will be asked to Follow their rules or your whole community will be asked to

leaveleave

SalvationSalvation– Promise of afterlife is still held by the church (sins & forgiveness)Promise of afterlife is still held by the church (sins & forgiveness)

Political InfluencePolitical Influence

Beyond Religious Matters…Beyond Religious Matters…

Land ownershipLand ownership– Papal States (area around Rome) were governed by the Church Papal States (area around Rome) were governed by the Church

(it was a lord)(it was a lord)– Any monastery or church was considered part of church land Any monastery or church was considered part of church land

ownershipownership

Ecclesiastical CourtsEcclesiastical Courts– Canon law develops, cases involving marriages, wills, contracts, Canon law develops, cases involving marriages, wills, contracts,

orphans, widows and the clergy were tried in “Church” courtsorphans, widows and the clergy were tried in “Church” courts

Feudal WarfareFeudal Warfare– Truce of God – Tried to get people to stop fighting so much Truce of God – Tried to get people to stop fighting so much

amongst themselves ( fighting was prohibited on certain days of amongst themselves ( fighting was prohibited on certain days of the week and holidays)the week and holidays)

SupremacySupremacy– Conflict over political power – who has more the king or the Conflict over political power – who has more the king or the

pope?pope?

Economic InfluenceEconomic Influence

Money MattersMoney Matters

Church taxesChurch taxes– Tithe, 10% of income is required to be donatedTithe, 10% of income is required to be donated

Purchase of church officesPurchase of church offices– Simony—buy, sell church officesSimony—buy, sell church offices

IndulgencesIndulgences– Purchase final salvation for relatives who sinned Purchase final salvation for relatives who sinned

during their lifeduring their life

Advancements in agricultureAdvancements in agriculture– Monasteries are also self-sufficient communities but Monasteries are also self-sufficient communities but

they strive to do better so they improved some they strive to do better so they improved some farming methodsfarming methods

Social InfluenceSocial Influence

Where else to go? There is no Where else to go? There is no centralized government so…centralized government so…

Momentous occasions in a person’s lifeMomentous occasions in a person’s life– Birth, marriage, death…go to churchBirth, marriage, death…go to church

Community activityCommunity activity– The medieval version of “communication time”The medieval version of “communication time”– Festivals, entertainment, prayerFestivals, entertainment, prayer

AssistanceAssistance– Hospitals are created and run by the monasteries, Hospitals are created and run by the monasteries,

that is also the place to go if you need help that is also the place to go if you need help because you are poor, lost, aged or sickbecause you are poor, lost, aged or sick

Intellectual InfluenceIntellectual Influence

Church promoted learningChurch promoted learning– Maintained schools, monks founded the first Maintained schools, monks founded the first

universitiesuniversities– Educated young men for priesthoodEducated young men for priesthood– Some women in convents also were educatedSome women in convents also were educated

Copying books and manuscriptsCopying books and manuscripts– Preserved Greco-Roman culture (antiquity)Preserved Greco-Roman culture (antiquity)

Literature influencedLiterature influenced– Who else could read and write? Literature contains Who else could read and write? Literature contains

religious themesreligious themes

Artistic InfluenceArtistic Influence

Art reflects societyArt reflects society

IlluminationsIlluminations– Highly decorated textsHighly decorated texts– Ex. Book of KellsEx. Book of Kells

Gothic CathedralsGothic Cathedrals– Taller, more Taller, more

decorative churches decorative churches than ever beforethan ever before

– Provide economic, Provide economic, social boom for an social boom for an areaarea

– Ex. Chartres CathedralEx. Chartres Cathedral