Christianity and Medieval Society

Chapter 10 Section 3Page 269 – 275

Reading Number One

The Church Shapes Society and Politics Page 269 – 271

The Church Shapes Society and Politics • Life during the Middle Ages

revolved around the Church – The Church was a political and

cultural power• Cultural Power

– Church oversaw: festivals and ceremonies

– Local Church not enough!! » Result: Church encouraged

pilgrimages » Jerusalem, Rome, and

Compostela, and Canterbury • Political Power

– Church officials called: Clergy – Rich in Land: largest landholder in

Europe (fief) – Church leaders: advised rulers and

spent little time with church affairs

Reading Number One Questions

What are church officials called?

Why did people go on pilgrimages?

Reading Number Two

Monks and Friars Page 271 – 272

Monks and Friars • People unhappy with the

Church – Church needs to focus on

spiritual matters • Monks - lived in monasteries: lived

apart from society– Two important orders were the Cluny

and Benedictine monks.• Friars - similar to monks: live in

cities with general public– They lived with poor people teaching

the community about generosity and kindness

– Two important orders are the Dominicans and Franciscans

• Nuns – women– Strict rules: prayers and work – Lived apart from society

Reading Number Two Questions

Why did people create new religious orders?

How were friars different from monks?

Reading Number Three

Universities are BuiltPage 273

Universities are Built• The 1st were created by the

church– Search for knowledge

• Goal: teach people about religion and the world

• Most teachers were members of the clergy– Schools taught: law, medicine,

astronomy, and other topics– Classes taught in Latin

• Language of the Church and Scholars

• Thomas Aquinas:– A teacher, came up with the

theory of natural law, trying to prove the existence of God.• Natural Law: law that governed

how the world operated

Reading Number Three Questions

How did universities help create new ideas?

How did Thomas Aquinas think reason and faith could work together?

Reading Number Four

The Church and the Arts Page 274 – 275

The Church and the Arts • Architecture

– Gothic - style cathedrals (Church) • Cathedrals seen as a symbol of

people’s faith – Result: towering works of art

• Designed:– Taller then older church– High ceilings and arches – Huge windows – Stain glass windows

• Art– Clothing:

• Highly decorated and had gold threading

– Paintings and Tapestries • decorated church walls and

ceilings – Books:

• Monks decorated the books they copied with bright colors and illustrations - even gold leaf!

Reading Number Four Questions

What new style of religious architecture developed in Europe in the 1100s?

Why do you think so much of the art created in the Middle Ages was religious?