Christianity in EuropeSOL WH1.9a

The Roman Catholic Church

After the fall of Rome, the Church grew in power and acted as a unifying force in Europe

Christian missionaries converted the pagan barbarian tribes of Europe

Many groups adopted the Latin alphabet

The Roman Catholic Church

The Church served the political, social, and religious needs of the people

Daily life revolved around the Christian calendar—a cycle of feast days, and holy days

The Roman Catholic Church

Services provided by priests

Marriages

Baptism (initiation into the Church)

Last Rites and burial

Daily church services (mass)Care for sick and poor

The Benedictine Rule

St. Benedict founded communities of clergy that lived apart from society and worked together (monastery)

Strict schedule of prayer and workRan hospitals

Grew crops

Educated children

Copied books by hand

Women in the Church

The Church taught that men and women were equal before God, but women were naturally more sinful

The Church provided opportunities for women to be independent and have an occupation

Corruption in the Church

As the wealth of the Church grew, discipline weakened.

Monks and nuns ignored their vows of poverty and clergy members lived in luxury.

Some members of the clergy had families which distracted them from religious duties.

Simony – selling Church offices for profit

Indulgences were sold to fund large building projects. In exchange for a large amount of money, people could lessen the time their souls spent in purgatory.

Church Reform

Marriage for priests and simony were outlawed in 1073 C.E.

Medieval church corruption directly contributed to the start of the Protestant Reformation

The Inquisition

In Spain, a Church court was established to try people accused of heresy or having incorrect religious beliefs

Many of those who refused to conform were burned at the stake

Muslims and Jew fled and Spain lost many of its most skilled and educated people

Non-Christians

Jewish communities existed in Europe for centuries. Many were moneylenders since Christians were not allowed to enter that profession

As Europe became more Christianized, tolerance for non-Christians decreased

Jews sought refuge in Eastern Europe and the Holy Land

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