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The Age of Faith

In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:

Roman Catholic Church

Tithes

Students will also be able to explain two reasons for the power of the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages.

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With the fallof Rome,central

governmentcollapsed

in westernEurope.

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Unity Through Religion• Hundreds of little governments replaced

the Roman Empire.

• Western Europeans were not adhering to one set of laws.

• However, most Medieval Europeans were Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church united the people of Western Europe.

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The RomanCatholic

Church wasvery powerfulin Medieval

times.

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The Power of Heaven or Hell

• Medieval people were very religious.

• They believed that the Roman Catholic Church had the power to send people to Heaven or Hell.

• Their intense religious convictions led many of them to accept Church teachings.

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The Roman Catholic Church wasthe largest landowner in Western

Europe.

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The Largest Landowner

• The Roman Catholic Church was the largest landowner in Western Europe during the Middle Ages.

• Nobles frequently left land to the Church.

• Nobles hoped to gain entry to Heaven through such good works.

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The Roman Catholic Church wasthe main center of learning in

Medieval times.

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A Center of Learning

• The Roman Catholic Church was the main center of learning in Medieval times.

• Usually the only people who could read or write were Church officials.

• It is important to remember that with the fall of Rome, much secular education ended.

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The Roman Catholic Church wasa wealthy institution in the Middle

Ages.

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The Wealth of the Church

• The Roman Catholic Church was a wealthy institution in the Middle Ages.

• People paid tithes or church taxes.

• A tithe was a percentage of a person’s total income that was paid to the Church.

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Even today, Christians tithe.

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The Roman Catholic Church united thepeople of the Middle Ages.

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Questions for Reflection:

• How did the fall of Rome affect the people of Western Europe?

• What institution united people during the Middle Ages?

• Why did this institution unite people during the Middle Ages?

• Why was this institution wealthy and powerful?

• Define tithe.