1. WHAT WAS MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY LIKE?

DO YOU THINK THAT NOWADAYS RELIGION AFFECT THE LIFE OF PEOPLE LIKE IN THE

MIDDLE AGES?

WHY?

CHRISTIANITY WAS THE MAIN RELIGION IN EUROPE

However, there were also other religions in Europe:

-ISLAM in the Iberian Peninsula and Turkey

-JEWS in Jewish quarters of many cities

-PAGANISM in remote areas of Europe (especially in the countryside)

Besides, Christianity was divided into the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church

All Christian territories were known as CHRISTENDOM

Christianity organised the people’s life from their birth to their death

Christians had to obey some rites:

BAPTISM It was the moment when a person became Christian

MARRIAGE

Only a Christian wedding was official

FUNERAL

According to the Christians, the only way to have a chance to avoid the hell was having a Christian funeral

CHURCH ALSO ORGANISED THE LIFE OF COMMON PEOPLE

Church bells regulated the

peasant’s working hours

People followed the Christian calendar

and holidays, which were linked to the

life of Christ

Medieval calendar

As a result, Church had a huge social

power

WHAT IS MORE, CHRISTIANS HAD SOME DUTIES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE ETERNAL LIFE AS MUSLIMS HAD

1. CHRISTIANS HAD TO GO TO CHURCH EVERY DAY

2. CHRISTIANS HAD TO FAST DURING LENT

3. CHRISTIANS HAD TO ATTEND CONFESSION. THUS, THEIR SINS WERE FORGIVEN

4. CHRISTIANS HAD TO RECEIVE COMMUNION EVERY SUNDAY

5. IF POSSIBLE, CHRISTIANS HAD TO GO ON A PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY PLACES LIKE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, JERUSALEM, ROME OR CANTERBURY (ENGLAND)

CHURCH ALSO HAD A GREAT ECONOMIC POWER

The clergy had lands controlled by

monasteries and bishops.

That means that they collected the rent for the lands that were worked by peasants who lived

in their fiefs

Besides, they collected the tithe.

The tithe was a tenth of the peasant’s harvest

For that reason, many bishops were very rich and they order to

build great cathedrals

FINALLY, THE POLITICAL POWER OF THE CHURCH WAS VERY IMPORTANT

Bishops gave political advise to the kings. Most of the people who studied in the universities were religious people, so they were able to advise the kings and the nobles

The Church also had its own state which was known as the Papal State. Its capital was Rome and the Pope acted like a king

Finally, the Church and some European kings fought against the Muslims for religious and economical reasons during the Crusades. They wanted to conquer Jerusalem from the Muslims