Religion in the

Middle Ages
FIRST LOOK

Where does it all start?

Judaism Abraham central to the Torah (Old
Testament). Start of monotheism (worship of one
god).

Christianity Jesus central to the New Testament.

Establishment of Catholic Church following his death.

Islam The Prophet Muhammad is believed to be the

last prophet in a long line of prophets which includes
Moses and Jesus.

Two Empires, Two Churches

Greek Orthodox

Patriarch
Pope

Roman Catholic

The Church Community

Pope The supreme leader of the Catholic Church.
Located in Rome, the Pope resides within Vatican City
Cardinals Cardinals elect the next Pope when the
current one passes away (or steps down in rare
occasions)
Archbisops Governs the archdiocese and manages
bishops
Bishops Entrusted with the care of local churches
Priests The head of a local church
Deacons Assists the priests
Laity or Practitioners Worshippers who attend
Mass

Building a Cathedral

Members of the congregation had the duty to obey the rules pf the Church and pay a tithe, that
is, a portion of their crops or earnings.
Through the collection of tithe, the Church was able to build monuments to their beliefs
Cathedrals.

Monastic Life

Monks were deeply religious people who devoted themselves entirely

to their religion.

Men who became monks entered a monastery. Women who devoted

themselves to the Church entered a convent to become a nun.

Here they studied their religious texts, praying and working.

Grew and prepared food, taught children, cared for sick and poor.

Many members of religious orders died as a result of caring for victims

of the Black Death.

Monks and nuns were very well educated. Knowledge of Holy Relics.

The first universities developed around these medieval monasteries.

St. Francis of Assisi

One of the most beloved saints of the Church
Born into a merchant family
Gave away his wealth after consoling a poor man with leprosy
Established a new religious order known as the Franciscans
Often depicted with animals, known for his sermon to the
birds
The current pope, Francis I, is the first to adopt St. Francis
name

St. Gregory I Gregorian Chants

WasPopefrom 3 September 590 to his death in 604.
Gregory is well known for his writings, wrote the Dialogues
Throughout the Middle Ages he was known as the Father of
Christian Worship because of his exceptional efforts in revising the
Roman worship of his day
He was the first of the popes to come from amonasticbackground
Gregorian chant - the result of the fusion of Roman and Frankish
elements which took place in the Franco-German empire
underPepin,Charlemagneand their successors

St. Thomas Becket

wasArchbishop of Canterburyfrom 1162 until his
murder in 1170

He engaged in conflict withHenry II of Englandover

the rights and privileges of the Church and was
murdered by followers of the king inCanterbury
Cathedral

Learning and the Church

Monks and nuns were well educated

Monasteries seen as centers of learning during medieval times

Copied Christian religious texts into manuscripts

Eventually, Universities grew up around these religious buildings

Unfortunately, only men could attend these universities

Medieval Muslims and Jews

Muslims in North Africa conquered most of Spain and Portugal

Libraries and universities were built in Islamic Spain

Jews lived in towns and cities in both Islamic and Christian Europe

Jews were barred from most professions so they focused on

academic studies: jewelers, money traders, merchants,
physicians, etc.

Often forced to live in ghettos, a certain section of a town or city

In many communities, Jews were blamed for poisoning wells to

spread the Black Death

1349, Strasbourg 2000 Jews burnt alive

Changing Attitudes Towards

Religion

The Black Death made many people question their faith.

Felt God had abandoned them

People became more critical of the church.

The church was very wealthy, owned one third of the land and
charged high rent of its property