The Roman Catholic Church

Where was medieval art and architecture mostly found?

Medieval art and architecture found their most glorious expression in cathedrals, the large churches headed by bishops.

Describe a nun's way of life.

Women who became nuns lived in convents, which were communities run in the same way as monasteries. Nuns did most of the same types of work that monks performed. Many nuns became important reformers and thinkers.

What were some of the ways in which people celebrated religious holidays?

Christians attended church/services, enjoyed feasts, games, music, dancing

Who was Aristotle?

Greek philosopher who believed that reason, or logical thinking, was the path to knowledge.

Where does the word holiday come from?

Holy Day

At the start of the Middle Ages, all Christians in western Europe belonged to a single church called ______?

Roman Catholic Church

Why were the clergy afraid of studying ancient texts?

The Church was uneasy about them b/c they taught people to be guided by faith. Ancient writers like Aristotle taught that reason, or logical thinking, was the path to knowledge. The clergy feared that studying such writers might lead people to question the Church's teachings.

Describe the Crusades

The Crusades were a series of military expeditions to the land where Jesus had lived (Holy Land). During the 7th century, this area was under the control of Muslims. Between 1095 and 1270, Christians in western Europe organized several Crusades to recover Jerusalem, which was a holy city to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Some people went on Crusade to seek wealth, and others to seek adventure. Others went with the belief that doing so would guarantee their salvation.

Who are monks, nuns and friars?

Men and women who solemnly promised to devote their lives to God and the Church.

Describe a monk's way of life.

Monks spent their lives in prayer, study, and work, and attended eight church services every day. They also cared for the poor and sick, taught and copied religious texts. Monasteries were self-sufficient and monks spent much of their time working. They farmed their land, tended their gardens, raised livestock, and sewed clothing.

What are eggs symbolic of on Easter?

New life

Describe a Friar's way of life and provide an example of a famous Friar.

People who wanted to live a religious life without the seclusion of the monastery. Instead of living in monasteries, Franciscan friars traveled among ordinary people to preach and to care for the poor and sick. They lived in complete poverty and had to work or beg for food for themselves and the poor. St. Francis of Assisi was a friar who founded the Franciscans.

Name two extraordinary acts of devotion.

Pilgrimages & Crusades

Describe a pilgrimage.

Pilgrims traveled long distances to visit holy sites and churches that housed relics, or the body parts or belongings of saints. Pilgrims went on these journeys to demonstrate their devotion to God, to perform penance for their sins, or to attempt to cure an illness. A pilgrimage required true dedication since travel at the time was difficult and often dangerous.

Who founded monasticism?

Saint Benedict. His followers, the Benedictines made three solemn vows: poverty (to own no property), chastity (never to marry), and obedience (to obey their leaders).

Who was Thomas Aquinas?

An Italian scholar of philosophy and theology, tried to bridge the gap between reason and faith. He saw no conflict between faith and reason, both were gifts from God. Reason helped people discover important truths about God's creation, while faith revealed its own truths about God.

What role did the church plan in society after the collapse of Rome?

The Church provided leadership and, at times, even organized the distribution of food. Monasteries, or communities of monks, provided hospitality to refugees and travelers. Monks also copied and preserved old texts, and in this way helped keep both new and ancient learning alive.

According to the church, how did people gain salvation?

The Church taught that people gained salvation, or entry into heaven and eternal life, by following the Church's teachings and living a moral life. Failing to do so condemned the soul to eternal suffering in hell.

How influential was the Roman Catholic Church in medieval Europe?

The Church was the center of life in medieval western Europe. During the Middle Ages, the Church was a daily presence from birth to death. Christian belief was so widespread during this time that historians sometimes call the Middle Ages the "Age of Faith."

List the different ranks of clergy associated with the Roman Catholic Church and what they were associated with.

The pope, who was the bishop of Rome, was the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. He appointed high-ranking clergy men, called cardinals, to assist and counsel him. These cardinals ranked just below the pope in the Church hierarchy. Archbishops came next. They oversaw large or important areas called archdioceses. Below them were bishops, who governed areas called dioceses from great cathedrals. Within each diocese, priests served local communities, called parishes, each of which had its own church building.

Name and define the seven sacraments.

Baptism - entry into the church; Confirmation - formal declaration of belief in God and the Church; Eucharist - church service in which the priest blesses bread and wine; Matrimony- formal union blessed by the church; Holy Orders - sacrament in which a man becomes a priest; Penance - confessing to a priest for the receipt of God's forgiveness; Extreme Unction - a blessing in which a person in danger of death is anointed by a priest

What was unique about the design of a cathedral?

Cathedrals were designed in the Gothic style and appear as if they are rising to heaven. On the outside are flying buttresses. The arches spread the massive weight of the soaring roof and walls more evenly.

What did the cathedral symbolize? Why were they so important?

Cathedrals were visible expressions of Christian devotion. Hundreds of workers and craftsmen constructed cathedrals by hand over many years. On average, it took from 50 to 100 years to complete a cathedral, but the work took more than 200 years in some cases.

Who are Christians?

Christians are followers of Jesus, who, according to Christian scripture, was put to death on a Roman cross in the 1st century C.E. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God, that God sent him to Earth to save people from their sins, and that he rose from the dead after his death by crucifixion.

What is celebrated on Christmas? Easter?

Christmas = birth of Jesus; Easter = Resurrection

What was most art about in the Middle ages?

During the Middle Ages, most art was created for a religious purpose. Paintings and sculptures portrayed Jesus and Christian saints and were placed in churches to support worship.

What did the inside of a cathedral look like?

It was lined with pillars and decorated with religious images. Beautiful stained-glass windows let in colorful light. The pictures on medieval stained-glass windows often depicted stories from the Bible.

What types of things did Christian holidays celebrate?

Almost every day of the year was dedicated to a Christian saint, an event in the life of Jesus, or an important religious idea.

Describe two types of power that the Roman Catholic Church acquired in society after the fall of Rome.

During the Middle Ages, the Church acquired great economic power. It became the largest landholder in Europe. Some land was gifted to the church by monarchs and wealthy lords. Other land was taken by force. The Church also collected a tax and expected each member to give 1/10 of his money, produce, or labor to support the Church. The Church also came to wield great political power. Latin, the language of the Church, was the only common language throughout Europe. Church officials were the only people who could read. As a result, they kept records for monarchs and became trusted scribes and advisers.

What are gargoyles?

Gargoyles are decorative stone sculptures projecting from the edges of a cathedral roof. They were carved in the form of mythical beasts. Some people thought they were reminders that devils and evil spirits would catch them if they did not obey the Church's teachings.

Summarize the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and the Holy Roman emperor, Henry IV. Use the words appoint, duty, excommunicate, beg, and authority in your summary.

Henry IV thought it was the king's duty to appoint the clergy. Pope disagreed and excommunicated Henry from the church (i.e. he would not go to heaven). Henry ended up begging for forgiveness, showing that the church had more authority than the government.

Which Roman Emperor issued a decree allowing Christians to practice their religion freely? How had Christians been treated by Romans before that time?

Initially, the Romans persecuted Christians for their beliefs. Yet the new religion continued to spread. Constantine issued a decree allowing Christians to practice their religion freely. In 395 C.E., Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Define the following term: cloister, poverty, monasticism, scriptorium, convent, mendicants, chastity.

cloister - covered walkway surrounding an open square; poverty - the state of someone who lacks money or property; monasticism - a life devoted to service and prayer; scriptorium - library writing room; convent - a community of nuns; mendicants - beggars; chastity - the state of being pure in conduct and intention