Chapter 3~The Role of the Church in Medieval Europe

religious order

A brotherhood or sisterhood of monks, nuns, or friars

monastery

A community of monks

convent;nunnery

A community of nuns; also called a nunnery

illuminated manuscript

A handwritten book decorated with bright colors and precious metals

pilgrimage

A journey to a holy site

monk

A man who has taken a solemn vow to devote his life to prayer and service in a monastery.

friar

A member of a certain religious order devoted to teaching and works of charity

university

A school of advanced learning

sacrament

A solemn rite of Christian churches

monasticism

A way of life in which men and women withdraw from the rest of the world in order to devote themselves to their faith

nun

A woman who has taken a sacred vow to devote her life to prayer and service to the church

relic

An object that considered holy because it belonged to, or was touched by, a saint or other person

Who was Thomas Aquinas? What did he try to do with theology and ancient philosophy?

Aquinas was an Italian scholar of philosophy and theology. He tried to bring together ancient philosophical ideas about reason and medieval theological beliefs about faith.

How were the lives of mendicant friars different from monks?

Friars did not shut themselves off from the rest of the world. They traveled among ordinary people to preach.

What was the subject of the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and the Holy Roman emperor, Henry IV?

Gregory banned the practice of kings making appointments to church positions.

What events did medieval holidays honor?

Medieval holidays honored important events in the life of Jesus, such as his birth and Resurrection. Holidays also honored Christian saints and important religious concepts.

What was the monastic life like?

Monks and nuns took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They spent their lives in work, study, and prayer, living in separate communities called monasteries and convents.

What role did the Roman Catholic Church play in education during the Middle Ages?

Most schooling took place in monasteries, convents, and cathedrals. Much time was spent memorizing prayers and passages from the Bible in Latin.

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

People celebrated holidays by attending church and with feasts, music, dancing, games, and other forms of entertainment.

Why did people undertake pilgrimages during the Middle Ages ? What were some of the popular destinations of pilgrims?

People went on pilgrimages to show devotion to God, as an act of penance, or to find a cure for an illness. Popular destinations included Jerusalem, Rome, and Canterbury.

persecute

To cause a person to suffer because of his or her beliefs

excommunicate

To formally deprive a person of membership in a church.

What were cathedrals? What were some of their key architectural features?

Cathedrals were large churches and the seat of a bishop. Some key features included the nave, transepts, flying buttresses, gargoyles, pillars, and stained glass windows

What role did the church play in government in medieval Europe?

Church officials kept records and acted as advisors to monarchs. The church was the largest landholder and added to its power by collecting taxes.

How was the Roman Catholic Church organized during the Middle Ages?

Each local parish was led by a priest. Parishes were grouped together into dioceses, which were led by bishops. Archbishops oversaw groups of dioceses called archdioceses. The pope, or bishop of Rome, was the leader over all.

In what ways did the art of medieval Europe reflect the influence of the Roman Catholic Church?

Since most people could not read, art helped them understand Biblical stories.

What were the Crusades?

The Crusades were military expeditions to the land where Jesus had lived. There purpose was to attempt to take back that land from Muslim control.

clergy

The body of people, such as priests, who perform the sacred functions of a church.

During the Middle Ages, what was the purpose of sacraments according to the teachings of the church?

The church taught that Christians had to receive sacraments in order to achieve salvation.

natural laws

The concept that there is a universal order built into nature that can guide moral thinking

What seven sacraments were administered by the church?

The seven sacraments were baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, matrimony, holy orders, penance, extreme unction.

theology

The study of God and religious truth

rhetoric

The study of persuasive writing and speaking