Medieval Christian Europe
Lesson 3: The Medieval Christian Church
Key Terms
Sacrament: sacred ritual of the Roman Interdict: excommunication of an entire
Catholic Church region, town, or kingdom
Benedictine Rule: rules drawn up by a monk Friar: medieval European monk who traveled
named Benedict regulating monastic life from place to place preaching to the poor
Secular: having to do with worldly, rather Anti-Semitism: prejudice against Jews
than religious matters Usury: practice of lending money at interest
Papal supremacy: claim of medieval popes Schism: a split or divide
that they had authority over all secular Icon: holy image of Christ
rulers Great Schism: official split between the
Canon law: body of laws of a church Roman Catholic and the Byzantine churches
Excommunication: exclusion of the Roman
Empire Church as a penalty
The Church Shapes Everyday Life: Text 1
1. Identify Supporting Details How did religion play a vital role in medieval life? As you
read this section in your textbook, use the concept web to identify the main ideas for all
the headings in the section.
The Spread of The Parish Priest The Village The Rise of Women and the
Christianity Church Cathedrals Church
The Church sent Closest connection Source of Cathedrals The Church
missionaries to to the church and pride to grew in taught they were
carry out the people to god. communities numbers and equal to God,
Christianity all which served quantity as a however, the
around Europe. them. competition. people treat
them as weak and
incompetent.
2. Draw Conclusions Read the text under “Women and the Church.” How do you think Church
teachings about women influenced people’s daily lives?
- They didn’t, men on Earth refused to treat them as equals to society and instead chose to
mistreat, and dehumanized them.
The Growth of Church Power: Text 3
3. Use Context Clues: Support the following statement using what you learned about the
meaning of “secular” in this reading. During the Middle Ages, the Church played both a
secular and non -secular role in society.
- The church controlled the spiritual lives of Christians but also were involved and had
influence on other non-religious activities.
4. Draw Conclusions How did the Church’s spiritual authority lead to political power?
- The high clergy were usually nobles, they had their own lands and armies, and were often
educated, getting appointed for government roles by feudal rulers.
The Church Faces Calls to Reform: Text 4
5. Identify Cause and Effect: How did the success of the Church lead to problems and
calls for reform?
- as the church's wealth and power grew, discipline weakened. Powerful clergy grew more
worldly and many lived in luxury. Monks and nuns often ignored their vows. The growing
corruption and decay led to calls for reform
6. Which
criticism
do you
think
common
people
felt most
strongly?
Why?
- “Peasants lacking money were required to provide goods, food or livestock on the Church’s
land without pay”. Peasants were exploited working under the Church.
The Christian Church Is Divided: Text
7. Complete the idea: Long simmering controversies broke into open conflict, leading to a
schism, or great divide, within the Christian world.
8. Compare and Contrast Look at the Venn diagram in the reading and use the
information to explain how the Roman Church and Byzantine Church were similar and
different.
- Greek language is used in church functions of Greek Orthodox; Latin is the official
language of Roman Catholic churches.
- Byzantines emphasize on divinity of Christ; Roman Catholics emphasize on humanity of
Christ.
- Byzantines consider the highest Bishop as the supreme authority of the sect, but do not
consider him as infallible. They do not accept papacy; Roman Catholics accept Pope as the
supreme authority of the sect, and consider him as infallible.
- Eastern Orthodoxy allows marriage of clergies; Roman Catholics do not allow marriage of
clergies.
- Byzantines do not believe in the concept of purgatory and stations of cross; Roman
Catholics believe in both.
- By unity of churches Byzantine understands membership in one of the churches; whereas
Roman Catholics understand by it – participation in the organization headed by Pope.
