Medieval christianity

Medieval christianity

• 1.
  1. WHAT WASMEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY LIKE?
• 2.
  DO YOU THINKTHAT NOWADAYS RELIGION AFFECT THE LIFE OF PEOPLE LIKE IN THE MIDDLE AGES? WHY?
• 3.
  CHRISTIANITY WAS THEMAIN 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
• 4.
  Christianity organised thepeople’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
• 5.
  CHURCH ALSO ORGANISEDTHE 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
• 6.
  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)
• 7.
  CHURCH ALSO HADA 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
• 8.
  FINALLY, THE POLITICALPOWER 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