Middle Ages

Middle Ages

Lesson 4: Culture and the Church

European Culture in the Middle Ages

By the 1100s, people in medieval Europe felt safer because of stronger governments. Trade, banking, and business grew. People valued religion. Church leaders, merchants, and nobles had cathedrals, or large churches, built.

Cathedrals were built in two styles. Romanesque was a mix of Roman and Byzantine styles. These rectangular buildings had long, rounded ceilings and small windows. Gothic cathedrals, on the other hand, were tall. Large stained glass windows showed scenes from the Bible.

Romanesque style church

Gothic style church

Flying Buttresses are a characteristic of Gothic architecture

European Culture in the Middle Ages Cont

Universities were first created during the Middle Ages. Universities educated and trained scholars. University students studied for four to six years before taking an oral, or spoken, exam. Those who passed received a degree. A student could continue school to earn a doctor’s degree. This degree could be in law, medicine, or theology—the study of religion and God.

A new way of thinking called scholasticism changed the study

of theology. Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher or thinker,

had used reason, instead of faith, to understand the meaning of

life. This bothered some Christian thinkers. They wanted to show

that ideas accepted by faith did not have to oppose ideas

developed by reason.

Multiple Select

Universities were first created during the Middle Ages. What are two types of degrees that could be earned during this time period?

• Basic

• Business

• Theological

• Doctor's

Multiple Select

Cathedrals were built in two styles. What were they?

• Orthodox

• Romanesque

• Gothic

• Angelic

European Culture in the Middle Ages Cont

An Italian priest named Thomas Aquinas helped spread the

ideas of scholasticism. Aquinas wrote Summa Theologica, a

summary of what was known about theology. He also wrote

about government and the concept of natural law, or laws that

come from human nature. Aquinas claimed that natural law gave

people certain rights that the government should not take away.

Latin was the language of the Church and of educated people

throughout Europe. Each region of Europe also had its own

language. This everyday language is called vernacular. Over

time, vernacular languages became the languages of Spanish,

French, English, Italian, and German.

Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote Summa Theologica, a

summary of what was known about theology.

European Culture in the Middle Ages Cont

During the 1100s, new literature was written using vernacular language. Educated people enjoyed vernacular writings, especially poetry told by troubadours. Troubadours were poets who sang love stories, especially about the love of a knight for a lady. Another type of vernacular writing was the heroic epic. In epics, brave knights fight for kings and lords. The Song of Roland is an example of a heroic epic.

Troubadours were poets who sang love stories, especially about the love of a knight for a lady

Open Ended

Why was it important that literature was written in everyday

language?

Religion Affected Society

Beginning in the 1000s, a wave of religious feeling swept through

Europe. As a result, new groups of priests, monks, and nuns were

formed. These were called religious orders.

The Cistercian order was based in rural monasteries. Its members invented new ways of farming that helped grow more crops. They also helped the poor. Francis of Assisi started a new order called Franciscans. They preached Christianity in the towns. They also were known for their cheerfulness and love of nature. A Spanish monk named Dominic de Guzmán started the Dominicans. Its main goal was to defend Church teachings.

Clothing worn by different religous orders during the middle ages

Multiple Choice

Which was NOT one of the new religious orders founded beginning in

the 1000s?

• Cistercians

• Franciscans

• Vernaculars

• Dominicans

Religion Affected Society Cont....

The Catholic Church affected almost every part of people’s

lives. On Sundays and holy days, people went to mass, which is

the Catholic worship service. People prayed to the saints to ask

for help from God. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the most

honored saint.

The Catholic Church used its power to try to stop heresy, or

religious beliefs that did not agree with Church teachings. In 1233

the pope created a special court to deal with heretics. It was

called the Inquisition. Its job was to question heretics, or people

who were accused of heresy. People who were found guilty

could confess and ask for forgiveness. Those who refused to

confess were punished.

Heretics were often burned as punishment for not agreeing with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Multiple Choice

religious beliefs that did not agree with Church teachings

• troubadours

• heresy

• stoics

• saints

Open Ended

What happened to people who were found guilty of heresy?

Religion Affected Society Cont....

Many church leaders and church members also practiced anti-

Semitism, or the hatred of Jews. Many European Christians unfairly blamed Jews for problems in society, such as famine or

economic decline. Christian mobs attacked and killed thousands of Jews. Many Jews had to wear special badges or clothing. In some places, they had to live in separate neighborhoods known as ghettos. Jews also could not own land or work at certain jobs.

In the 1100s, Western European rulers began driving out their

Jewish subjects. Many of these Jews went to countries in eastern

Europe. There they formed thriving communities that were based

on their religious traditions.

Jewish man wearing a yellow badge in the middle ages.

Open Ended

List a way the Catholic Church influenced the lives of

medieval Europeans.

Multiple Choice

Anti-Semitism is the hatred of Jews.

• True

• False