Upload
camdyn
View
87
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Life and Death & the Church in the Middle Ages. Curriculum Outcomes. 5.8 -Identify the ideals which were espoused during the Middle Ages. 5.9 -Distinguish the types of conflict which characterized the medieval period. “Last Judgment” -- 1430. The Unifying Power of the Church. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Life and Death & the
Church in the Middle Ages
Curriculum Outcomes
• 5.8 -Identify the ideals which were espoused during the Middle Ages.
• 5.9 -Distinguish the types of conflict which characterized the medieval period
“Last Judgment” -- 1430
The Unifying Power of the Church
Amidst political, economic and social chaos, the one institution that did serve to bring some unification to the multi-ethnic and multi-lingual territories of Europe was the Roman Catholic Church.
Church Hierarchy
Pope
Bishops
Priests
Pope Gregory I (r.590-604)
-Sent missionaries to many areas of Northern Europe, most notably the Anglo-Saxons of England
-Increased the power of the papacy, not just in the Church but for all rulers
Day-to-Day Life for Peasants
-Birth, baptism, holidays, death – all revolve around the Church
-Mass said in Latin – peasants have no idea what is being said
-Tithes: pay 10% of what you earn to the Church (money, food or goods)
-Were expected to do some work on church land, for which they were not paid
The Wealth of the Church
-Tithes and free labour from peasants increased the wealth of the Church as the Middle Ages continued
-The Church was wealthier than any king in Europe (evidence: huge cathedrals, monasteries, and churches)
Gothic Cathedrals
• From the Goths, Germanic tribe
• Thrust upward / reaching for God
• Large stained glass windows, sculptures, wood-carvings
• Meant to inspire the worshiper
• Nearly 500 built between 1170 - 1270
Cathedrals – Cities of God
Monasteries and Convents
-Begin to be established in the 5th c.-Removing oneself from daily life &
devoting oneself to God-Monks and nuns-Centres of learning; preservation of
Classical texts-the Rule of St Benedict (c.530)-Primary source: Bede (c.673-735),
The Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Ever-present Death1000 Ways to Die• Famine: scarce or rotten crops• War: continuous struggles for power• Plague: no showers, inoculations, or
Lysol• Medicine/Doctors virtually non-
existent• High rate of infant/child death• Average life expectancy: 30 years
The Triumph of Death c. 1562
The Danse MacabreA late-medieval metaphor• Demonstrates how death unites all classes• Acknowledges Death as a companion to life•Encourages living life to the fullest
The Apocalypse• The constant death and hard life led
many to believe the Apocalypse was coming.
• Described in the Book of Revelations
• The Four Horsemen: Conquest (or Pestilence), War, Famine, and Death
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Importance of Religion
• Life is short and brutal• People had to believe there was a
better life coming• Religion promised Heaven to those
who showed faith and penitence and lived without sin
• The prevailing notion that the world was created for our benefit was comforting
Different World View
• No notions of science: gravity, atoms and compounds, cause and effect, etc.
• We currently see the world as functioning within a set of scientific rules
• People in the Middle Ages believed natural laws were put in place by God, and could therefore be bent to His will
• Humanity was the pinnacle of His creation, and He cared deeply for us
The Four Humors
Ritual and Superstition
• People sought to invoke the Lord’s favour by performing rituals and following superstitions
• Lengthy rituals involving prayers, oils, holy water, blessings etc. were performed to ensure the success of crops
• Superstitious acts of humility and worship toward “Patron Saints” would summon their aid
Patron Saints
• Saints in Heaven will “intercede” on behalf of God to help people
• Individual Saints are “patrons” of certain illnesses, ailments, countries, cities, people, activities, crafts, classes, etc.
• People would pray to whichever Saint corresponded to their problems
Patron Saints
• Luke the Evangelist – patron of doctors, surgeons, artists, painters, Notaries
• John the Baptist – patron of Saint John, NB, Canada
• Augustine of Hippo – patron of sore eyes
• Anthony of Padua – patron of missing people and lost things (pictured here)
Holy SacramentsDefence against the Dark Arts • Practices used to avoid the wrath of God and
the corruptions of Satan1. Baptism – at birth2. Confirmation – age 12 (ish)3. Confession and Penance - forgiveness4. The Eucharist – body of Christ5. Marriage – the baby machine6. Last Rights – cleanse soul to enter Heaven7. Holy orders – bestow spiritual power to
conduct the other six sacraments (Priest only)
• HERESY
• HERETICS
Inquisition