Medieval Church 1

The Church also strictly controlled people's everyday life.

Everyone belonged to their local parish. From managing the
important civic ceremonies of birth, marriage and death, to
organizing the festivals associated with Holy days, the Church
was responsible for all aspects of village social life. Most
importantly, the parishioner attended a weekly Sunday
ceremony (Mass) and regularly told the priest all their most
personal secrets (Confession).

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Christendom
Christendom was that part of Europe where people were
Christian. Christians believe in the teachings of the Bible and
that Jesus Christ was the son of God. In medieval times
Christians in Europe belonged to one church, the Catholic
Church.
The Church and politics

The Church and society

The Church and culture

In the middle ages, belief, religion, power and politics were

closely interlinked. Rulers ruled and people obeyed, because
that is what God wanted. Kings were appointed by God; they
were kings by 'God's grace' who had a 'divine right' to rule. In
return for this spiritual support, the kings protected the Church.
Notre Dame du Sablon Brussels c1400
Above Eastern and Western Christendom in the 13th century

Politically, economically and socially, the Church exercised an

all-embracing 'Catholic' influence, but it was the cultural
influence that was most important of all. By controlling the
minds of medieval men and women, by influencing how people
explained what happened to them, the Church had no need to
physically force people to do anything. Medieval people were
fatalists. They believed that everything happened because God
wanted it to happen. Nothing happened naturally, everything
happened because of 'divine intervention' (God's actions). When
good things happened, people were being rewarded by God and
they thanked him. When bad things happened, they were being
punished for doing something sinful. Medieval people were
constantly on the lookout for signs or omens of God's moods.
For the people of Paris, a red sky at night three times in a row
was a sign of war; the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1066
was shown on the Bayeux Tapestry, as an omen or portent of
great upheavals to come.

The Church and the economy

Activities

There were also strong economic ties between the Church and
the people. All land that did not already belong to the Church
was taxed for the benefit of the Church. One tenth (a tithe) of
everything produced on this land was given to the Church. In
addition, the Church itself did not pay taxes on anything
donated
to and
it. People,
who wanted a saint to produce a
The Church
the economy
miracle, were expected to make an offering to the saint's
church.
As aalso
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veryChurch
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There were
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and
the
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one
allthe
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CatholicOne
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was third
taxedoffor
theinChurch.
tenth (a tithe) of

Take a map of Europe and colour in the boundaries of

medieval Christendom in 1200. Can you find any parts of
modern Europe which were not part of Christendom at that
time? Can you name any places in medieval Christendom
which are not part of Europe today?

everything produced on this land was given to the Church. In

Explain how and why the medieval Christian Church

controlled peoples lives. Divide your answer with headings
using the PESC formula (Political, Economic, Social, Cultural)
and PEE (Point, Explanation, Example) your answer.