Medieval Europe
Lesson 4 Culture and the Church
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What do people do in order to create stability?
European Culture in the Middle Ages
1. Comparing and Contrasting Complete the Similarities and Differences below with details that identify similarities and differences between two styles of medieval architecture.
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Medieval Architecture
Romanesque:- Characterized by thick walls and rounded arches.
- Use of small windows, leading to darker interiors.
- Massive structures with a sense of solidity and permanence.
- Often features barrel and groin vaults.
Gothic:
- Characterized by pointed arches and ribbed vaults.
- Use of flying buttresses allowing for large stained-glass windows.
- Lighter, more vertical structures with a sense of reaching towards the heavens.
- Ornate sculpture and intricate details on facades.
Both:
- Religion was the primary purpose behind their construction, commonly churches and cathedrals.
- Both styles required skilled labor and craftsmanship.
- Utilization of stone as a primary building material.
2. Stating What was the purpose of medieval universities?
- The purpose of medieval universities was to educate and train individuals, particularly for careers in the Church, law, and medicine, promoting the study of the liberal arts and advancing scholarly work based on texts from classical authors.
3. Explaining What is scholasticism?
- Scholasticism is a method of critical thought employed in medieval universities that sought to reconcile faith and reason, emphasizing rigorous dialectical reasoning to explore theological and philosophical concepts.
Guided Reading Cont.
Medieval Europe
4. Defining What is vernacular? Give two examples of literature from the Middle Ages that used it.
- Vernacular is the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular region, as opposed to Latin or other classical languages.
- Examples:
- "The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri (written in Italian)
- "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer (written in Middle English)
- Examples:
Religion Affected Society
5. Categorizing As you read the lesson, write facts you learn about three different religious orders that were founded during the Middle Ages.
| Religious Orders | Facts | |-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | Cistercians | Founded in 1098, emphasized a simpler life of prayer and manual labor, focused on strict adherence to the Rule of St. Benedict. | | Franciscan Friars | Founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209, committed to poverty and preaching, focused on helping the poor and the environment. | | Dominican Friars | Founded by St. Dominic in 1216, known for their preaching and teaching, emphasized education and combating heresy through scholarly work. |
Guided Reading Cont.
Medieval Europe
6. Summarizing How was the Church important in the everyday life of most Europeans?
- The Church played a central role in everyday life, providing spiritual guidance, community support, education through cathedral schools, and social services. It also regulated many aspects of daily life, such as marriage and morality, and was a major landowner influencing the economy.
7. Defining What is heresy? How did the Catholic Church try to stop it?
- Heresy is the belief or opinion that goes against established religious doctrine, particularly that of the Catholic Church. To stop heresy, the Church employed strategies such as the Inquisition, excommunication, and promoting theological education to ensure proper doctrine was taught.
8. Summarizing Why did European Christians mistreat Jews?
- European Christians mistreated Jews due to a combination of religious intolerance, scapegoating during crises (like the Black Death), and deep-rooted anti-Semitic stereotypes that portrayed Jews as outsiders or as responsible for the death of Jesus, leading to discrimination and violence.
This concludes the guided reading and notes on Medieval Europe and the impact of culture and the Church during that period.