Religion in the Middle Ages

A brief overview of Christianity, Islam & Judaism

Polycarp• Born in Smyna (modern Turkey) in 69 AD.• The apostle John’s disciple. The 2nd group to preach Christianity after the original disciples were

gone.• Killed for his beliefs in 155 AD.• Famous quote when asked the renounce Jesus was, “Eighty & six years I have served Him, and

He has done me no wrong.”

Justin Martyr• Christian apologist from Judea who died in 165 AD.• Wrote to the Roman emperor to convince him to quit persecuting Christians because they were

moral & made good citizens.• He was beheaded by the Romans for his beliefs. It’s where we get the phrase to die a martyr’s

death.

Eusebius• Became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314 AD.• Used primary sources in his research.• Wrote about the first 300 years of the Christian Church’s history, including Emperor

Constantine.

Jerome• Born on the border of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia & Pannonia (modern day

Slavic countries) in 347 AD.• Translated the Bible from Greek to Latin. Allowed the Latin speaking west to read

the Bible.

St. Augustine• Born in the Roman province of Africa (modern day Algeria) in 354 AD.• His writings were very influential in the development of Western Christianity & Western

philosophy.• When the Western Roman Empire began to disintegrate, Augustine developed the concept of

the Catholic Church as a spiritual City of God.

Benedict of Nursia• The patron saint of Europe & students.• He taught a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness that

became a popular model for how to live a Christ-centric life on earth in the middle ages.

St. Francis of Assisi• Founded the Franciscan order of monks in the 13th century AD.• He spent time trying to convert the Muslim Sultan as well as

preaching in Islamic areas such as Jerusalem & Morocco.• Set up the 1st known Nativity.

Thomas Aquinas• Born in 1225 in the Kingdom of Sicily (now part of Italy).• At the forefront of medieval thought was a struggle to reconcile the relationship between

theology (faith) & philosophy (reason). • He taught proof of God by teaching:

• The cause of movement• The first cause (every effect has a cause)• The impermanent nature of humans• Imperfect things means there must be a perfect God• God gave humans their intelligence

Rise of Islam• Starting in the 7th century, Arab armies from the Arabian Peninsula started to conquer other

lands. They believed Allah (God of Islam) wanted them to conquer the world & convert everyone to Islam. Their leader was head of both the government & religion. They conquered:• Egypt & the Holy Land from the Byzantine Empire• North Africa• The Balkan Peninsula (Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, etc.) (some left)• Spain (none left)• Western India• Central Asia• South Asia

Christian Schism (divide)• The Roman Catholic Church & the Greek Orthodox Church split in 1054 AD.• The main reason was over which bishop was the leader of the other bishops.

• The Catholics believed the bishop of Rome (Pope) held final authority & the Orthodox Church believed all bishops were equal in authority.

Power of the Popes• The Catholic Church unified western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.• Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope.• The major issue in the middle ages was between who held more power, the Pope or the kings

of western Europe (church vs. state).• The Popes controlled mid-Italy during the middle ages.• John Wycliffe, “father of the English Bible,” said obey God over the Pope.

Famous Popes• Leo I (5th century): convinced Attila the Hun to not sack Rome. Considered first “real” Pope. He

had more power than the Roman Emperor at the time.• Gregory I (6th/7th century): founded monasteries & hospitals. Developed the Gregorian Chant. • Nicholas I (9th century): reformed the church & strengthened it after the threat of Islam faded.• Urban II (11th century): called for 1st Crusade to retake Holy Land from the Muslims.

Two Popes & Church Corruption• The Avignon Papacy: 1309 to 1378: seven successive popes resided in Avignon, in

France, & another rival Pope in Rome.• The situation arose from the conflict between the Papacy (Pope) & the French crown.• It signaled the beginning of a movement to challenge the authority of the Roman

Catholic Church.

Compare/Contrast Catholic & Orthodox Beliefs

• BOTH: Jesus is God, Resurrection of Jesus, original sin.• Contrast Catholic beliefs

• Services in Latin (until 1960s)• Pope claims authority over all bishops. Head of Church on earth.• Priests can’t marry• The Father & Son sent the Holy Spirit• Popular in southern Europe & the Americas

• Contrast Orthodox beliefs• Services in Greek• Each bishop has equal authority• Priest can marry• The Father sent the Holy Spirit• Popular in eastern Europe & Russia

The Jews• After the Romans destroyed their temple & sacrificial system in 70 AD, they banished them from

Jerusalem in 136 AD for revolting. Judea was renamed Palestine after the Jews’ enemies the Philistines.• During the middle ages, Jews lived in most major European cities.• They were persecuted by some Christians & Muslims during this time, so they lived together in isolated

communities.• Some grew wealthy because they charged interest on bank loans at a time when the Church forbid it.

Roman period Middle Ages period

Religion in the Middle Ages

A brief overview of Christianity, Islam & Judaism

Polycarp• Born in Smyna (modern Turkey) in 69 AD.• The apostle ’s disciple. The nd group to preach Christianity after the

original were gone.• for his beliefs in AD.• Famous quote when asked the renounce Jesus was, “Eighty & six years I have

Him, and He has done me no .”

Justin Martyr• Christian apologist from who died in 165 AD.• Wrote to the Roman to convince him to quit persecuting Christians

because they were moral & made good .• He was by the Romans for his beliefs. It’s where we get the phrase to die

a death.

Eusebius• Became the Bishop of Caesarea in about the year 314 AD.• Used sources in his research.• Wrote about the first years of the Christian Church’s

, including Emperor Constantine.

Jerome• Born on the border of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia & Pannonia (modern day Slavic

countries) in AD.• the Bible from Greek to . Allowed the

Latin speaking west to the Bible.

St. Augustine• Born in the Roman province of (modern day Algeria) in 354 AD.• His writings were very influential in the development of Christianity

& Western .• When the Western Roman Empire began to disintegrate, Augustine developed the concept of

the Catholic Church as a City of God.

Benedict of Nursia• The patron of Europe & students.• He taught a unique spirit of , and

that became a popular model for how to live a Christ-centric life on earth in the middle ages.

St. Francis of Assisi• Founded the order of monks in the th century AD.• He spent time trying to the Muslim Sultan as well as

preaching in areas such as Jerusalem & Morocco.• Set up the 1st known .

Thomas Aquinas• Born in 1225 in the Kingdom of (now part of Italy).• At the forefront of medieval thought was a struggle to reconcile the

between theology ( ) & philosophy ( ). • He taught proof of God by teaching:

• The cause of • The cause (every effect has a cause)• The nature of humans• Imperfect things means there must be a God• God gave humans their

Rise of Islam• Starting in the th century, armies from the Arabian Peninsula started to

conquer other lands. They believed (God of Islam) wanted them to the world & convert everyone to Islam. Their leader was head of both the government &

religion. They would conquer:• Egypt & the Holy Land from the Empire• North • The Peninsula (Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, etc.) (some left)• (none left)• Western • Central • South

Christian Schism (divide)• The Roman Catholic Church & the Greek Orthodox Church in AD.• The reason was over which bishop was the of the other bishops.

• The Catholics believed the bishop of (Pope) held final & the Orthodox Church believed all bishops were in authority.

Power of the Popes• The Catholic Church western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.• Catholics believe was the first Pope.• The major issue in the middle ages was between who held more , the Pope or

the kings of western Europe ( vs. ).• The Popes controlled mid- during the middle ages.• John , “father of the Bible,” said obey God over the Pope. One of the 1st

to challenge the Pope directly.

Famous Popes• I (5th century): convinced the Hun to not sack Rome. Considered

first “real” Pope. He had more than the Roman Emperor at the time.• I (6th/7th century): founded monasteries & . Developed the

Gregorian . • I (9th century): reformed the church & strengthened it after the

of Islam faded.• II (11th century): called for 1st to Holy

Land from the Muslims.

Two Popes & Church Corruption• The Papacy: 1309 to 1378: seven successive popes resided in Avignon,

in France, & another Pope in Rome.• The situation arose from the between the Papacy ( ) &

the French .• It signaled the beginning of a movement to the of the

Roman Catholic Church.

Compare/Contrast Catholic & Orthodox Beliefs• BOTH: Jesus is , of Jesus, original .• Contrast Catholic beliefs

• Services in (until 1960s)• Pope claims over all bishops. Head of Church on earth.• Priests marry• The Father & Son the Holy Spirit• Popular in Europe & the Americas

• Contrast Orthodox beliefs• Services in • Each bishop has equal • Priest marry• The Father the Holy Spirit• Popular in Europe & Russia

The Jews• After the Romans destroyed their temple & sacrificial system in AD, they them from Jerusalem in 136 AD for revolting. Judea was renamed

after the Jews’ enemies the Philistines.• During the middle ages, Jews lived in most European .• They were by some Christians & Muslims during this time, so they lived

together in communities.• Some grew because they charged on bank loans

at a time when the Church it.

Roman period Middle Ages period