The Middle Ages

Overview of Life

• Seven centuries between Rome and Renaissances

• Uncivilized period• No clear leadership, except

for the Church• Plagues• High death rate• Illiteracy• Some developments

Social Structures

• Feudalism• Central Authorities (Kings)

owned land• Lords managed land• Peasants worked the land

Peasants

• Majority of Europeans• Few written records• Peasant Uprising of 1381• Feudal Burden• Poor diet and sanitation

Plagues

• Bubonic• Black Death• Many believed God’s

judgement was upon them• Italy was in the front line• Death followed within a

week of first symptoms

Christendom

Gregory the Great

• Papacy, 590-604• Embraces Papal Primacy• Seek alliances• Saves Rome from Lombards• Works to establish a new

unity in Europe

Christendom

• Vision of society as one whole

• Religion acts as a guide• Christus Rex• Spiritual authority has final

word• Reaches its fulfillment in 9th

century

Charlemagne (Charles)

• Pope Leo III dubs Charles Emperor

• Only if a Pope acknowledged a king, would he be seen as legitimate

• Charles reconstructs Europe• Papal States emerge• Confederated of nation-states • Dubbed “Holy Roman Empire”

Power Struggles

• Struggles between kings and Popes

• Gregorian Reforms• King Henry IV of England

disagrees with Pope• Henry IV Excommunicated

and begs for pardon

Gregorian Reforms

• Lateran councils• Pope appoints clergy• Outlaws simony • Iconoclasm• Requires priests to be

celibate

Monasticism

Monastic Vision

• From Greek word Monachos meaning “alone”

• Life of solidarity• First Monks live in caves• Later develop Monastaries • Ascetic (discipline) Life-style

History of Monasticism

• Begins with Anthony of Egypt (252-356)

• Inspired by Matthew 19:21• Left society to live in solitude in

the desert• Pachomius (292-346) moves

towards the idea of solitude in a small community

Benedict of Nursia (480-553)

• Different communities living by different rules

• Writes a book that becomes the standards for Monastic life

Not a Rejection of the Body

• Body seen as a means of Salvation

• Work and pray with the body• Take care of bodily needs

Balanced Life Style

• Work• Study• Prayer• Obedience • Charity

Monasticism in Medieval Europe

• Prophetic voice amidst changing society

• Called Church to return to her roots

• Benedictine Rule becomes the norm

• Gregorian Reforms make elements of monastic life a norm for clergy Monastic Discipline is extended to

the clergy during the Gregorian Reforms

St. Francis and the Friars

• Francis of Assisi• Born to Italian aristocracy• Called by God to repair the

Church• Founded a Mendicant (beggar)

order• Living amongst the people• Vow of poverty

Females and Monasticism

• Women also founded monasteries

• Limits on women though• Some women lived beguine

life style• St. Claire• Gertrud the Great