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The Rise of Cities. The Church in the Middle Ages. Roman Catholic Church was most powerful In Middle Ages the most powerful religion was just called “the Church” Clergy were very important Marriages, funerals, blessed sick, confessions Church took on many jobs of government
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The Church in the Middle Ages • Roman Catholic Church was most powerful • In Middle Ages the most powerful religion was just called “the Church” • Clergy were very important • Marriages, funerals, blessed sick, confessions • Church took on many jobs of government • Made laws, set up courts to enforce laws, collected taxes, farmed which helped economy
The Church in the Middle Ages, cont. • Church officials advised kings • Limited war among feudal lords • Threat of being excommunicated kept lords in line
Towns Grow • Population grew • Hard for lords to provide for peasants • Many peasants bought freedom • Lives of peasants who moved to towns improved – allowed some to become part of merchant class (included merchants, traders, and craftspeople) • Towns grew along trade routes
Life in Towns and Cities • Guilds formed • Set wages and standards for quality of goods • Members paid dues • Dues were used to help needy members • Craft workers • Apprentice (about 7 years) • Journeyman (traveled from town to town) • Join guild (after exam)
Overcrowding and Disease • Cities often had walls limiting space and causing crowding • Crowding and no indoor plumbing • Sickness spread quickly • Black Death (Bubonic Plague) • Spread by fleas on rats • 1/3 of population died
Medieval Culture and Learning • Cities attracted scholars • Universities developed • Students studied • Grammar, reasoning, and mathematics • Some went on to higher studies • Philosophy, law, or medicine • Chivalry – knights were supposed to be brave, loyal, and heroic