Religion in the Middle Ages

1. Religion in the Middle Ages A brief overview of Christianity, Islam & Judaism

2. 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.”

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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/7thcentury): 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. Religion in the Middle Ages A brief overview of Christianity, Islam & Judaism

18. Polycarp • Born in Smyna (modern Turkey) in 69 AD. • The apostle ’s disciple. The ndgroup 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 .”

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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 .

25. 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

26. Rise of Islam • Starting in the thcentury, 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

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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/7thcentury): 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.

30. 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.

31. 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

32. 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