The Medieval Church Book Outline
Honors Euro
Name_________________________________________
I. The Church & Medieval Life
During the middle ages the Church’s most important achievement was to ____________ the diverse
peoples of Western Europe. ____________ also spread faith at their own risk. Colthilde, for example,
persuaded her husband ____________, who was king of the Franks to accept Christianity.
A. The Parish Priest
In manor villages, the ____________ of the parish, or local region, was usually the only contact people
had with the ____________. The priest administered the ____________, or sacred rites of the church to
its parishioners. In addition, priests preached the Gospels and teachings of the Church. They guided
people on issues regarding ____________ and ____________ and offered assistance to the
____________ and ____________.
B. The Village Church
The Church was a ____________ ____________ as well as a place of worship. In the later Middle Ages,
some parish priests ran ____________. To support the newer larger stone churches in the later Middle
Ages, churches required Christians to pay a tithe, or tax equal ________________________. Daily life
revolved around the Christian calendar.
C. Views of Women
The Church taught that men and women were equal before God. On Earth however, women were
viewed as weak and ____________________________________. The Church felt that the ideal woman
should be as ____________ and ____________ as Mary. In order to protect women, Churches set a
minimum age for ____________. While Church courts could fine men who seriously ____________
their wives, they often punished women more harshly than men for the same offense.
II. Monks & Nuns
A. The Benedictine Rule
In about ____________ AD, a monk named ____________ organized the monastery of Monte Cassino in
southern Italy. His rules would regulate ____________ life. ________________________ would come
to be used by monasteries and ____________ across Europe.
The three vows taken by a monk or nun under Benedictine Rule were:
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
B. A Life of Service
Monasteries and convents often provided basic services in lieu of ____________ or ____________.
They gave ____________ and ____________ to travelers, especially Christian pilgrims traveling to holy
shrines. Some monks and nuns became ____________ such as ________________________, who set
up the ____________ Church.
C. Centers for Learning
Monasteries and convents performed a vital role in __________________________________________.
Once copied, the work might remain unread for centuries, but would be there when later ____________
took an interest in ancient learning. In Britain, a monk named ____________ introduced the use of ___
and ____ to date ____________ events.
D. Convents
Although ____________ could not become priests, many did enter ____________. During the later
Middle Ages, the Church put more restrictions on ____________. It withdrew rights that nuns once
enjoyed, such as ________________________. It placed most independent convents under the control
________________________. It frowned on too much ____________ for women, preferring them to
accept ____________ ____________.
III. The Power of the Church Grows
Define secular – (pg. 1020)______________________________________________________________
A. The Church & Feudal Society
During the Middle Ages, the ____________ was the spiritual leader of the ________________________.
As representatives of Christ on Earth, medieval popes eventually claimed ________________________,
or authority over all ____________ rulers. The pope headed an army of churchmen who supervised
Church activities. High ____________, such as ____________ and ____________, were usually nobles.
Like other feudal lords, some had their own territories. The pope himself held vast lands in central Italy,
later called ________________________.
Church officials were closely linked to ____________ rulers. Because churchmen were often the only
educated people, feudal rulers appointed them to high ________________________.
B. Religious Authority
Although the Church was dedicated to the worship of God, Christians believed that all people were
____________ and that many were doomed to eternal suffering. The only way to avoid the tortures of
______ was to believe in ____________ and participate in the ____________. Because the medieval
Church administered the sacraments, it had ____________ ____________ in religious matters.
The medieval Church developed its own laws known as canon law. Canon law applied to ____________
____________________________________, and ____________. Anyone who disobeyed Church law
faced a range of penalties, the most severe being ________________________.
A powerful noble who opposed the Church could face the ____________, an order excluding an entire
town, region, or kingdom from receiving most ____________ and a Christian ____________.
The Medieval Church Book Outline
Honors Euro
Name_________________________________________
I. The Church & Medieval Life
During the middle ages the Church’s most important achievement was to Christianize the diverse
peoples of Western Europe. Women also spread faith at their own risk. Colthilde, for example,
persuaded her husband Clovis, who was king of the Franks to accept Christianity.
A. The Parish Priest
In manor villages, the priest of the parish, or local region, was usually the only contact people had with
the Church. The priest administered the sacraments, or sacred rites of the church to its parishioners. In
addition, priests preached the Gospels and teachings of the Church. They guided people on issues
regarding values and morality and offered assistance to the sick and needy.
B. The Village Church
The Church was a social center as well as a place of worship. In the later Middle Ages, some parish
priests ran schools. To support the newer larger stone churches in the later Middle Ages, churches
required Christians to pay a tithe, or tax equal to one-tenth of their income. Daily life revolved around
the Christian calendar.
C. Views of Women
The Church taught that men and women were equal before God. On Earth however, women were
viewed as weak and easily led into sin. The Church felt that the ideal woman should be as honest and
pure as Mary. In order to protect women, Churches set a minimum age for marriage. While Church
courts could fine men who seriously injured their wives, they often punished women more harshly than
men for the same offense.
II. Monks & Nuns
A. The Benedictine Rule
In about 530 AD, a monk named Benedict organized the monastery of Monte Cassino in southern Italy.
His rules would regulate monastic life. Benedictine Rule would come to be used by monasteries and
convents across Europe.
The three vows taken by a monk or nun under Benedictine Rule were:
1. Obedience to the abbot or abbess
2. Poverty
3. Chastity or purity
B. A Life of Service
Monasteries and convents often provided basic services in lieu of hospitals or schools. They gave food
and lodging to travelers, especially Christian pilgrims traveling to holy shrines. Some monks and nuns
became missionaries such as Saint Patrick, who set up the Irish Church.
C. Centers for Learning
Monasteries and convents performed a vital role in preserving the writings of the ancient world. Once
copied, the work might remain unread for centuries, but would be there when later scholars took an
interest in ancient learning. In Britain, a monk named Bede introduced the use of B.C. and A.D. to date
historical events.
D. Convents
Although women could not become priests, many did enter convents. During the later Middle Ages, the
Church put more restrictions on nuns. It withdrew rights that nuns once enjoyed, such as preaching the
Gospel. It placed most independent convents under the control of Church officials. It frowned on too
much learning for women, preferring them to accept Church authority.
III. The Power of the Church Grows
Define secular – (pg. 1020)______________________________________________________________
A. The Church & Feudal Society
During the Middle Ages, the pope was the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. As
representatives of Christ on Earth, medieval popes eventually claimed papal supremacy, or authority
over all secular rulers. The pope headed an army of churchmen who supervised Church activities. High
clergy, such as bishops and archbishops, were usually nobles. Like other feudal lords, some had their
own territories. The pope himself held vast lands in central Italy, later called the Papal States.
Church officials were closely linked to secular rulers. Because churchmen were often the only educated
people, feudal rulers appointed them to high government positions.
B. Religious Authority
Although the Church was dedicated to the worship of God, Christians believed that all people were
sinners and that many were doomed to eternal suffering. The only way to avoid the tortures of hell was
to believe in Christ and participate in the sacraments. Because the medieval Church administered the
sacraments, it had absolute power in religious matters.
The medieval Church developed its own laws known as canon law. Canon law applied to religious
teachings, the clergy, marriages, and morals. Anyone who disobeyed Church law faced a range of
penalties, the most severe being excommunication.
A powerful noble who opposed the Church could face the interdict, an order excluding an entire town,
region, or kingdom from receiving most sacraments and a Christian burial.