Religion of the Middle Ages

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Religion of the Middle Ages
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Governmental Powers

• Was very dominant and in charge
• The only religion was Roman Catholic
• Collected taxes
• Rich people bribed with gifts of land, flocks,
  crops, and serfs them for favors

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Governmental Powers (cont)

• The Pope was the head of the church and could
  threaten people that were rebelling against the
  church
• If they rebelled enough, the pope could
  excommunicate the people
• This means they would go to hell when they died,
  which is a very serious consequence since
  everyone believed in heaven and hell in those
  days

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The Church Service

• Services were half an hour long
• Everyone attended some form of church service
• The sermon was spoken in Latin and translated
  into their native language

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Cathars

• a group of Christians that broke off from Roman
  Catholicism
• Sought a more pure life than Catholics
• Mainly in Italy and Languedoc
• Many followers were of nobility, but also had
  some poor followers

Picture of Cathar books being burned by Catholics
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Cathars (cont)

• Believed the world was evil
• Had to fast, pray, work, and be peaceful
• Believed in equality and respect of women
• Priests and perfects were the officers

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Cathars (cont)

• Crusaders from the Roman Catholic church besieged
  the town of Beziers, which had a partially
  Cathars and partially Catholic population
• All of the town was massacred by crusaders, even
  Catholics
• Over 20,000 people were killed
• All Cathars were suppressed and eliminated by the
  Catholic church