WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN MEDIEVAL CULTURE? - HISTORY - 2025

The role of the church in medieval culture was prominent due to the power that this institution wielded in all political, cultural and economic aspects of society. Generally speaking, in the Middle Ages the only universal European institution was the Church. This was the spiritual guide of the people and also their government.

In that sense, during the Middle Ages there were two States, one earthly and the other divine. A nobility from the small aristocracy controlled the former and ruled by command of God. The church was the entity in charge of controlling the second state. Hence the Catholic prelates represented a very influential class.

In this context, the role of the church in medieval culture was to ensure the spiritual well-being of the rulers and to ensure that society developed according to Christian precepts. From its role as the moral sensor of society, the church exercised strict control over all artistic and cultural manifestations of the time.

He also participated actively in other areas. Among others, and in an attempt to impose a Christian peace, he regulated the days when war was allowed. In addition, he instituted courts to punish religious crimes. The worst offense that could be committed in these times was heresy. This was punished by both religious and civil society.

Organization of the clergy in the Middle Ages

In order to maintain the role of the church in medieval culture, the clergy had to have an efficient organizational structure. This structure came to be imposed on the ignorance, disorder and violence that characterized feudal society in its beginnings.

In principle, all the members of the church were grouped under the denomination of clergy. This clergy was divided into two branches, the secular and the regular. Both branches had the Pope as their absolute head.

Regarding the secular clergy, it was made up of all those members of the church who lived a normal life in contact and living with the laity (civil, non-religious). Parish priests, archbishops and bishops belonged to this group.

The former exercised the leadership of small districts called parishes. The set of several parishes was known as diocese that was under the responsibility of a bishop. And several dioceses made up an archdiocese that was the responsibility of an archbishop.

As for the regular clergy, it was made up of religious who separated themselves from worldly life and went to live in monasteries. They were known as monks and followed, in addition to the Catholic ones, the rules of their order or congregation. All were under the rule of an abbot who was the monastery's sole contact with the outside world.

The role of the church in medieval culture and its areas of influence

Economic area

The role of the church in medieval culture in the economic sphere was preponderant. Throughout that time, religion dominated everyday life. The priests were key in the functioning of the ordinary economy.

Among others, ecclesiastical officials promulgated and enforced the laws governing everyday transactions. Also, they intervened in international economic disputes and maintained armies to safeguard their assets. The Christian Catholic Church was immensely wealthy and controlled a significant area of ​​land.

In this sense, most of their income came from the voluntary contributions of the faithful, who received in return both spiritual and secular services (lasting for centuries).

On the other hand, the church received a tax called tithe by means of which 10% of all the production of the lands under its control was guaranteed.

Buttressed by its economic power, the Roman Catholic Church had more power than any monarch. Even kings, dukes and princes owed at least part of their power to the grace of the religious authorities.

Political area

In the area of ​​politics, the role of the church in medieval culture was also highlighted. The domain of the church was not limited to one country or one region alone. Its representatives exerted their influence in every part of the European continent in which Christianity had triumphed.

In all those places, they went from being guarantors of religious faith to dominating kingdoms and kings. For this they used the threat of excommunication in opposition to the laws of God.

The medieval Roman Catholic Church attempted to fulfill its goals in the spirit world by acquiring power and influence in the earthly. In this way, in medieval Europe there was an overlap of religious and political aspects that were very characteristic of that society.

Thus, the role of the church in medieval culture also included political dominance over monarchs and feudal lords, who were in constant conflict. The fear of going against religious authority deterred them from fighting with each other. Therefore, it can be said that this dominion guaranteed, in some way, peace in Western Europe.

On the other hand, being the church the administrator of the religious sacraments, it used a monopoly that placed the political power in a situation of natural vassal-ally and obliged to the religious authority.

On the side of the monarchs, they used the church as a way to gain political advantage against their adversaries. This authorized and officiated marriages between children of kings. These alliances were accompanied by increases in territories and treasures that consolidated the power of related families.

Cultural area

Rooting the traditions that came from the Christian world was an important part of the church's role in medieval culture. Culture was founded on the study of the Old Testament and the nature of God. The Bible, translated from Greek and Hebrew into Latin, was used as a philosophical method to understand the role of man on earth.

On the other hand, the monastic movement had great preponderance in the general diffusion of Christian ideas, Christianity in general and the conformation of the cultural profile of society.

The monks influenced almost every aspect of medieval life. They were the most successful farmers, managing large farms and setting examples of good agricultural practice.

They were also the most educated and learned. These came to become the guardians of knowledge. For this reason, they educated many children of nobles, thus giving a religious slant to the knowledge imparted.

In the same way, the monks were perfected as scribes. In the exercise of their skills, they copied manuscripts, both civil and religious, and decorated sacred manuscripts.

European kings and princes began to recruit monks as officials. Almost all the administrative records of the medieval period are due to them.

References

1. PACE University. (s / f). The Church and the Middle Ages. Taken from csis.pace.edu.
2. Ekelund, RB; Tollison, RD; Anderson, GM; Hébert, RF and Davidson, AB (1996). Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm. New York: Oxford University Press.
3. Ekelund Jr, RB and Tollison, RD (2011, August). Economic origins of Roman Christianity. Taken from themontrealreview.com.
4. University of Oregon. (s / f). A Viking / Norman fortress on the NW coast of France. Taken from pages.uoregon.edu.
5. Lynch, J. and Adamo, PC (2014). The Medieval Church: A Brief History. New York: Routledge.
6. The history guide. (s / f). Christianity as a Cultural Revolution. Taken from historyguide.org.
7. Fasolt, C. (s / f). Religious authority and ecclesiastical governance. Taken from home.uchicago.edu.