Medieval Christian Church

Summary

In this engaging podcast, Mr. Zer delves into the pivotal role of the Christian medieval church in shaping society, highlighting the church's hierarchical structure with the Pope at its apex and Parish priests as its foundation. He explains the church's influence on daily life, from birth to death, and its unique meritocracy allowing social mobility within its ranks. The script also underscores the church's formidable powers, such as excommunication, which was a severe punishment in the feudal era, and the concept of heresy, emphasizing the church's centrality in medieval life.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Christian medieval church was central to medieval society, influencing both social and religious aspects of life.
• 🙏 Men of prayer, war, and work were the three parts of medieval society, with the church focusing on the men of prayer.
• 📜 The term 'clergy' refers to religious officials who work for the church, distinct from other roles like scribes.
• 🔝 The Pope held supreme authority in the Christian church, making both religious and political decisions.
• 🏛 Parish priests were at the bottom of the church hierarchy, overseeing local church services and religious instruction.
• 👨‍🦱 Bishops managed a group of parishes, known as a diocese, and had significant influence in feudal society.
• 👑 Archbishops were above bishops in the hierarchy, overseeing a group of dioceses known as an archdiocese.
• 🃏 Cardinals were the Pope's advisers, providing guidance on spiritual, political, and legal matters, and electing the Pope.
• 🔑 The church offered a merit-based system for advancement, unlike the rigid class structures of political society.
• 🚫 Excommunication was a powerful tool of the church, effectively removing individuals from the central institution of life.
• 🚷 Heresy, the denial or disbelief in church teachings, was a serious crime punishable by excommunication.

Q & A

What is the central theme of Mr. Zer's social studies podcast?

The central theme of the podcast is the Christian medieval church and its structure and influence on medieval society.

According to King Alford the Great, how can medieval society be divided?

King Alford the Great suggests that medieval society can be divided into three parts: men of prayer, men of war, and men of work.

What is the role of the Christian Church in medieval society?

The Christian Church is at the center of medieval society, influencing both social and religious aspects of life from birth to death.

What does the term 'clergy' refer to in the context of the Christian Church?

The term 'clergy' refers to religious officials who work for the church, specifically those who are religious leaders.

Who is at the top of the hierarchy of the Christian Church?

The Pope is at the top of the hierarchy of the Christian Church, holding supreme authority over both religious and political decisions.

What is the role of Parish priests in the Christian Church hierarchy?

Parish priests oversee a local church or parish, conducting church services and supervising religious instruction.

What is the term used for a group of parishes managed by a Bishop?

A group of parishes managed by a Bishop is called a diocese.

What is the term for a group of dioceses overseen by an Archbishop?

A group of dioceses overseen by an Archbishop is called a province or an archdiocese.

Who are the advisers of the Pope, and what is their role?

The advisers of the Pope are called Cardinals, who provide spiritual, political, and legal advice, and also select the Pope when necessary.

How does the church offer opportunities for advancement that are different from the rest of medieval society?

The church offers a merit-based system where individuals can be promoted through its hierarchy, unlike the rigid social structure of feudal society.

What is the significance of the church's power to excommunicate in medieval society?

Excommunication, or expulsion from the church, was a significant punishment in medieval society, as the church was central to life, and being removed from it had severe social and religious implications.

What is the definition of heresy in the context of the medieval church?

Heresy is the crime of denying or not believing in the teachings of the church, which could lead to excommunication if the individual is found guilty.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Introduction to the Medieval Church Hierarchy

This paragraph introduces the Christian medieval church as a central institution in medieval society, emphasizing its role in both social and religious life. King Alford's quote categorizes medieval society into 'Men of Prayer,' 'Men of War,' and 'Men of Work,' with the focus on the 'Men of Prayer.' The term 'clergy' is introduced to describe religious officials working for the church. The paragraph outlines the hierarchical structure of the Christian church, starting with the Pope at the top and descending through Archbishops, Bishops, and Parish priests at the bottom. The unique opportunity for social mobility within the church is highlighted, contrasting with the rigid social structure of the rest of medieval society.

05:01

📜 The Church's Power and Influence in Medieval Society

The second paragraph delves into the powers and influence of the church in medieval society. It discusses the potential for clergy to advance within the church hierarchy based on merit, a stark contrast to the hereditary social structure outside the church. The church's authority to excommunicate individuals, effectively removing them from social and religious life, is underscored as a significant power. Heresy, the denial of church teachings, is identified as a serious crime punishable by excommunication. The paragraph concludes by connecting the church's structure and powers to its overarching influence on daily life during the medieval period, setting the stage for further discussion on the church's role in society.

Keywords

💡Christian medieval church

The Christian medieval church refers to the religious institution that was central to the lives of people during the Middle Ages. It was not only a place of worship but also a major influence on social, political, and cultural aspects of society. In the video, the church is described as being at the center of medieval society, with every manor likely having a Christian church and the clergy playing a significant role in people's lives from birth to death.

💡Clergy

Clergy in the context of the video refers to the religious officials who work for the church. They are the leaders and functionaries of the Christian church, responsible for conducting religious services, providing spiritual guidance, and overseeing the religious life of the community. The term is important as it highlights the hierarchical structure within the church and the roles these officials played in medieval society.

💡Hierarchy

Hierarchy, as used in the video, describes the structured levels of authority within the Christian church. It starts with the Pope at the top, followed by Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and Parish priests at the bottom. This hierarchy is crucial for understanding the organization and decision-making processes of the church, as well as the potential for social mobility within the clergy.

💡Pope

The Pope is the highest authority in the Christian church, as mentioned in the video. He holds supreme power over religious and, to some extent, political matters. The Pope's role is to guide the church and make decisions that affect the entire Christian community. His position at the top of the church hierarchy signifies the centrality of his influence in medieval society.

💡Parish priests

Parish priests are the religious leaders of individual churches or parishes, as explained in the video. They are responsible for conducting church services, providing religious instruction, and tending to the spiritual needs of the local community. While they are at the bottom of the church hierarchy, they are the most visible and accessible religious figures to the general public.

💡Bishops

Bishops, as described in the video, oversee a group of parishes known as a diocese. They are responsible for managing the affairs of the churches under their jurisdiction and ensuring the proper conduct of religious services. Bishops also play a role in the appointment of parish priests and the administration of the sacraments.

💡Archbishops

Archbishops are higher in the church hierarchy than bishops, as mentioned in the video. They oversee a group of dioceses known as an archdiocese and have authority over the bishops within their region. Archbishops are responsible for the administration and governance of the church within their territory and often hold significant influence in both religious and political matters.

💡Cardinals

Cardinals are the advisers to the Pope and are part of the College of Cardinals, as discussed in the video. They provide counsel on spiritual, political, and legal matters and play a crucial role in the selection of a new Pope. Cardinals are often high-ranking officials within the church and may have been bishops or archbishops before being elevated to their current position.

💡Excommunication

Excommunication, as explained in the video, is the act of expelling someone from the church, effectively denying them membership and the sacraments. This was a severe punishment in medieval society, where the church was central to all aspects of life. Excommunication could be used as a means to enforce religious conformity and maintain the church's authority.

💡Heresy

Heresy, according to the video, is the crime of denying or not believing in the teachings of the church. It was a serious offense in medieval times, as it challenged the authority and doctrines of the Christian church. Those found guilty of heresy could face severe consequences, including excommunication, which was a powerful tool used by the church to maintain orthodoxy and control.

💡Merit-based system

The concept of a merit-based system within the church, as highlighted in the video, refers to the opportunity for clergy to advance within the hierarchy based on their abilities and achievements, rather than solely on their birthright. This was a significant difference from the feudal system, where social status was largely hereditary. The church offered a path for individuals to rise through the ranks, from parish priests to potentially even the Pope, based on their merits and the quality of their service.

Highlights

Introduction to the Christian medieval church and its central role in medieval society.

Explanation of King Alford the Great's quote dividing medieval society into men of prayer, war, and work.

The Christian Church's omnipresence in medieval life from birth to death.

Definition and role of clergy as religious officials working for the church.

Hierarchy of the Christian church, starting with the Pope at the top.

Description of the Pope's supreme authority over religious and political decisions.

Role of Parish priests as overseers of individual churches and their communities.

Bishops' responsibility for managing groups of parishes within a diocese.

Archbishops' oversight of groups of bishops and their respective dioceses.

Cardinals as the Pope's advisers and their role in selecting a new Pope.

Opportunity for advancement within the church, unlike the rigid social structure of feudal society.

The appeal of working for the church for those not of noble birth due to merit-based promotion.

The church's power to condemn or forgive sinners, central to medieval life.

Political power of the church and its influence on medieval citizens' beliefs and actions.

Excommunication as a severe punishment for heresy, severing ties with the central church.

Definition of heresy as the denial or disbelief in the church's teachings.

Essential question posed: How was the Medieval Church structured and how did it influence medieval life?

Summary of the church's structure and its influence on daily life and decision-making power in medieval Europe.

Transcripts

[Music]

greetings students and welcome to

another edition of Mr Zer social studies

podcast I'd like to begin today by

talking about the Christian medieval

church and we're going to start out with

a quote this is a quote by King Alford

the great and he said this about

medieval Society he said you could

divide it up into three different parts

we're talking about men of prayer Men of

War and Men of work now today we're

going to be talking about our men of

prayer and the church that they make up

here now if you're talking about the

Christian Church you need to remember

that it is at the center of medieval

Society we said nearly every Manor is

going to have a Christian Church on it

but even more than that at the center of

your life in medieval times as the

Christian church from baptism at Birth

to marriages to funerals your social

life as well as your religious life is

tied to the Christian church now if

we're talking about people there's a

term that I need you to know and this

term is called clergy something called

clergy now I need to make sure that you

grab a pencil because you're definitely

going to want to write this down the

term clergy simply means religious

officials who work for the church now I

want to I want to make sure that we

understand we're talking about religious

officials here um so not the scribes or

anything like that um but the people who

who are actually religious leaders so I

tell you what why don't you pause while

you write this down and then unpause it

when you're ready to

go all right um now let's start to talk

a little bit about these religious

officials and figure out who they are

and how they fit into the hierarchy of

the Christian church when you see that

word hierarchy we're talking about the

different levels that people are going

to make up so we've got our hierarchy

that's on our notebook page so I want

you to once again you're going to want

to write this down because this is

definitely a main idea I want to start

out at the top at the top of the

hierarchy of the Christian church is the

pope now the pope holds supreme

authority over the church he makes the

religious decisions as well as the

political decisions he's in charge he's

at the very top now I tell you what if

we jump all the way then down to the

bottom at the very bottom we have our

Parish priests our Parish priests

oversee you see this word over here a

parish um so that's just going to be

like one individual church maybe they're

the religious leader over one uh

particular manner or one particular Town

um they conduct church services uh and

supervise that religious instruction if

we work our way up this chart then the

next group that we would come to would

be the Bishops now the bishop Bishops

manage over a group of parishes remember

that Parish the parish is the individual

unit the Bishops manage a group of

Parish parishes and this is called a

dasis um actually in the early days of

feudal society this bishop over here

he's probably a feudal Lord in and of

himself um but they oversee all the

local Parish priests above our Bishops

then come our

archbishops and so we notice we've got

this little prefix over here the

archbishops oversee a group of Bishops

if a bishop

oversees a group of parishes called a

dasis then the Archbishop over here he

oversees a group of dases called an arch

dasis so he has control over this group

of Bishops in his area that leaves only

one group left um right below the pope

and indeed these are the advisers of the

Pope they're called the Cardinals um

they're sometimes referred to as the

curia or the College of cardinals

they're going to advise the pope um

they're going to provide spiritual

advice political advice legal advice and

indeed they're going to choose the pope

um when a once the pope dies and they're

in need of selecting an additional Pope

that's our hierarchy as it's set up here

um now there's something that I want to

note about the church that's very

different from the rest of society here

um in

the church Society you are able to be

promoted and work up these levels as we

go that's very different from political

Society if you are the Lord of a manner

then your son is going to be the Lord of

a Manor if you are a peasant living on

that manner guess what you have no hope

of someday becoming a lord very

different situation here um when we're

talking about the church so there's a

think question I want you to answer and

it says well why might working for the

church have appealed to people not of

noble birth and it's because they have

an opportunity for advancement um so if

we take our Parish priest over here and

here he is I'm moving him around um if

he does a good job there's a possibility

that he might be appointed to become a

bishop someday and that Bishop might

someday work their way up to Archbishop

and maybe if they've got the right

connections and maybe a little luck on

their side they might someday make it

into the College of Cardinals and if

that happens who knows maybe someday

that person is going to work their way

up into the pope so we've got a kind of

a merit-based system uh one where you

have an opportunity to advance which is

very different than some of our other

parts of society that we see during

feudal times I want to switch gears now

and I want to talk about the powers of

the church because you need to

understand that when we're talking about

some of our citizens here um they look

at that church as as their their Central

guiding force um and they believe that

they're spending just a little bit of

time here on Earth and then someday only

a few of them are actually going to make

their way up into heaven and so the

power to either condemn people or to

forgive Sinners makes the church really

a considerable force in medieval Society

so many people entered into the clergy

because they had these deeply held

beliefs but we've also got um a lot of

political power that they can exercise

as well and you notice that we've got

our powers of the church over here and

there's one in particular that I want to

emphasize to you and that's this idea of

excommunication over here um

excommunication means not allowing

someone to be a member of the church um

now because the Christian church was

Central to Medieval life this is really

like throwing them out of the church

maybe there's a there's a visual I want

you to think of that maybe is going to

help you if you're thinking about

throwing somebody out of the church the

way I think of this is we've got our

umpire over here and he's going to say

you're out of the church why is this a

big deal if you drive around town you

will see an Episcopal Church a

Presbyterian Church a Catholic Church a

Baptist Church it goes on and on right

you don't see that in feudal society at

this time remember there is only one

church if it's Central to your life if

it is your social as well as your

religious Center then if you are removed

from that that's a big deal and so that

punishment would be given to a group um

who who commit the crime of heresy and

this is the last box that we need to

fill in on this page here's what heresy

is heresy is a crime heresy is denying

or not believing in the teachings of the

church if you commit heresy um you and

are found guilty of this crime that's

when you might be excommunicated uh

which would have been a terrible

terrible terrible punishment during this

time period here um so why don't you

pause make sure you've got that unpause

it when you're ready to go

all right I'd like to finish today by

talking about our essential question our

essential question is how was the

Medieval Church structured and how did

the church influence medieval life well

there are a couple things that we can

think about in trying to answer that

question first of all in terms of the

structure of the church remember we

outlined the five levels of that

hierarchy and remember we said these

These are levels um when we mean

hierarchy we we mean each one is on top

of the so the pope is on the top at the

very bottom we've got our Parish priests

these guys are still very important um

there are a lot of these Parish priests

and they're the ones who interact with

most of the people but in terms of the

decision-making power of the church

which was very very great remember the

church is the one thing that ties all of

Europe together during this time um the

pope really is in the Supreme uh point

of power here the other part of the

question um in terms of how does it

influence daily life I want you to think

about a couple things um I want you to

think about how we say said it the it is

very Central speaking of the church to

to life how you know you've got that

church that's at the center of all these

feudal manners that exist there um and

then the other thing maybe to consider

would be the powers of the church and

that'll set you up for some discussions

that we're going to have and I think

that'll help you answer this essential

question I hope you have enjoyed today's

podcast continue to study the social

studies and I'll see you in class