8: Religious Life

Question 1

Christianity and the empire.

Primary source

Answer 1

Eusebius of cesárea describing vision of Constantine and his adoption of Christian symbols giving him the empire

“He saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens above the sun and bearing the inscription “win by this”

Question 2

The formation of the new European identity with legit authority in the medieval period.
Main points

Answer 2

A) church and barbarians (how the church and barbarians combined in Europe to make number of states kingdoms and nations which had legit authority. Church was source of legitimacy whereas barbarians had no source of legitimacy apart from power
B) rise of the papacy:
C) saints
D) spiritual renovation

Question 3

Rise of the papacy

Answer 3

rise of the papacy: the fall of western civilisation after Rome the only legit organisation which could offer salvation was church who had legitimate reason. Before Roman Empire fell the Pope was a source of authority and this maintained after it fell. The west turned to the papacy to escape Byzantine Christendom. After launching the crusades the papacy gained notable strength

Question 4

Importance of the church In medieval times

- why were people afraid of church

Answer 4

Fed people, taxed people, in charge of hospitals, the only way to get absolution for sin was through priest or other member of the church.
- people were afraid due to power, saints, no law to protect you you needed the church

Question 5

Afterlife

Answer 5

In medieval times the afterlife was key to people’s contentment