Medieval Europe - BG INFO

Question 1

Romanesque Period

Answer 1

10th, 11th, 12th centuries

Question 2

Gothic period

Answer 2

13th, 14th centuries

Question 3

Life before Medieval Europe

Answer 3

• Roman Empire collapsed, Europe fell into dark ages (era of conflict + wars)
• poverty + disease common place
• fear that world would end in year 1000

Question 4

Life in medieval Europe

Answer 4

• peace brought prosperity
• new farming methods -> growth in population
• renewed energy in learning, philosophy, technology
• increases in pilgrimage, devotion t saints + relics
• growth in churches built

Question 5

Reasons for triumph of the church

Answer 5

• men of intelligence joined church, church men became the great thinkers + educators of the period
• the Pope brought new strict rules on celibacy, so monasteries grew in strength + wealth
• the Church was an international institution with no allegiance to any state

Question 6

The organisation of the church

Answer 6

• Bishops ruled their diocese
• Bishops + archbishops freq. came from wealthy families so they often sat on the kings council + in government
• church was outside feudal system
• church supported by heavy taxes + received donations, made it v. wealthy + power to influence rulers
• guided everyone’s life from kings to servants

Question 7

influence of the church on Romanesque art

Answer 7

• church encouraged religious pilgrimages + people travelled large distances to visit relics
• new monasteries established often with relic of a saint, Churches designed to accommodate visitors who came to pray before relic. New style of architecture + sculpture evolved to meet these needs.
• Christian armies (crusades) supported by church set out to recapture Jerusalem + other former Christian sites. Cities that supported + profited from crusade travels grew wealthy + prosperous

Question 8

relics and pilgrimages

Answer 8

• relics were objects associated with Jesus. Christians travelled miles to pray at these relics
• Church leaders encouraged people to make these journeys
• During 11th century, tomb of St James found in Santiago de Compostela. It became the most famous Christian pilgrimage
• churches built along the 3 main pilgrimage routes