The role of the Church under the Normans Flashcards
What branch of Christianity did the Normans follow, like the Anglo-Saxons?
Roman Catholicism
How did the Church influence economics? (2)
- The Church was a major landowner and peasants were required to work on Church land for free (if they didn’t, they believed God would punish them).
- Tithes (a tax of 10%) were collected on everything that a farm produced.
How did the Church influence religion? (2)
- The main role of the Church was to teach people to live a good life which meant they would go to heaven.
- As most people could not read, they learned about heaven and hell from sermons and doom paintings on church walls.
How did the Church influence education?
It was the only institution that produced books, which were copied out by monks. This meant that the Church controlled which books were published.
How did the Church influence politics?
Leading clergy were members of the Witan, which advised the king on national matters.
How did the Church influence law?
The Church heard court cases for crimes committed on Church land.
How did the Church influence health? (2)
- People did not understand the causes of disease and it was widely seen as a punishment from God.
- People turned to the Church for help when they were sick - priests might suggest they ask God for forgiveness through prayer, suffering pain, or giving money to the Church.
How did the Church influence priests?
Priests were central figures in communities. They led services, helped the sick, heard confessions and baptised children. All members of the community went to the priest for advice, from peasants to the lord of the manor.
How did the Church influence pilgrimage?
Pilgrimages were an important part of people’s lives. The wealthy journeyed to Jerusalem in the Holy Land, while others visited holy sites such as monasteries and abbeys in England.
Norman religious buildings (6)
- Cathedrals, abbeys and monasteries were built to show devotion to God. They were also built to dominate the landscape, as castles did, and show the english that the Normans were now in charge. They were often constructed on hilltops and some, like Durham, were even fortified to provide additional security to the area.
- A popular architecture style in Europe at this time was Romanesque. Named after the Roman style, it had clean lines, rounded arches and vaulted ceilings.
- Cathedrals were built in the shape of a cross to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus, and some, like Durham, faced east towards Jerusalem. Other common features included quires (where the choir or monks sat) and a symmetrical design.
- Cathedrals were the political bases of bishops, who could become very powerful. The Bishop of Durham was given significant power in order to control a rebellious area on behalf of the king. In 1075, he became a prince bishop. This gave him power to raise an army, impose taxes and mint coins to raise income.
- Most cathedrals were staffed by monks. The Norman bishop who built Durham Cathedral, William St Calais, brought in Benedictine monks to run it.
- Pilgrims often journeyed to cathedrals, monasteries and abbeys, and so many included shrines to important saints or holy relics. Durham housed the shrine of St Cuthbert, one of the most revered Anglo-Saxon saints.
Durham cathedral (2)
- Durham Cathedral began as a Norman chapel in 1072, high above the banks of River Wear. It developed into one of the most impressive Norman cathedrals in the north of England.
- Durham housed the shrine of St Cuthbert, one of the most revered Anglo-Saxon saints.
