FREE ESSAY ON MIDDLE AGES AS THE AGE OF FAITH?

MIDDLE AGES AS THE AGE OF FAITH?

Is it accurate to refer to the Middle Ages as the Age of Faith?
The Middle Ages is often referred to as the Age of Faith and it is correct to do so, as
during this period religion dominated all aspects of life from architecture, literature,
art and music. The dominant religion during this period was Christianity. The middle ages
saw "the emergence … of Christian literary forms… a popular religious culture
centred around processions, icons, and relics" (George Holmes 42).
The crusades were wars fought in the name of God or holy wars. The first of the crusades
began in 1095 when Pope Urban the second received an appeal for help from Alexius the
first, the Byzantine Emperor. Alexius wanted Urbans' help against the Turks, "a race
alienated from God". It was seen as ones Christian duty to fight against these infidels.
The church offered material advantages to those who chose to join the Crusades, to save
Christian shrines and lands from Muslims. It was also preached, by renowned clergymen
that men who joined would have more favour with God. St. Bernard said about the crusades
"Rejoice…if you live and conquer in the Lord, but exalt and glory even more if you
die and join the Lord" (H.G. Koenigsberger 187). The crusades brought many benefits;
food, textiles and also the spread of Islamic science and art, which would greatly
benefit Europe who, was somewhat behind.
The quest for knowledge was rejuvenated with the growth of cathedral schools. However
church schools could only teach so much. Universities grew due to the formation of guilds
of teachers and pupils and also because of finance from the church and the wealthy. The
University of Paris was the largest of its time specialising in liberal arts. These
schools sparked a return to philosophy. Scholastism was the philosophy of the church,
where the church and its teachings were the ultimate authority. However philosophical
disputes soon arose, this was known as the battle of Universals. One position was called
the Realist position. This was the idea that body and soul were separate. The soul goes
to its ideal realisation, heaven, there is no need to worry about the material world. The
opposing argument was known as the Nominalalist position, "that physical were the only
reality" (Robert E. Lamm 212). The middle ground between these two arguments was known as
Conceptualism, put forth by Peter Abelard, it suggests that "reality as idea exists only
in the sense-apparent object" (Robert E. Lamm 213). 
Monasticism was a way of life for those who thought everyday life too sinful, and decided
to devote themselves to God, either communally in the monastery or lavriote, a life of
solitude. St Benedict around five hundred and forty AD set down rules which were to
become the basis for monastic life in the Catholic church; poverty, obedience, chastity,
and work. In these monasteries theology was preserved. A different form of monasticism
developed in Ireland due to the fact it was isolated from the rest of Europe. Monks were
more like the hermits of Egypt rather those of Roman Christianity. Scholarship developed
in these monasteries, also a new form of art called Hiberno-Saxon. These monasteries kept
literacy skills alive. Monks would transcribe and decorate sacred texts by hand. Such
texts include the Book of Kells and the Lindisfaire Gospels.
Religion also played a part in revolutionising the arts, language and literature were
revived. Numerous accounts of the crusades were written in various languages, such as
Geoffrey de Villehordouin's of the forth crusade written in French, the first text in
French of its kind and Seigneur de Jounville's History of Saint Louis. Another famous
literary work was Dante's Divine Comedy, written during the High Middle Ages. In this
work Dante discusses all level of being; hell, purgatory, and paradise. In this work he
explains his ultimate goal as a man, a union with God, or the achievement of a heavenly
state. 
Religious life also influence architecture. Architecture was rejuvenated around one
thousand AD and became the main artistic focus of the time. Architecture progressed from
Romanesque Style to Gothic Style, with their origins in the Carolingian Renaissance. One
thousand AD marked the beginning of a vast building program throughout Europe. During
this period some of the most beautiful building ever built were erected in the name of
God for example Notre Dame, St. Benoit-sur-Loire and the Cathedral at Reims. These
buildings included intricate carvings of religious symbols, scenes, and saints also
stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Bible. Pope Gregory allowed this to be
possible, in the early Middle Ages, by allowing the depiction of religious scenes. He
knew that since the majority of the population was illiterate visual images would have
more of an impact and would aid the reach Christian teaching. 
Religion also had an impact on Music. The first music written during the Middle Ages was
written for the church. Monophonic, Gregorian Chant, was a single lyric with no
accompaniment was the official music of the Church. It is said that Pope Gregory ordered
a body of work organised for the church, which came to over three thousand melodies.
Monophonic later developed by the addition of extra words and notes varying the pattern
and later varying melodies leading to what was named polyphonic. These extra words and
notes led to the development of drama as part of Mass and then led to spoken drama or
plays. Medieval dance was also a form of worship but this changed to entertainment during
the high Middle Ages.
Religion effected all aspects of medieval life, religion made people grow and develop,
helping fill the void left by the fall of the Roman Empire. The barbaric, culture less
life that was left after the decline of the Roman Empire was reinvented by those seeking
God and salvation. By one thousand AD virtually all of Europe was converted to
Christianity, even the most reluctant, the Vikings had converted. The Middle ages was the
age of Faith.
Bibliography
Work Cited
The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe, Ed. By Holmes, George.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Koenigsberger, H.G. A History of Europe. Harlow: Logman Group, 1987.
Lamm, Robert C. The Humanities in Western Civilisation, Forth Edition.
Arizona: McGraw-Hill Companies, 1996.
Bibliography
Heer, Friedrich. The Medieval World: Europe from 1100 to 1350. New York:
Praeqer Publishers, 1962. 
Holmes, George. Europe: Hierarchy and Revolt 1320-1450. Glasgow:
Fontana, 1975.
The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe, Ed. By Holmes, George.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Koenigsberger, H.G. A History of Europe. Harlow: Logman Group, 1987.
Lamm, Robert C. The Humanities in Western Civilisation, Forth Edition.
Arizona: McGraw-Hill Companies, 1996.