Hegemony Lecture Part 1

Hegemony Lecture Part 2

Hegemony Lecture 15 Min Total

Catholic Church Key Terms Lecture

Reading on Catholic Church

Slideshow

Model Islam Paragraphs (to help with hegemony)

Definition

Hegemony refers to the dominance of a state

not only militarily but also in terms of IDEOLOGY

Hegemony includes control over people’s way of thinking and behaving

as workers, consumers, and citizens.

When hegemony is most effective,

those who are controlled consent to the domination of the ruling power,

taking the control structure into their hearts

and using it as the way to conduct their own lives.

the social structure supports the ruling power in such a way that those controlled accept the authority UNCRITICALLY and UNCONSCIOUSLY.

Readings on Hegemony (also in reader)

The Christian Church Takes Shape

The Christian religion is one of the most important legacies of ancient Rome. Christians are followers of Jesus Christ, who was put to death on a Roman cross in the first century C.E. Christians believe that Christ was the son of God, that God sent him to Earth to save people from their sins, and that he rose from the dead after his crucifixion.

Initially, the Romans persecuted (to cause a person to suffer because of his or her beliefs) the Christians for their beliefs. Yet the new religion continued to spread. In 313 C.E., the emperor Constantine issues a decree that allowed Christians to practice their religion freely. In 395 C.E., Christianity became the recognized religion of the Roman Empire.

At the start of the Middle Ages, all Christians in western Europe belonged to a single church, which became known as the Roman Catholic Church. All the land and followers of this religion were known as Christendom. After the collapse of Rome in 500 CE, the church played a vital role in society. It was one of the few ties that people had to a more stable time. The church provided leadership and at times even organized the distribution of food. In some areas, monks (men who had taken a solemn vow to devote his life to prayer and service in a Catholic monastery) provided hospitality, such as food and healthcare, to travelers or refugees. They did this at their Monasteries (a community of monks) where there would be a small church, a set of homes and a farm. Monks would live at the monastery and welcome travelers. Aside from helping people, monks also copied and preserved old texts, and in this way helped keep learning alive. They were some of the only literate people in all of Christendom. The spread of monasteries, and the preaching of missionaries, helped bring new converts to the Christian faith.

The Organization of the Roman Catholic Church

Over time, church leaders in western Europe developed an organization that was modeled on the structure of the old Roman government. By the High Middle Ages, they had created a system in which all members of the clergy (the people, such as priests and bishops who completed the rituals of church) had a rank. The pope, who was the bishop of Rome, was the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. He was assisted and counseled by high-ranking clergymen called cardinals. Cardinals were appointed by the pope and ranked just below him in the church hierarchy.

Archbishops came next. They oversaw large or important areas called archdioceses. Below them were bishops, who governed areas called dioceses from great cathedrals. Within each diocese, local communities called parishes were served by priests. Everyone who had official duties in the church were called clergy. Those who were not a church ranking official, were called the laity. Since only clergy were educated and literate, laity did not go to school and were not church officials. They would attend mass, the weekly ritual led by priests in their local church. At mass, laity would receive the sacrament of communion which is eating the body and blood of Jesus Christ after the priest has blessed and transformed the bread and wine. Mass takes place at a church, which is the religious house of worship for Christians.

On the triangle on the next page, write down the roles of each hierarchy.

The Increasing Power of the Church

During the Middle Ages, the Church acquired great economic power. By the year 1050, it was the largest landholder in Europe. Some land came in the form of gifts from monarchs and wealthy lords. Some land was taken by force. The medieval church added to its wealth by collecting a tithe, or a tax on its followers Each person was expected to give 1/10 of his money, produce, or labor to help support the church. Since the church was so powerful and was not only a landowner but also ruled over people, it became known as the Holy Roman Empire. The leader of the Holy Roman Empire was a King who had to work with the Pope, the leader of all the Catholics, to rule over Christendom. The Pope legitimized the power of the King by claiming that God had chosen the King to be the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.

The church also came to wield great political power. Latin, the language of the church, was the only common language in Europe. Church officials were often the only people who could read. As a result, they kept records for monarchs and became trusted advisors.

At times, the church’s power brought it into conflict with European monarchs. One key struggle involved Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV, the Holy Roman emperor.

Gregory was elected pope in 1073. An ambitious leader, he undertook several reforms, such as forbidding priests to marry and outlawing the selling of church offices (official positions). He also banned the practice whereby kings could appoint priests, bishops, and the heads of monasteries. Only the pope, said Gregory, had this right.

Gregory’s ruling angered Henry IV. Like rulers before him, Henry considered it his duty (and privilege) to appoint church officials. He called a council of bishops and declared that Gregory was no longer pope. Gregory responded by excommunicating Henry, meaning Henry was thrown out of the church and, therefore, could not gain salvation. Gregory also said that Henry’s subjects were no longer obliged to obey him.

The pope’s influence was so great that Henry begged forgiveness and was readmitted to the church. For the moment, his action amounted to recognizing the pope’s authority, even over an emperor. But future rulers and popes would resume the fight over the rights of the church versus those of the state.

The Church also gained power through sacraments. Sacraments were rituals that had to be performed by clergy. The number of sacraments varied over time but included, baptism (removing original sin from the soul), marriage (a marriage blessed by God), communion (eating the body and blood of Christ at mass) and last rites (eating the body of Christ right before death). These sacraments were required for all Catholics in order to be a good member of the church and to go to heaven.

Education

During the Middle Ages, most schooling took place in monasteries, convents, and cathedrals. This pattern was established under Charlemagne, who encouraged the church to teach people to read and write. During his reign, scholars developed a new form of writing that helped make reading easier. Instead of writing in all capital letters, as the Romans did, scholars began to use lowercase letters too. We still use this system today.

In medieval times, the clergy were the people most likely to be educated. Most of the students in church schools were sons of nobles who were studying for careers in the clergy. They spent much of their time memorizing prayers and passages from the Bible in Latin. The Bible is the holy text for Christians and contains two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Holidays

The people of medieval Europe looked forward to many festivals and fairs that marked important days of the year. Most of these celebrations were connected in some way to the church. Almost every day of the year was dedicated to a Christian saint, an event in the life of Jesus, or an important religious concept. In fact, out word holiday comes from “holy day”.

Two of the greatest medieval holidays were Christmas and Easter. Christmas is the day when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. During the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations lasted for 12 days. There were no Christmas trees, but people of all social classes decorated their homes with evergreens, holly berries, and mistletoe. On Christmas Day, they attended church. Then they enjoyed a great feast, which was often given by the lord of the manor for everyone.

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Ellis and Esler

The Medieval Church

The Church and its teachings were central to medieval life. Religion shaped the everyday lives of Christian Europeanas, and the Church hierarchy came to exert considerable economic and political power. By the late Middle Ages, Western Europe had become a Christian civilization. Anyone who did not belong to the church community was viewed with suspicion. Christian rituals and faith were part of the fabric of everyday life. In villages, the priest was often the only contact people had with the Church. The priest celebrated the mass and administered the sacraments, the sacred rites of the Church. Christians believed that participation in the sacraments would lead them to salvation, or everlasting life with God. Priests also preached the teachings of the Church and explained the Christian Bible, which was in Latin only.

The church was a social center as well as a place of worship because it was often the largest public building in a village. Daily life revolved around the Christian calendar which included many holidays, such as Easter and local holy days dedicated to saints. The main events of each person’s life took place at the church. Baptism marked entrance into the community, marriages were performed on the church steps, and the dead were buried in the churchyard.

The Rise of Cathedrals

Bishops, who supervised parish priests, managed larger churches called cathedrals. By the 1100s, communities used new technology to build huge cathedrals in the ornate, buttressed form known as Gothic style. These magnificent buildings were a source of pride to the communities that built them. Cities all over Europe competed to build grander, taller cathedrals. Members of the Church contributed to money, labor, and skills to help build these monuments glorifying their god.

Monastic Life:

Under the Benectine Rule, monks and nuns took three vows. The first was obedience to the abbot and abbess who headed the monastery or convent. The second was poverty, and the third was chastity, or purity. Each day was divided into periods for worship, work, and study. Benedict required munks to work in the fields or at other physical tasks. As part of their labor monks and nuns cleared and drained land and experimented with crops. Because they developed better agricultural methods, they helped improve the economy of the Middle Ages, which was based on farming.

Monks and nuns looked after the poor and sick and set schools for children. They gave food and lodging to travelers, especially Christian pilgrims traveling to holy shrines. Some monks and nuns became missionaries. These missionaries spread Christianity throughout western and central Europe during the Middle Ages.

Monasteries and convents also performed a vital role in keeping learning alive. Their libraries contained Greek and Roman works, which monks and nuns copied as a form of labor. Educated monks and nuns also wrote and taught Latin, which was the language of the church and educated people.

The Church’s Role in Society & Religious Authority and Political Power

The medieval Christian Church was dedicated to the worship of God. At the same time, Christians believed that all people were sinners and that many were doomed in eternal suffering. To avoid the tortures of hell, one had to do good works, believe in Jesus as the son of God, and participate in the sacraments. Because the Church administered the sacraments and could deny them as punishment, it had absolute power in religious matters. Anyone who disobeyed Church law faced a range of penalties. The most severe and terrifying was excommunication. Those who were excommunicated could not receive the sacraments or Christian burial, which condemned them to hell for eternity. A powerful noble who opposed the Church could face interdict, an order excluding an entire town, region or kingdom from receiving most sacraments and Christian burial.

A Force for Peace

The Church tried to use its great authority to end warfare among nobles. It declared periods of temporary peace known as the Truce of God. It demanded that fighting stop between Friday and Sunday each week and on religious holidays. Such efforts may have contributed to the decline of warfare in Europe during the 1100s.

The Church Dominated Medieval Life

During the early Middle Ages, the Church’s most important achievement was converting the diverse peoples of Western Europe to Christianity. In 597, Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons in England. From Britain, later missionaries went back to the continent to spread their faith among Germanic tribes. By the late Middle Ages, Western Europe had become a Christian civilization. Anyone who did not belong to the church community was viewed with suspicion.

The Role of the Parish

Christian rituals and faith were part of the fabric of everyday life. In villages, the priest of the parish, or local region, was often the only contact people had with the Church. The priest celebrated the mass and administered the sacraments, the sacred rites of the Church. Christians believed that participation in the sacraments would lead them to salvation, or everlasting life with God. priests also preached the teachings of the Church and explained the Christian Bible, which was in Latin only. They guided people on morality and offered assistance to the sick and needy. In the later Middle Ages, some parish priests ran schools.

The Importance of the Village Church

The church was a social construct as well as a place of worship because it was often the largest public building in a village. Daily life revolved around the Christian calendar, which included many holidays, such as Easter, and local holy days dedicated to saints. The main events of each person’s life took place at the church. Baptism marked entrance into the community, marriages were performed on the church steps, and the dead were buried in the churchyard.

Villages took pride in their church buildings and decorated them with care. In later medieval times, prosperous communities built stone churches rather than wooden ones. Some churches housed relics, which could be possessions or remains of saints. Many people made pilgrimages, or religious journeys, to pray before the relics. The Church required Christians to pay a tithe, or tax equal to a tenth of their income. In the early Middle Ages, the tithe supported the local parish. Later, increasing amounts of money were sent to Rome.

Church Attitudes Toward Women

Church doctrine taught that men and women were equal before God. But on Earth, women were viewed as weak and easily led into sin. Thus, they needed the guidance of men. At the same time, the Church offered a view of the ideal woman in Mary, whom the Church believed to be the modest and pure mother of Jesus. Many churches were dedicated to the “mother of God” and “queen of heaven”. Men and women asked Mary to pray to God on their behalf.

On one hand, the Church tried to protect women, it set a minimum age for marriage, church courts could fine men who seriously injured their wives. Yet they often punished women more harshly than men for similar offences.

Pope Gregory I

The Role of the Church in Medieval Europe

The church was the center of medieval life in western Europe. Almost every village and town had a church building. Larger towns and cities had a cathedral. Church bells rang out the hours, called people to worship, and warned of danger.

The church building was the center of community activity. Religious services were held several times a day. Town meetings, plays, and concerts were also held in churches. Merchants had shops around the square in front of the church. Farmers sold their produce in the square. Markets, festivals, and fairs were all held in the shadow of the church’s spires (towers).

During the Middle Ages, the church provided education for some, and it helped the poor and sick. The church was a daily presence throughout a person’s life, from birth to death. In fact, religion was so much a part of daily life that people determined the proper time to cook eggs by saying a certain number of prayers!

People also looked to the church to explain world events. Storms, disease, and famine were thought to be punishments sent by God. people hoped prayer and religious devotion would keep away such disasters. They were even more concerned about the fate of their souls after death. The church taught that salvation, or the saving of a person’s soul, would come to those who followed the church’s teachings.

Source: Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: A History of the World From the Beginnings of Humankind to the Present

Authors: Robert Tignor, Jeremy Adelman, Stephen Aran, Peter Brown et al.

©️2008 New York W&W Norton & Co.

What Was Christian Europe?

In this era, Catholicism became a mass faith, a transformation that shaped the emergence of the region then coming to be known by some as “Europe.” The Christianity of post-Roman Europe had been a religion of monks, and its most dynamic centers were great monasteries. Members of the laity were expected to revere and support their monks, nuns, and clergy, but they were not encouraged to imitate them. By 1200, all this had changed. The internal colonization of western Europe--the clearing of woods and the founding of villages--ensured that parish churches arose in all but the wildest landscapes. Their spires could be seen and their bells could be heard from one valley to the next. The graveyards around the churches were the only places where a good Christian could be buried; criminals and outlaws were piled into “heathen” graces outside the cemetery walls. Even the bones of the believers helped make Europe Christian.

The clergy reached more deeply into the private lives of the laity. For the first time in Christian history, marriage and divorce (which had been treated, by aristocrats and peasants alike, as family matters over which the clergy had no jurisdiction) became a full-time preoccupation of the church. Sin, for instance, was no longer dealt with as an offense that just happened to the laity. It was a matter that the laity could do something about, preferably on a day-to-day basis. After 1215, for the first time ever, regular confession to a priest was made obligatory for all Catholic, western Christians. The followers of Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)--a man from a merchant background, whose father traded wool in northern France--emerged as an order of preachers who brought to the towns a message of repentance. They did not tell their audiences to enter the monastery (as would have been the case in the early Middle Ages). Instead, the listeners were to weep, to confess their sins to their local priests, and to try to be better Christians. Franciscans instilled in the hearts of all believers a new, Europe-wise Catholicism, based on daily remorse and on the daily contemplation of the sufferings of Christ and his mother, Mary. From Ireland to Riga and Budapest, Catholic Christians shared a common piety.