Germanic verses Christian Influence on Medieval Europe
The middle ages was a time period of unprecedented change, hallmarking a new and revolutionary medieval Europe. During this age, Christian and Germanic influences both played a major role in creating and sustaining Europe. From England to the Holy Roman Empire to the edge of the Byzantine Empire, the impacts of both religion and culture were intermingled into Medieval European social structures, political powers, and daily life. However, the impact one of these powers was much stronger and everlasting than the other. The influence of Christian religion affected Medieval Europe by creating an international political struggle through The Crusades, reorganizing social classes with the addition …show more content…
One of the largest influences of Christians on the medieval ages was the rise of great cathedrals. These cathedrals, often located at the center of cities, represented Christian faith in unseen, magnificent detail. From the stained glass windows to the intricate stone sculptures to even the gravity-defying flying buttresses, each part of a cathedral told its own unique story related to the Bible or foundation of Christianity. These buildings became a vital part of urban life as they were communal places, as well as physical representation of the “amounts of wealth, efforts, and design” the people of that town had” (Pavlac, 168). Some citizens and lords went so far in their devotion that the ended up “competing with neighbors and other communities to have the best possible church” (Pavlac, 170). Another representation of the expression of Christian religion that came along with great cathedrals were universities. University and colleges became places where citizens could go to receive basic education on topics such as medicine, law, and philosophy. In addition, colleges and universities revitalize the foundation of knowledge in the middle ages which was lost in ignorance during the earlier dark middle ages. The clergy also benefited from universities by using it as an outlet for cultural teachings, such as the …show more content…
In the medieval ages, Christianity became a supranational form of governance as it dictated social structures and laws. One of the largest examples of this was the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta, also known as the Great Charter, was a “treaty between the king, the clergy, the barons, and the townspeople of England (that) accepted royal authority” (Pavlac, 153). Although the Magna Carta was influenced by several groups of people, the Church was able to heavily influence the laws included. Many of these laws have direct ties back to Christian social and cultural beliefs. This agreement between church and state eventually led to becoming the law of the land. A prime example of how the growth of Christianity affected Germanic law can be seen in The Ordeal of the Hot Iron. A person accused of a crime was to have a hot iron placed on their hands. After a period of three days, "if festering blood (was) found in the track of the iron, he (was) judged guilty" (Good, #129). This excerpt directly represents how the faith Christians had in their own beliefs influenced their legal systems. Although the tradition of the hot iron was eventually removed by the church, this extreme example is one of many ways Christian beliefs became implemented into law and government during the middle
The middle ages was a time period of unprecedented change, hallmarking a new and revolutionary medieval Europe. During this age, Christian and Germanic influences both played a major role in creating and sustaining Europe. From England to the Holy Roman Empire to the edge of the Byzantine Empire, the impacts of both religion and culture were intermingled into Medieval European social structures, political powers, and daily life. However, the impact one of these powers was much stronger and everlasting than the other. The influence of Christian religion affected Medieval Europe by creating an international political struggle through The Crusades, reorganizing social classes with the addition …show more content…
One of the largest influences of Christians on the medieval ages was the rise of great cathedrals. These cathedrals, often located at the center of cities, represented Christian faith in unseen, magnificent detail. From the stained glass windows to the intricate stone sculptures to even the gravity-defying flying buttresses, each part of a cathedral told its own unique story related to the Bible or foundation of Christianity. These buildings became a vital part of urban life as they were communal places, as well as physical representation of the “amounts of wealth, efforts, and design” the people of that town had” (Pavlac, 168). Some citizens and lords went so far in their devotion that the ended up “competing with neighbors and other communities to have the best possible church” (Pavlac, 170). Another representation of the expression of Christian religion that came along with great cathedrals were universities. University and colleges became places where citizens could go to receive basic education on topics such as medicine, law, and philosophy. In addition, colleges and universities revitalize the foundation of knowledge in the middle ages which was lost in ignorance during the earlier dark middle ages. The clergy also benefited from universities by using it as an outlet for cultural teachings, such as the …show more content…
In the medieval ages, Christianity became a supranational form of governance as it dictated social structures and laws. One of the largest examples of this was the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta, also known as the Great Charter, was a “treaty between the king, the clergy, the barons, and the townspeople of England (that) accepted royal authority” (Pavlac, 153). Although the Magna Carta was influenced by several groups of people, the Church was able to heavily influence the laws included. Many of these laws have direct ties back to Christian social and cultural beliefs. This agreement between church and state eventually led to becoming the law of the land. A prime example of how the growth of Christianity affected Germanic law can be seen in The Ordeal of the Hot Iron. A person accused of a crime was to have a hot iron placed on their hands. After a period of three days, "if festering blood (was) found in the track of the iron, he (was) judged guilty" (Good, #129). This excerpt directly represents how the faith Christians had in their own beliefs influenced their legal systems. Although the tradition of the hot iron was eventually removed by the church, this extreme example is one of many ways Christian beliefs became implemented into law and government during the middle