Transcript File - Mr. C at Hamilton

The Dark Ages
The Kingdom of the Franks
 Charlemagne (742-814AD)
 In 771, Charlemagne became king of the Franks.
 He embarked on a mission to unite all Germanic
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peoples into one kingdom, and convert his subjects to
Christianity.
A skilled military strategist, he spent much of his reign
engaged in warfare in order to accomplish his goals.
In 800, Pope Leo III (750-816) crowned Charlemagne
emperor of the Romans.
Considered the “father of Europe”.
When he died in 814, Charlemagne’s empire
encompassed much of Western Europe, and he had
also ensured the survival of Christianity in the West.
The Kingdom of the Franks
 Charlemagne (742-814AD)
 Most importantly…
The Kingdom of the Franks
 Charlemagne (742-814AD)
 Most importantly…
 He encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, a cultural
and intellectual revival in Europe.
The Kingdom of the Franks
 Charlemagne (742-814AD)
 Most importantly…
 He encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, a cultural
and intellectual revival in Europe.
 How did he do this?
 And what did he do exactly?
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 Monastic life
 Influence on the Carolingian Renaissance
 Growth in power and authority
 (potestas & auctoritas)
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 Monastic life
 μοναχός (monachos) = “alone“
 μόνος = one
 In the beginning, in Egypt, Christians felt called to a
more reclusive or eremitic form of monastic living
(in the spirit of the "Desert Theology" for the
purpose of spiritual renewal and return to God).
 Saint Anthony the Great is cited by Athanasius as
one of these early "Hermit monks".
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 It began to develop early in the history of the
Church, but is not mandated as an institution in the
scriptures.
 It has come to be regulated by religious rules
 (e.g. the Rule of St Basil, the Rule of St Benedict)
 The Christian monk embraces the monastic life as a
vocation for God.
 His goal is to attain eternal life in his presence.
 The rules of monastic life are codified in the
"counsels of perfection".
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 By the ninth century, however, the Benedictine had
become the standard form of monastic life
throughout the whole of Western Europe, excepting
Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, where the Celtic
observance still prevailed for another century or two.
 Largely through the work of Benedict of Aniane, it
became the rule of choice for monasteries
throughout the Carolingian empire.
 Although Benedictines do not take a vow of silence,
hours of strict silence are set, and at other time silence
is maintained as much as is practically possible.
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 They continued the tradition of community life with
its common prayer, reading, and work.
 Some of the monasteries were founded as centers of
evangelization of peoples; others carried on a
program of education, art and architecture, and the
making of manuscripts.
 But after the empire fell, they began a slow but
steady decline in scholarship.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 The Simple and Solemn Vows
 Upon entering the monastery, all candidates took a
vow of obedience.
 Their initial period, the postulancy, lasted for one
month.
 After one month, the period of novitiate began,
lasting one year.
 Following successful completion of the novitiate
period, monks took their simple vows.
 After four years of practice and service, the solemn
vows were taken, and the full member of the
monastery remained a monk, and a member, for the
duration of his life.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 The Simple and Solemn Vows
 While many different orders of monks arose during
the Middle Ages, the Benedictine monks remained
the most common.
 Final, or solemn, vows for monks could vary from
one order to another, but they typically included the
three solemn vows of the Benedictines: the vows
of…
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 The Simple and Solemn Vows
 While many different orders of monks arose during
the Middle Ages, the Benedictine monks remained
the most common.
 Final, or solemn, vows for monks could vary from
one order to another, but they typically included the
three solemn vows of the Benedictines: the vows
of…
 obedience,
 chastity, and
 poverty.
Why?
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 The Simple and Solemn Vows
 The vow of obedience ensured Middle Ages monks
would obey any directives given to them, abide by
the rules of the monastery, and perform the chores
and duty necessary to the continued running of the
monastery.
 The vow of poverty precluded monks from the
possibility of owning land or property of any kind.
 The vow of chastity was strict, and was designed to
prevent monks from giving in to what were
considered base urges of lust.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 Religious faith was a critical component in the daily
life of everyone.
 Daily prayer rituals were customary, often several
times a day, particularly at mealtimes. Religion and
spiritual faith held great sway over most individuals
of the time, who sought to live their lives in service
of God.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 The life of a monk was not a simple one either, but
life in the monastery afforded individuals so inclined
an opportunity to escape the tedium or drudgery of
work on a manor or estate and avoid unnecessary
military conflicts.
 BIG DEAL!!!!!!
 Monkhood was available to members of every class
who chose to pursue it.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 Daily Routines
 A monastery was a wholly self-sufficient community,
meaning monks had no reason to ever leave its
boundaries once they had taken their vows.
 Monks, therefore, fulfilled a number of different
roles based upon their own training, interests, and
skills. Some monks specialized in medical care,
others in education, still others in arts or finance.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 Daily Routines
ora et labora
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 All work being performed ceased immediately when
prayer times arrived. Middle Ages monks returned
to their prior activities following prayer sessions.
 All daily tasks, work, study, and meals needed to be
fitted in around the designated prayer times,
creating a regimented and disciplined lifestyle for all
monks in the monastery.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 Middle Ages monks were expected to have no need
of leaving the monastery at any time for any reason.
The monastery was designed to meet any needs the
monks who resided there could have.
 Monasteries provided education, spiritual
sustenance, food, medical care, barber services, and
any material possessions necessary for survival.
It's a hard-monk life – for us.
 Monks spent much of their time engaged in the daily
prayer rituals and private meditation, Bible study,
and prayer.
 However, the bulk of their days revolved around the
manual work assigned to them in order to keep the
monastery running smoothly.
 This could include harvesting crops, cleaning,
creating garments, providing educational and
medical services, and cooking and preparing food
for the order.
So what happened?
 All work being performed ceased immediately when
prayer times arrived. Middle Ages monks returned
to their prior activities following prayer sessions.
 All daily tasks, work, study, and meals needed to be
fitted in around the designated prayer times,
creating a regimented and disciplined lifestyle for all
monks in the monastery.
 As with all things, with the fall of the empire,
monastic learning and life deteriorated as well.
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 Influence on the Carolingian Renaissance
 Where does it start?
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 Influence on the Carolingian Renaissance
 Where does it start?
 St Patrick (390-461AD) probably mostly true.
 Born among the Christians of west Briton.
 Captured by pirates.
 Sold into slavery in Ireland.
 Sounds like the Princess Bride.
 Escapes to Gaul and studies at the Monasteries.
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 St Patrick (390-461AD) probably mostly true.
 Goes back to Ireland and spreads Christianity
(Catholicism).
 Sets up and organizes monasteries
 Grow and develop a writing style with rules.
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 St Patrick (390-461AD) probably mostly true.
 Goes back to Ireland and spreads Christianity
(Catholicism).
 Sets up and organizes monasteries
 Grow and develop a writing style with rules.
Charlemagne & the Church
 As part of his reforms, demands educated monks
and priests.
 Requires the promotion of reading and writing.
 Encourages the copying of manuscripts.
Charlemagne & the Church
The Roman (Catholic) Church
 Growth in power and authority
 (potestas & auctoritas)
 Next week.