...------------------------------------------------- How does the role of a priest within medieval Christianity compare to the role of an imam in medieval Islam? In order to fully compare the roles of a medieval priest and a medieval imam, it is necessary to fully analyse their purpose as a leader within their religion, their influence upon the people of that religion in terms of their relationship with God and also to acknowledge their irreligious purpose in medieval life. Between the two, it is perhaps easy to argue that the role of a medieval priest is far greater than that of a medieval imam, but before this conclusion is jumped to, it is important to ensure both roles are looked at anachronistically due to the ever-changing nature of religion. In order to answer this question it is important to view the roles of a priest and an imam, not individually but in regard to the other to find a true comparison. In terms of looking at a medieval priest, perhaps one of the most important things for contemporaries is that essentially, the priest was representative of god, hence in a time of deep-seated spiritualism, his role was vital to any community, and placed him and his clergy amongst the first estate, the most important in society. This idea of a representation of God comes form his specific acts that he could partake in, particularly the role to ‘absolve men and women of their sins for the act of confession’. Obviously this was incredibly important, and if we consider this...
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...Feudalism was a new social order during Medieval Japan and Europe. Even though, the two regions shared a similarilly structured system, they also had many critical differences. Perhaps, the greatest of these differences was the impact of religion on Feudal Europe. Western Europe and Japan shared many similarities during Medieval times. Both societies had little social mobility. Generation after generation followed the same profession. Warriors were the most important class in both societies. They provided protection and conquered new territories. Neither country had a strong central government. Communities were small and scattered. The citizens were largely left alone as long as their taxes were paid. Nobles were present in...
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...The Role of the Church in the Development of Modern Medicine throughout the Middle Ages During the Middle Ages, the culture and society of Europe and the Western world was under the control of the Church. The religious aspects of medieval European peoples were a great consideration in the matters of the body and health care. The majority of medical knowledge and research was under the influence and followed the expressed ideas of the Church. As the hold of the Church on society began to disintegrate, medicine was able to move from medieval practices influenced by religious belief into modern medicine, based upon observation and evidence. Causes of disease and illness were now understood and scientists were able to start searching for cures because restrictions that prevented modern medical theories from being discovered were lifted. Paracelsus discovered that agents outside the body caused illness. The study of the human anatomy was now practiced and became an essential part of medical knowledge, giving way towards new modern advancements such as blood transfusions and surgeries. Da Vinci conducted many autopsies and constructed detailed drawings of the human anatomy, which had never been studied earlier. Medical knowledge was no longer different and divided into sects but was now centralized under the modern scientific teachings taught to doctors in universities everywhere. As the culture of the Middle Ages moved away from the Church and religion so did scientific knowledge...
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...SHORT PAPER 1 Women’s Role in Medieval Society Southern New Hampshire University SHORT PAPER 1 Discussion Sadly in Medieval Ages women had a secondary role to men. A women in medieval time life was torn between marriage, religion and family. A women’s forced concern during these times were procreation. In medieval times a person’s family was so large that the role for a woman was to be a good mother and a good wife. If a women attempted emancipation they were shunned by the church for betraying the man which in turn control public opinion (The Role of Women, 2009). Also for women that attempted to fight back against the conditions that there husband and society placed on them would fall victim to chastising by the church and would be victims of abuse from not only their husbands but also their society. Sadly the only way for a women to be safe was to please the husband. The women during these times always been made to look inferior and weak compared to men for the status quo could remain in effect which was created by the church. The women during these times were taught to provide meals, clothes for husband and children, and tending on the house. Some women during these times would be forced to sell products to provide extra income for the household and on top of providing extra income they would still be forced to do all the work they require of a wife. Women during medieval times had little to no rights if they were...
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...senses, our surroundings and the roles we play within them that determine our beliefs, behaviors, and teachings. Through this lens, it is beneficial to view a society as a map, and its peoples’ practices, standards, and conduct as their means of direction, allowing them to transport to their designated place in society and perform tasks expected of them. However, a map only represents an abstraction of reality, portraying only the necessary points, lines, and information required to fulfill its purpose, and the directions used to travel this map are products of this abstraction. Similarly, people’s perception of the society they inhabit are abstract, and entirely dependent on the eyes of the perceivers; so, the norms regarding beliefs and behavior are also products of an abstraction, and can be adjusted in response to varying contexts. This assertion has arguably held true for all of time, and can help explain the indisputable relationship between religion, culture, and society that has materialized throughout history. In particular, the development and discourse of medieval Kabbalah is attributable to the cultural context of the medieval times, specifically in Southern France and Spain, and the Jewish people’s response to their perceived role and place on this particular map. These times were dominated by Christian and Muslim rule, and rabbinic Judaism was consequently deemed inferior due to the heavy influence of claims made by these religions. While a map cannot be rewritten...
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...The medieval system used authority figures to show their full power to potential criminals throughout history. Justice and hell is directly related to heaven and is heavily influenced by the church doctrine of sin and punishment. In Dante’s epic work, he takes us through a journey of hell to show what that experience was like. The overall experience, sin, and punishment offers the stories detail in many diverse ways allowing stories to be compared to the medieval code in the middle ages to how Dante describes it. There are differences and similarities when using Cantos V, XI, and XII. Roman traditions accounted further to the application of the doctrine, however brutality and punishment in regards to the medieval code was effectively portrayed in Dante’s stories. The crime should equally fit the punishment when using the punishment system since “each sin has a debt” that had to be paid back (Shuger 567). Myers also mentioned “organs or parts involved were treated as being responsible” (Myers 42). The...
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...Although Japan and England are very far apart they still have many traits in common. Especially on the topic of Feudalism, which is a political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, holding of land, and military service. Japanese Feudalism and Medieval Feudalism have many similarities, like they both have four divisions that have similar responsibilities, but they also have differences, like their reasoning of creating this social hierarchy. Japanese and Medieval Feudalism have many things alike. For example both have four divisions in their society, and they both have similar roles. Japan’s four groups are Shoguns, Daimyo, Samurai, and Peasants. The Medical’s four groups are the King, Lords, Knights, and Serfs. At the top of both...
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...of both cities and the rise of Macedonia as the dominant power in the region. Eventually, the social structure in the Classical Period became somewhat of a democracy and an open society which we have emulated in the United States (“History of Greece: Classical Greece”, 2014). Many other wars occurred over the course of the Classical Period, and this culture of war contributed to the realism of the art of the time. The brutality of war and the effects it had on Greek society inspired artists to focus on man, rational thinking, and logic (“History of Greece: Classical Greece”, 2014). Greek artists in the 5th century, BC began to realistically imitate humans and animals through art (Boardman, 2012). These Greek artists gained a better understanding of anatomy and the human body’s mechanics, giving them the ability to realistically render the human form in multiple positions without appearing awkward. Logic was valued over emotion in sculptures. This means that facial expressions were typically emotionless, unless the person/deity being portrayed was considered barbaric, in which case, emotional characteristics took over the face of the sculpture (“History of Greece: Classical Greece”, 2014). The Middle Ages The time period of the Middle Ages fell between the 5th and 15th centuries. Although medieval life is glamorized by film, life in this time period was not as...
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...New Art Forms of the High Middle Ages Throughout history Europe has experienced countless changes in culture and other aspects. The Middle Ages, or Medieval Period, lasted from around 800 into the 1400’s (349). This period can be subdivided into three categories: early, high, and late. The Middle Ages brought about changes in religion, law, and daily life. Changes also occurred in the arts with the introduction of Gothic architecture and troubadour poetry. Although the Middle Ages began as a time of violence, the emergence of Gothic architecture and troubadour poetry are examples of devotion and expression. During the tenth and eleventh centuries cathedrals were constructed (367). The style of the cathedrals resembled Roman architecture, which was the preceding time period. (367). Features of Roman architecture included “massive walls, rounded stones arches, and small windows” (367). By the twelfth century, this new style gained the name “Gothic.” The Gothic style introduced new engineering improvements and emphasized more emotional expression. The structures of Gothic architecture consisted of pointed arches, high ceilings, and flying buttresses (367). A flying buttress carried the weight of the roof. “Midieval Archtechture” states: “The walls of Gothic buildings could be thinner than previous styles of architecture because the weight of the roof was supported by the arches rather than by the walls. The pointed Gothic arch provided greater flexibility could also span...
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...University Professor Clarke-Peterson Outline/Proposal on Dark Ages I. Introduction and Thesis The Dark Ages refer to the medieval period in the studies of humanity. The general duration of the early Dark Ages is considered to be from 450-1000 century (CE). It is believed that the fall of Roman Empire brought about an age of “barbarism and religion” (Gibbon 18th CE). This era, compared to both the pre-dark ages and the post-dark ages, Renaissance, witnessed no significant scientific innovations, no great art produced, and no valiant emperors or leaders ruling the early medieval Europe (Middle Ages, n.d.). These are the major factors which led to the coining of the phrase Dark Ages by Petrarch, the great Italian scholar, in the 14th CE (Wikipedia). This proposal is about the vital role of flourishing Irish social order, in the Dark Ages, in the re-conversion of Europe to Christianity. II. In the Dark Ages, when the entire Europe was reeling under barbarism, the Irish social order was flourishing. * The Romans had never invaded Ireland, and thus it remained unaffected by the downfall deteriorating the social order of rest of Europe (Eaton & McCaffrey, 2002). * While the entire Europe was victimized by the Dark Ages, the Irish monks were the torch-bearers of luminous beam of civilization (O’Connor & Steves, 2014). * In the Dark Ages, religion was one binding force that kept the hopes of people alive. While Barbarism was thriving in Europe, Ireland was flourishing...
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...The start of Western Civilization can be traced back to the East where people in Mesopotamia and Egypt developed organized societies and created the ideas and institutions that we connect to civilization. Greeks and Romans also played a big role in the development and were fed and influenced by these older societies in the East. Around 3000 B.C., people in Mesopotamia and Egypt began to develop cities and deal with the problems of states. In order to deal with the problems they developed writing to keep records which then created text. Our memory of humans began with these two civilizations. Many things lead up to the creation of the dynamic western culture, a few of those being religion in egypt, the fall of rome, the creation of new european...
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...Jewish people’s relations to the majority in the medieval Christendom In “The Wandering Arm”, Sharan Newman brings the readers back to the 12th century Paris, France by utilizing her vivid imagination. By creating complex relationships among both Christian and Jewish characters, we observed how Jewish people behave themselves in a Christian dominated world. Among all the Jewish characters, Hubert is the one with most complicated feeling toward his Jewish identity. Hubert was born as a Jew, but the crusaders killed all his sisters and mother when the latter attacked Rouen. Hubert’s neighbor adopted him and baptized him, and later let him become a Christian merchant. (Newman, page 49) Even though most people regard him as Christian, (only few people know his real identity and relationship with Eliazar) inside his heart, he always wanted to become a Jew. When Abbot Sugar offers wine to Hubert, Hubert felt guilty and accept the wine. (Newman, page 78) When he heard Prior Herve’s statement about Jewish people, he “forced his teeth to unclench.” (Newman, page 49). In addition, Hubert secretly attends the Sabbath in the synagogue. (Newman, page 63) Hubert’s role represents Jewish people who were forced to abandon their faith and become the Christian. For these people, the only choice they may have is to continue act as Christians, and hide their faith inside their hearts, without letting others know, even close family members. Once Hubert tell the truth about his identity to his...
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...definitive in the meaning of chivalry-with Maurice Keen believing it to be a ‘word elusive of definition’- it came to denote the culture of a martial estate which ‘regarded war as its hereditary profession’. Thus, it could be considered that the violence of war had large implications on what people began to perceive to be chivalry. Additionally, the focus on violence- such as the participating in tournaments and jousts- further emphasises the close link between carrying out violent acts and the idea that a knight was being chivalrous. However, there were alternative influences, such as literature written in the period, which presented people with a chivalric ideal that they may then have come to define it by and thus strive towards. Similarly, religion may be seen to have influenced what came to be viewed as chivalry as through ecclesiastical critiques of the noble class, derived the knights desire to adopt what the Church deemed proper Christian conduct. Ultimately it is likely that it was not simply war and violence, but a combination of these influences which culminated in the definition of what people of the period perceived to be chivalry. It is evident that war and violence were seen as intrinsic elements of chivalry. The idea that chivalry was synonymous with bloodshed and violence may be seen to have derived from the concept being centered on prowess in the art of fighting. This is largely due to the fact that chivalry was essentially an aristocratic ethos largely confined...
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...demonic possession was a common occurrence, explained predominantly through religion and psychiatry. Demonic spirits were known to inflict the mind and cause an individual to act out of the ordinary. Although possession is more commonly associated with mental illness in today’s world, it can still be seen in modern religion and psychiatry. However, emphasis on the church was much more popular in early modern Europe, as it was believed that any individual who was possessed was in dire need of an exorcism from a priest. This alludes to the importance and authority of the church during this time period. Furthermore, a gender bias existed in regard to demonic possession and exorcisms, as it was far more likely for a woman to be declared possessed than a man. This study looks at the concept of demonic possession in early modern Europe and argues that during the Reformation Era, both Catholics and Protestants utilized the concept of demonic possession to legitimize their religion to society and their respective followers. Religious conflict during the sixteenth and seventeenth century helped to cement the...
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...The Tempest written during the 1600s by one of the most influential writers of his time, William Shakespeare, takes us deep in to the Renaissance, in which questions of religion and man’s place in the world were the cause of much conflict. There are many insinuations that the character of Prospero is a cover for Shakespeare himself and through the protagonist, Shakespeare voices some of his views about the world he was living in. Along with themes of power, men and control, colonization also seems to be a main focus of Shakespeare throughout The Tempest, as almost every character ponders upon how he would rule the island on which the play is set if he were its king. Dr Faustus was written during the reign of England’s Queen Elizabeth I by Christopher Marlowe. It focuses on the main character, Dr Faustus, selling his soul to the devil in exchange for all the luxuries the world has to offer “twenty-four years of all voluptuousness.” Both plays present men questing for power and have left their mark on the modern world of literature. Shakespeare highlights the dominant themes power and control through the characters of Prospero and Antonio. Throughout the play many of the characters are in constant battle for power and freedom sometimes resulting in them succumbing to malevolent deeds. Prospero personifies the imperialist omnipotent ruler as he enslaves Caliban son of Sycorax and rightful ruler of the island. He uses the informal pronoun and pejorative phrase “thou most lying...
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