The Church: The Classical Period and the Middle Ages

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the Christian Church from the medieval times to the classical period. It explores the European society formed by the Church beginning in the year 1100 A.D. The paper describes that the Church enabled social mobility, participation in government, the growth of literature, and territorial expansion through warfare. The paper demonstrates that the Church held centralized religious power in contrast to religion's role in the Greek and Roman society, where the state and its citizens ruled.

From the Paper:

"Religion has always been present in civilizations; however, its position and influence on societies has greatly differed. This difference is exemplified by contrasting the religious institutions of the classical world with the medieval period. By and large, the Greeks and Romans had no structured places of worship, leaving their mode of praise to the confines of their homes. By not having a centralized institution of worship, their religion did not have an organized power structure. As time progressed, the beliefs of the classical period faded and a new religion emerged, Christianity. The proliferation of Christianity throughout Europe in the waning of the classical world and the onset of the Middle Ages brought about the establishment of the Church. With the strong worldview of Christianity, the Church became a central entity and greatly contributed to the shaping of a new civilization that was very different from the classical period. The Church gave definition and direction to this era by providing social mobility, participation and perpetuation of government, the preservation and growth of literature, and espoused and justified expansion through warfare."

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