The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages can be referred to as an "innovation" time in history. Major influences from the Roman Catholic church helped establish authority and influence throughout Europe. New knowledge formed about history, architecture, medicine, science, and society. After the reform of the Roman catholic church, the pope and the priests held a dominating authority for the people. Friars spread the word about the ideas of the church and its background and worked in converting many people into their religion. Can this be seen as a Theocratic strategy? Many people followed the faith of god by praying in small churches or large churches (cathedrals) in the city. Cathedrals were seen as the "city of god" because of the visual appearance of "richness" it could offer for Christians. They were first built in the Romanesque style with round arches and roofs held by thick walls and pillars.

Romanesque Church
(Tum Collegiate Church in Poland)

Growing wealth in the Roman Catholic church and a change in spirits allowed for the new architectural Gothic influence in their churches to be built during the 1100's. Gothic Cathedrals were built several feet higher than Romanesque Cathedrals as well. Arts from the Medieval world were present in their large stained glass windows and the way their cathedrals reached up to the sky. These new architectural ideas were done in order to further influence the people about the holy significance of god but perhaps into a more visual perspective.

                                                                (Cathedral of Notre Dame at night)

The Crusades

The beginning of the crusaders started in 1093, when the Byzantine emperor in Constantinople asked for help against the Muslims who wanted to take over Constantinople. Pope Urban II was fairly interested in the "holy land" (Palestine) and so he launched a series of crusades to take it over. Crusaders had they're religion as a motive for war and their goals were to bring success for their economy, society, and politicians. Pope Urban II influenced the crusaders by telling them that they'd be serving their religion well and if they happened to die, they would still end up in heaven. I believe this is the second Theocratic strategy! Red crosses would be sewed on and common men under the "God wills it" belief would become crusaders. The crusaders made four attempts in conquering the holy land but failed all. 

                                                                Pope Urban II

(Crusaders)


The "Black Plague"

The Bubonic Plague, often referred to as the "Black Plague" began in the 1300's and is said to have originated in Asia. Theories suggest it came from the Mongols. After conquering a territory or completely wiping out a population, the decaying bodies would be left there until passing travelers would come across them in their travels, thus carrying with them the beginning of the Bubonic plague. One third of the population died in Europe as a result of the epidemic. People were left baffled and frightened because of the fast growing disease that had no cure at the time and no knowledge of the originating cause for it. In Western Europe, over 20-25 million people died and 25 million people died in China and India. Societies were destroyed as a result of the disease; the population of people decreased, trade became short which made prices rise, the church lost followers and priests when the prayers weren't answered to stop the Bubonic plague, and many Jews were blamed for the spread of the disease. Many people were superstitious and blamed the cause of the Bubonic Plague as a punishment from god or a devil for their sins. People would spend their entire days at church praying and confessing their sins to god in hope that they'd be saved. Many also blamed the Jews for the plague and they were forced to leave their homes and sometimes even killed. Funny ideas were brought up of how one should avoid the Bubonic Plague like; avoid opening windows in a northward direction, and hard work and sleeping during the day should not be done because it would only advance the spread of the disease. Needless to say, the disease was able to spread very quickly because of rats. Because both the streets and people were often unsanitary, it became much easier for someone to come in contact and catch the disease.