Christendom

By the later Middle Ages, the gods of the Romans, Greeks, and Celts had long since been forgotten, and Christianity became the faith of almost all of the people of Western Europe. People did not think of Europe as a distinct place until after the Middle Ages had passed. Instead they spoke of "Christendom," or the community of Christians. Christianity was the most important influence of the Middle Ages in Western Europe.

Religious life attracted many people during the Middle Ages. The Church was often the only way to get an education. It also allowed poor people to escape a dreary life and possibly rise to power. Religious workers are called clergy. In the Middle Ages, the Pope ruled the Christian Church in Western Europe. Other clergy included bishops, priests, nuns, and monks.

Monks were men who lived in monasteries. Monasteries were small communities of religious workers. Monks devoted their lives to prayer, and their behavior influenced the entire church. Monasteries produced many well-educated men prepared to serve as administrators for uneducated kings and lords. Monks were responsible for keeping the Greek and Latin "classical" cultures alive. Monks also copied books by hand in an era before the printing press. Though few in number, monks played a significant role in the Middle Ages.

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