Reading Guide In the Middle Ages, Western Europeans were held together by the Christian faith.

Why do you think the church was able to unify people during this time? Most people could understant what was going on and how to deal with it. Most people wanted to be under the protection of God. They also wanted something to help them to get through the day and have hope to live another day. That is why the people turned to Christianity for hope.

Complete the rest of this sheet while you read Chapter 8, from the beginning to Treasures of Faith: The Romanesque Style, pages 543 to 546. As you read, list all of the ways in which the Christian church influenced life in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. Think about how the church, in its structure and power, affected the average person during his life. How did the church offer hope to people during these times? What powers did the church have?

Doing service for the chruch Helping people out when they needed it. Going to chruch twice a week.

 The nobles helped out by donating lots of money to help the chruch build more cathedrals. Popes would tell his Archbishops and tell them what to do Archbishops would give directions to the Bishops. Bishops would then have authority to direct orders to the priest. the Priest would then direct clarks and deacons who held the records and assit in the church. People could be judged fairly accournding to the Chruch if the person was founded guilty then would have to either do sevice for the church or give time. the Chruch had power over the people and other things. The people had go and what to do and how to do it.

Thomas Aquinas: A Great Thinker Read the sidebar on Thomas Aquinas on page 545. Paraphrase what you read in a short paragraph that tells who Thomas Aquinas is and what he is famous for.

Thomas Aquinas was at first a priest in the year 1250, then later on during his year he became a professor and taught philiosophy and thelogy . He is famous for the "Summa Theologica" which ment "the summary of theology" it means the helped explained that Christian belifes and logical behind such beliefs.