HST 197 Chapter Notes - Chapter 27: Catharism, Bogomilism, Manichaeism
Document Summary
Popular religion reflected the social and economic development of medieval europe. As wealth increased, several groups of individuals believed that society was becoming too materialistic. Roman catholic church even seemed tainted by materialism. Benedictine monks observed virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience. Central administration of the roman church expanded dramatically as lawyers and bureaucrats ran the church"s affairs and sought ways to swell its treasury. Working within the roman church, some individuals organized movements designed to champion spiritual over materialistic values. Dominican and franciscan were friars in the 13th century, had no personal possessions and would have to beg for their food and other needs from audiences that they preach to. Mendicants were especially active in towns and cities, they addressed throngs of recently arrived migrants whose numbers that were so large that existing urban churches and clergy could not serve them well.
