The Age of Faith was driven by an increase in power on the part of the Roman Catholic Church, and a decrease in power of secular authorities. Merging the traditions of the late Roman Empire with Christianity and the customs of the Germanic tribes, the Church in the Middle Ages created an organizational structure that helped spread the faith. While the Middle Ages is considered a "dark" age of academic, social, and economic development, the acts of monks to preserve the works of the Greco-Roman masters ensured their survival.

Extend Your Learning

Recall the miracle experienced by the monk in the warm-up activity. In the late sixth century, Pope Gregory I wrote about an important Italian abbot named Benedict. An abbot is the leader of a monastery. Various testimonies claim that Benedict performed many miracles and earned the respect of his community. When a local abbot passed away, its monks urged Benedict to become their new abbot. After he accepted the position, the monks changed their minds and attempted to murder Benedict. Allegedly, the monks gave Benedict a poisoned drink, but the glass shattered in his hand after he blessed it. Then they tried to give Benedict poisoned bread, which he also blessed. Before Benedict could eat it, a raven flew by and carried the bread away. Wisely, Benedict left that monastery, but he founded numerous others.

One of Benedict's most influential legacies was his writings, which established a set of rules for monastic life. The Rule of Saint Benedict became the guiding document for thousands of religious communities during the Middle Ages, and is still the primary rule for monasteries today - more than 1,400 years later. Benedictine monks became the heroes of Christian civilization, serving as models of morality for the rest of society. They provided schools for the young, hospitality to travelers, and hospitals for the sick. In addition, Benedictine monks improved agricultural practices, and taught carpentry and weaving to peasants.