Good morning we are continuing the series Europe in the Middle Ages. In this episode, we will be learning about Monks and Heretics. The run time for this episode is 52:44.
The Middle Ages was a highly religious period and there was no salvation outside the church. People feared hell during these times. They also feared the final judgment. The stained-glass windows testify to the devotion of the people. The people longed for eternity while at the same time fearing the damnation of hell. Gothic stained-glass windows are among the most beautiful works of art that come from the Middle Ages. Today, those windows are carefully restored piece by piece. Monks for the most part were unknown. In this episode, we will follow the life of a monk Edward. He was a monk in Scotland and it is 1308. He is a novice and Edward the Confessor was his patron saint. He was seven when he went into the monastery. His parents were poor and it would have been the only chance he would have had to learn to read. He studied and copied manuscripts. The treasure of knowledge was held in the church and monastery. This episode goes into the chained library. The books were so important they were chained to walls. The monasteries were self-sufficient places. One academic team explores one monastery plan. Was this plan a master plan for all monasteries? The team uses computers to test this out on a variety of terrains. Perhaps this is where the origins of town planning are found. They were a place for monks and marketplaces. We go back to the monk and he almost burns a book. He had drifted off to sleep while reading. The monk panics about burning the book. He was sent on pilgrimages to see if he could get a new copy of the book. This is his way to atone for burning the book. He was off to Santiago de Compostela and the grave of St. James the Apostle. Here the documentary talks about the people in the Middle Ages taking pilgrimages. He is making his way to Castile on foot. How did the pilgrimages know the way? Where would they spend the night? A priest makes his appearance and brings out a treasured manuscript: a book about the pilgrimage. The book described the country and the people. It talked about the costs of the journey and where good food and drink could be found. It was the travel guide for the pilgrim. It was the young and old who went on this journey. Even today you can still walk these roads. Along the way, pilgrims could spend the night at a hostel. Everyone was taken in and the monks carefully looked after the pilgrims. Edward the Monk finally made his way to the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. Here he would have seen an incense burner that would have been swung over the people. St. James the Apostle was buried in the cathedral. Pilgrimages were a big business in this city and the pilgrims spent their money and gave generously to the cathedral. Edward repented of burning the book, however, his mission was not done yet. He went on to Toledo to find a copy of the book he burned. He makes his way to La Manche and sees the windmills. These are the windmills that Don Quixote would tilt at. It was also here that Edward would see a solar eclipse. Edward finally arrives in Toledo. Toledo was a place of three cultures: Muslims, Jewish, and Christian people who lived together side by side. Here they worked together to translate books. It is also here, that Edward found a copy of the book he had burned because of his foolishness. The librarian said he could have a copy of the book if he could find a copy of the book in his library. Will Edward be able to find a copy of the book he burned? Will Edward the monk make his way back home? Tune into the rest of the episode to find out more! This is a pretty cool series. I enjoyed following the story of Edward the Monk. This would be something to show more for fun in the history classroom.
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