Bring out the changes noticeable in religion during the medieval period.
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In Europe during the Medieval times the only recognised religion was Christianity, in the form of the Catholic religion. The lives of the Medieval people of the Middle Ages was dominated by the church. From birth to death, whether a peasant, a serf, a noble a lord or a King - life was dominated by the church and Medieval religion. Various religious institutions, such as monasteries and convents, became both important, rich and powerful.
The lives of many Medieval people including various orders of monks and nuns were dedicated to to the Catholic church and religion. This was also a period of great change in the Christian church. Disputes of the Crusades led to the split between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches, called the Great Schism of 1054. The practises of the Catholic religion were questioned and the beliefs of men such as Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) prompted a new religion called Protestantism which led to a further split in the Christian Church referred to as the Protestant Reformation. This section covers all the important events and Religious Reformers and philosophers who shaped the changes in Medieval religion.
In the thousand-year history of the mediaeval period, several changes and developments in religious traditions were witnessed. Some of them are as follows:
In the Hindu religion, new deities emerged and were worshipped by people. Temples were constructed extensively by kings in this period.
Brahmins gained unprecedented importance and became a dominant group because of their knowledge of the Sanskrit language and status as priests in religious activities.
The Bhakti and Sufi movements also emerged in this period. The Bhakti movement emphasised love to the all-powerful God. There were no priests and no expensive rituals in this tradition.
During this period, a new religion named Islam was brought to India by merchants and migrants. The rule of the sultans marked the beginning of the rule of the Muslim dynasties.