Aw, Michelle

1st Period
APWH, Daniel

How and why does the role of religion in the history of the medieval Christian west differ from (or resemble) the role of religion in the
history of India?

While religion served as the foundation for India’s government, religion in medieval Christian west was the government’s contender.

India: a civilization whose main religion was Hinduism, a polytheistic faith. It also had minority religions like Buddhism and Jainism.

Government and Caste System and Beliefs Violence

Religion
The kings used religion to
control the subjects, like the
Gupta Empire using ceremonial
rituals to attract followers.
Discipline did not have to be
driven into lower classes
because of the idea of nirvana.
Medieval Christian West: after a schism in the church, Western Europe’s official religion was Catholic Christianity, a monotheistic faith.
Classes
The Hindu Caste system had
priests at the top, (Brahmin)
above the rulers, because they
had the knowledge of how to
perform religious rituals that the
other classes did not possess.
The people of different castes
had their actions influenced by
the idea of Karma and
Reincarnation. They also had
their positions in society
justified by the Vedic belief,
“You are where you deserve to
be…”
King Ashoka expanded his
empire through a series of
bloody campaigns. However,
after realizing the brutality of
his behavior he converted to
Buddhism a nonviolent
religion. Jainism is also a non-
violent religion.

Government and Caste System and Beliefs Violence

Religion
The kings and the religious
leaders were at odds. There
were struggles for political
power and land although the
ostensible motive was religion.
Examples include the Crusades
and the Inquisition.
Classes
The religious leaders had their
own caste system. Canon law
granted the Pope, top of the
caste, jurisdiction of clergy and
church property. Yet bishops
were loyal to the king, thus
arguments occurred over who
could justly govern the bishops.
The Christians, biased by their
monotheistic belief, were close-
minded. They ostracized and
persecuted pagans and
“heretics” who did not believe
in Christ as their Lord and
Savior, even if they were
monotheistic.
Many people of the Christian
faith partook in mass wars
known as the Crusades. They
fought in the name of God as
ordered to by the Pope.