U368 Mongol Conquest
Week 7, Monday:  Medieval Religion:  an overview

 

  1. Common features of respectable Medieval religion
    1. Sacred books chanted in high languages
    2. Intercession of Holy Men (full salvation only for spiritual elite)
      1. Normal continuum of holiness
        1. Holiness means (in part) constructing the incorruptible body
        2. Correct belief, food, & clothing are conditions of holiness
        3. Celibacy, fasting build holiness
        4. Death consummates holiness
      2. Means of accessing dead holy men
        1. Relics, tombs
        2. Pilgrimages
      3. Ambivalence of the miraculous
        1. General acceptance of miracles, prophecy (trances)
        2. Miracles authenticate truth of religion; some counterfeit/evil
        3. Miracles can authenticate new faith >> inherently subversive
    3. Religion and Society
      1. Religion normally went in nations, families (both clergy and laity)
        1. Monasticism (sometimes) block on hereditary succesion
      2. Hierarchical (values of deference/condescension)
      3. Seeks state patronage (if possible)
        1. More-or-less monopoly over "religious market"
        2. Church properties, immunities
          1. Properties give stable income, granted by kings, nobles
          2. In feudalized states, church often has immunities
          3. Strong states heavily subsidize, few immunities
        3. Personal relation of high cleric to ruler
  2. Social position of the four religions favored by the Mongols
    1. China:  semi-free market, vague patronage vs. special imperial favor
      1. Daoism/Taoism:  stongly Chinese, but slightly unrespectable
      2. Chinese-rite Buddhism:  alien taint, but somewhat more respectable
      3. Both own big properties, mid/low status clergy, few immunities
    2. Uighur Buddhism:  roayl patronage, Chinese influence, semi-free market (?)
    3. Tibetan Buddhism:  feudalized, monastery-principalities, monk-aristocrats
    4. Islam:  monopoly with big property, high status, few immunities
    5. Christianity
      1. Syriac-rite:  little property, income from rites, hereditary priests only
      2. Europe:  feudal; monopoly with big property, high status, many immunities