Saints are called beatified people, which means the church will beatify exceptional people who have achieved something amazing in their lifetime. The saints were not only members of the Christian community but were members of the western society. A relic is an object that has great significance. Relics are sometimes kept in a reliquary, which is a precious shrine designed to protect and display the relics.
Popes And Monarchs Struggle For Power
The Popes and Monarchs struggled for power because they were battling over who had the power to appoint a bishop. Henry the IV (the king) believed that his title of being emperor was greater than the Pope's (Gregory the VII), but the Pope clearly thought he had more power than the emperor. So the Pope starting making a lot of new changes and the king did not want the Pope's new changes. So the Pope responded by excommunicating Henry IV, declaring he was no longer emperor and by canceling the oaths the people had sworn to King Henry.
Medieval Medicine
In the medieval times medicine and doctors were very harsh. The towns people took witchcraft very seriously. For example, if you were accused of witchcraft they would do one test on you, like tying you up and throwing you in water. If you floated, you were considered a witch; i f you drowned, you were not. But most likely you would die because no one would jump in and save you.
There were two kinds of surgeons. One is the barber (if you have ever seen the barber shop pole the red means blood and the white is the bandage). The barber not only cut hair but would pull teeth if you had a toothache, do bloodletting (bloodletting means letting blood out by opening the veins), stitch wounds and would remove tumors.
The other surgeon is the medieval surgeon. If you had head trauma or a headache the medieval surgeon would drill a hole in your head to let the demons out or they would shave a cross in the back of your head. If you broke an arm or a leg they would most likely amputate it. If you had leprosy the doctors would not treat you, they would send you away to meet other lepers.
Superstitions:
-The middle ages were full of superstitions. For example:
-Sneezing without covering your mouth meant that the devil could enter your body.
-You had to stir pots and teapots clockwise if you wanted good luck.
-Letting a cat cross your path on a journey was bad luck; really bad if it was black.
-If you left the door open it was bad luck because you would be letting the spirits in.
-If three black cats crossed your path it was good luck.
-If a white cat crossed your path it is a sign of bad luck in your health.
-If three bats flew around your house it was really bad luck.