Burial trends during the Middle Ages were heavily influenced by which entity?

The burial trends during the Middle Ages were primarily influenced by the church. This period saw the Catholic Church's significant role in every aspect of life, including death and burial practices. The church not only dictated the timing and manner of funerals but also established doctrines regarding the afterlife, sin, and salvation, which shaped people's beliefs about burial.

The church encouraged burial in consecrated ground, typically churchyards, and played a vital role in the rituals surrounding death. This influence extended to the types of burial practices that were deemed acceptable and the significance of certain rites and ceremonies, which were integral to the Christian faith. Consequently, the church's teachings and authority established a framework that governed how and where people were buried during this era, impacting social norms and individual practices surrounding death.

Understanding this historical context highlights the church's dominance in shaping societal values and customs, particularly regarding the treatment of the dead and the reverence afforded to burial practices.