Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales" in the 1300's. During this period life was very different from the one that we know. The most obvious difference represented in the tales is the power that religion has over peoples everyday lives as compared to today. Much of what follows in the tales during their journey branch from this idea. Everything from the way someone runs their family to where they work was dictated by religion. Which makes for a very different story from one that we would hear based on today 's actions of people.
             The dominance of the church during the time the story was written is very different from what people experience today. During Chaucer's time people found themselves yearning for salvation and blessings from God. That is why these people were making the journey to Canterbury to begin with. Just the fact that they are making a pilgrimage at all is kind of hard for people today to wrap their heads around. Now people barely make time to go to church once a week. Their longing for and the lengths that people went to receive salvation seem some what absurd to us. During this time there was selling of indulgences occurring. As was represented by Chaucer when he wrote of the Friar. The Friar sold indulgences for a price to remit sins of people who have already passed or who have committed a sin. And, whether Chaucer meant to do so or not, the power of the man who holds the key to salvation also seems to be able to get whatever he wants, not just money. This is displayed when Chaucer talks of how the pardoner seduces women who ask for a pardon. Which further displays the power of the church.
             In the society there is a very prevalent hierarchy. Right from the beginning it is pointed out. Chaucer begins naming the people who are going on the pilgrimage by their status in society. The first is the knight who is the closest to the king. Today if there is any type
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