1. Popes and Kings in the Middle Ages
WORLD HISTORY READERS
Level 5-④
Popes and Kings in the Middle Ages

2. The Absolute Power of Kings
When were the Middle Ages?
About 500 to 1,000 years ago
A map of Europe in the Middle Ages
Yes, they could basically do whatever they wanted to do.
• They could decide to go to war without a vote.
• They could raise taxes.
• They could easily have people killed.
Did kings and queens have a lot of power during the Middle Ages?

3. The Power of the Pope Who was more powerful than a king or queen?
Why was he more powerful?
Kings and queens made laws for the people in their own countries, but the pope made decisions that affected everyone.
The pope
Popes could give punishments.
What could the pope do if someone did not obey him?
What could happen if a king or queen did not obey the pope?
The pope could put that person’s whole country under an interdict. This meant that all the churches in the country would be closed until the pope said they could be opened again.
He could excommunicate, or exclude, them from the church.
Locked doors during an interdict

4. Why was church so important to people during the Middle Ages?
A Medieval Religion
No one wanted to go to hell.
Why was church so important to people during the Middle Ages?
Everyone wanted to go to heaven.
People believed that if they did not have the blessing of the church when they died, they would go to hell. In hell, they would suffer terrible pain forever, and no one wanted that. So they didn’t want to be excluded from the church.
People wanted to be able to pray and confess their sins. They wanted to be pardoned for their sins.
People wanted to go to heaven when they died. So, although the pope did not have an army, the punishments he could give were very scary. They lasted forever.

5. The Battle of the Bishops
Did the kings of the Middle Ages agree that the pope should have ultimate control over everyone?
What is a bishop?
A bishop is an important person in charge of a big area called a diocese and all the churches and priests within it.
No, the kings objected to his interference in their kingdoms.
Why did popes and kings argue over bishops?
They argued over who should appoint bishops. For example, Henry IV, a German king, argued with Pope Gregory VII over who should appoint clergy.
Henry IV and his wife and child

6. Electing a New Pope
What happens when a pope dies?
Who elects a new pope?
A new pope is elected from the most important church officials.
The most important church officials pray for guidance to help them choose a new pope.
What was the problem with this method?
Are there any examples of this happening?
The church, in those days, was corrupt. Quite often, the leaders of the church would take bribes or be pressured to vote in a particular way. So it could be easy for a king to get the pope that he wanted.
Yes, it happened in 14th century France. In 1305, King Philip IV got a French pope elected, Clement V, who moved the papal court from the Vatican in Italy to France. After that, the next seven popes, all Frenchmen, lived in France and were controlled by French kings.

7. Papal Indulgences What were “papal indulgences?”
If someone had done something bad and they wanted to be forgiven, they could buy an indulgence from the church. This meant they could buy God’s forgiveness for their sin and have a better chance of getting into heaven.
What was the problem with papal indulgences sold under Pope Leo X?
Indulgences had been around for centuries, but under Leo X they led to problems. Leo X spent a lot of money during his papacy, and he sold indulgences to make up for it. They started a movement that would change the Catholic Church forever. Pope Leo’s actions made people question the teachings of the church.
Pope Leo X

8. Martin Luther Who was Martin Luther? What did he do? What happened?
He objected to the selling of indulgences. He said you could not buy forgiveness.
He was a priest who lived in Germany.
What happened?
The pope excommunicated him, but Luther continued to protest. People agreed with Luther, and a new form of Christianity developed. Its followers were called Protestants. The movement was called the Reformation because they wanted to reform the Catholic Church.
The Reformation swept across Western Europe.

9. Henry VIII of England What was King Henry VIII’s problem?
Henry VIII was married to Catherine of Aragon and had been married to her for twenty-three years. They had one daughter but no sons. Henry wanted a son who could be king after he died, but Catherine was too old to have more children. Henry wanted to leave her. But in those days, kings and queens were married for life.
Catherine of Aragon
Henry VIII
What did he do?
He sent a letter asking the Pope for an annulment. But the Pope said no. Meanwhile, Henry married Anne Boleyn in a secret ceremony. She was already pregnant with his baby.
Anne Boleyn

10. What changed after the Reformation?
What happened?
Henry was excommunicated, so he made himself the head of the Church of England. Although Henry never became a Protestant himself, this act set England on the path to become mostly Protestant later.
Henry made himself the head of the Church of England.
The Reformation weakened the position of the popes from that time and into the present.
What changed after the Reformation?

11. How are things different today?
The World Today
How are things different today?
Most western countries are ruled by governments elected by the citizens.
A few countries still have kings and queens, but they do not make laws or tell people what to do anymore.
The Roman Catholic Church is still ruled by a pope who has absolute power over his followers. However, he concerns himself only with religious matters. He does not get involved in politics.
The pope still has over a billion followers. He is one of the most respected people in the world.
Pope Francis was elected in 2013.

12. Vocabulary blessing n. clergy n.
God's favor and protection or a prayer asking for God's favor and protection
clergy n.
priests or religious leaders

13. Vocabulary exile n. invade v.
the condition or state of a person who is sent or kept away from their own country, town, etc.
invade v.
to attack a country to occupy it

14. Vocabulary kidnap v. kingdom n.
to physically take someone away using force
kingdom n.
a country or region that is ruled by a king or queen

15. Vocabulary mistreat v. poison v.
to treat a person or animal badly or unfairly, especially by making them suffer physically
poison v.
to kill a person or animal or to make them very ill by giving them a dangerous chemical