1. Borrowed from Mrs. Valenti’s World History Class
Popes and Kings
Borrowed from Mrs. Valenti’s World History Class
Saddleback Valley, CA
Thanks Mrs. Valenti!
In the early Middle Ages, nobles and knights held power.
However, as time passed, power shifted to popes and kings.

2. The Power of the Popes
Main Idea 1:
Popes and kings ruled Europe as spiritual and political leaders

3. The Power of the Popes
The pope was the head of the Christian church in western Europe.
The pope had great power because so many people belonged to the church.
People saw the pope as God’s representative on Earth
The Vatican in Rome, home to the Pope.

4. West
East
Rome

6. St. Peters Basilica

7. It is the home to the Sistine Chapel and many famous pieces of artwork.

8. The Power of the Popes Popes had great political and spiritual power.
The pope could cast from the church, or excommunicate, his enemies.

9. The Power of the Kings Europe had been divided into many small states.
In three countries, England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire, kings were the rulers.

11. The Power of the Kings
The leader of the Roman Empire was approved by the pope, so the region was also known as the Holy Roman Empire.
Charlemagne was an emperor for the Holy Roman Empire

12. The Power of the Kings
Kings inherited their titles from their fathers.
Kings kept order through alliances and warfare.

13. Popes
Although the people of western Europe considered the pope the head of the church, eastern European people disagreed.

14. West
East
Rome
Byzantine
Empire

15. Popes
Main Idea 2:
Some popes fought for power, leading to a permanent split within the church.

16. Pope Leo
Pope Leo IX believed that all Christians should answer to the pope, and that the pope should be the leader of the whole Christian church.
The bishop of Constantinople disagreed with Pope Leo and wouldn’t recognize his authority
…so Pope Leo excommunicated him.
The bishop of Constantinople, Michael I Cerularius
Pope Leo IX

17. West
East
Rome
Constantinople
Byzantine
Empire

18. Pope Leo This decision created a permanent split in the church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church was formed by Christians who agreed with the bishop and not the pope.
The rest of the church became known as the Roman Catholic Church. The pope became one of the most powerful figures in western Europe.

19. A Split in the Christian Church
Some followers in the Byzantine Empire area
Most of Europe

20. Power Struggle Main Idea 3
As popes continued to try to increase their power, they came into conflict with kings.

21. Power Struggle Pope Gregory VII came to power in Rome.
The pope disapproved of a bishop chosen by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV.
Henry IV a bishop Pope Gregory VII

22. Power Struggle Henry became angry and tried to have the pope removed
however, the Pope excommunicated Henry IV.
Pope Gregory
Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV

23. Power Struggle
Henry had to beg the pope for forgiveness to get back into the church.
This incident made the pope more powerful than the emperor at that time.