1. The Church and the Middle Ages
Aim: How did the Catholic Church gain power during the Middle Ages?
Do Now: Why do you believe the Church became so influential in the Middle Ages? Explain your answer.

2. Dark Ages
Western Europe was so backward because of this decline that the early part of this period was once call the Dark Ages
Medieval- Latin for Middle Age
Transition between ancient and modern times
Out of this violent medieval period, or Middle Ages, a dynamic civilization arose.
Combined elements classical and Germanic cultures with Christian beliefs

3. The Church’s Power Grows
* As Europe experienced a lack of a strong, central government, the feudal system provided some political stability.
* The Catholic Church also provided stability during the Middle Ages.
* The Church appealed to people of all social classes.

4. Medieval Church
The decline of Rome led the church to assume many political and social tasks
Bishop of Rome, now the Pope, became the strongest political leader in W. Europe.
The Pope claimed spiritual authority over all Christians
After the fall of Rome…the church takes on the central authority

5. Church Structure v. Roman Empire Structure
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Clergy: religious officials
The Pope was the head of the Catholic Church
All clergy were under the authority of the pope
Bishops supervised local parish priests
Local priests had the greatest influence on most Europeans because they had the most contact with the people
Canon = Church Law
Religious
ROMAN EMPIRE
Not the Republic!
The Emperor was the head of the Roman Empire
Everyone was under his authority.
Regional Governors ran the provinces.
Generals and Centurions controlled the military.
Imperial law = Everyone had to obey Roman law or pay the price.
Secular = non-religious

6. The Church in the Middle Ages
Super Huge Fact:
The Church was the single most powerful organization in western Europe during the Middle ages
Dominated peoples lives, from peasants to kings
THE CHURCH

7. The Church Helps Unify Europe
The Church was a stable force that helped unify Europe
The Church provided a sense of security and a community
Religion played a central role in Europe and the lives of most Europeans
Christians believed that God would reward them with salvation (heaven)
Christians believed that they needed to participate in the sacraments to achieve salvation
The Church also brought communities together
People worshipped together, especially on religious holidays

8. The Church in the Middle Ages
Exception to the rule was…..
Spain
Ruled by Muslims,
Spanish Muslims were called Moors
Allowed religious diversity—Jews, Christians, whatever
Muslims ruled parts of Spain until 1492

9. How did the Church get so powerful?
By being incredibly organized
2. By gaining wealth and political power, greater than some kings!
3. By spreading its teachings all over western Europe

10. Religious Role Church taught all were sinners
Only way to receive grace was through sacraments
Most people did not understand rituals
Priest spoke in Latin and most could not read or write
Much was learned from statues, paintings and stained glass windows that adorned most churches

12. The 7 Sacraments
Priests and other religious officials administered the sacraments
Baptism
Reconciliation/Penance/Confession
Eucharist
Confirmation
Marriage
Holy Orders
Last Rights/Anointing of the Sick

13. Importance of priests
Priests were very important in spreading Christian teachings to every day people
One on every manor
Made sure they were following canon law —church laws that guided behavior

14. What did priests do?
Mass on Sunday
Weddings and baptisms
Talk to villagers about their problems
Bury the dead
Heal the sick
Teach reading and writing
Collect tithes
Keep all village records

15. Benedict’s Rule Founded a monastery at Monte Cassino
Became a model for monks in other communities
Rules for work, meditation and prayer

16. Monastic Life Monks dressed simply (robes) Rule of silence
Women- known as Nuns

17. Influence of Monastics
Provided school for young
Hospitals for sick
Food for needy
Some became missionaries

18. Missionary Efforts
Pope Gregory I adopted the Benedictine Rule to spread Christianity to all of Europe
Mid 1000s AD- Most western Europeans had become Catholic

19. Review Slide
Explain why priests were important to the Church as well as to ordinary people in the Middle Ages?
Why did people follow church teachings in the Middle Ages?

20. Church teachings There is heaven and there is hell
Super Huge Concept:
There is heaven and there is hell
Lead a good life and follow church laws and you will go to heaven
Otherwise…

21. Church Justice
The Church provided a unifying set of spiritual beliefs, ceremonies, rituals,
Canon Law is the official law of the Catholic Church
Excommunication: banishment from the Church (no sacraments = no heaven)
Interdict: many sacraments and religious services could not be performed in a kingdom or region (excommunication on a large scale for a entire area!!!) Why?

22. The Catholic Church
As the power of the Church grew, the Church began to play a political role in Europe
This led to conflicts between the Church and the leaders of Europe

23. Power of Church Many Bishops and Abbots were nobles who received land
Local lords began to control many church offices and lands- contrary to church tradition- appointing leaders
Signs of corruption

24. Church Reform Many devout Christians called for reforms
Began in monasteries
Goal of reforms:
Free Church from control of feudal lords
Reforms:
Pope would be chosen by cardinals
Pope would appoint bishops and other officials

25. Fighting Heresy
Pope Innocent III- condemned drunkenness, feasting, and dancing among clergy
Stop spread of heresy (denial of basic church teachings)
Convert first/ crush later

26. The Inquisition Court set up to seek out and punish heretics
Many accused without proof
Punishments- prison or death

28. Holy Roman Empire Germany’s central government remained weak
Pope and monarchs struggle for power and territory for years
Strengthening monarch threatened church power

29. Otto I Otto I was influenced by Charlemagne
He allied himself with the Church and used the clergy to help limit the power of the nobles
Otto invaded Italy and helped end a threat to the pope
In return, the pope crowned Otto emperor

30. The Holy Roman Empire

31. The Holy Roman Empire
Otto created a German-Italian empire that would eventually be called the Holy Roman empire
It was the strongest state in Europe until 1100

32. Lay Investiture
Lay investiture was the practice of kings and nobles appointing bishops
Question: Why would the Church be against political leaders choosing bishops? Explain your answer.

33. Lay Investiture : A Funny Story
In 1075, Pope Gregory VII banned the practice of lay investiture
Henry IV sent a nasty letter to Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory excommunicated Henry IV
Henry IV begged for forgiveness
The pope lifted the excommunication

34. The Concordat of Worms
In 1122, the Church and the Holy Roman emperor reached a compromise over the issue of lay investiture
The Church gave bishops their spiritual authority (ring and staff)
The emperor chose the location where the bishop would serve
The emperor also had veto power

35. E.Q #3: How did the church’s structure in the 5th century reflect the structure of the Roman Empire?
Pope = Emperor
Bishops = regional governors
Priests = Centurions
Canon Law = Imperial Law

36. E.Q #4: How did the church’s status when Rome fell lead to its importance during the Middle Ages?
church takes over basic functions of government (centralized authority, bureaucracy, judicial system, canon laws, etc.)
power/ abuse of power

37. E.Q #5: How did secular and religious authorities balance power?
spiritual power influenced temporal power (the government)
the crowning of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans
lay investiture controversy

38. Fighting Heresy
Pope Innocent III- condemned drunkenness, feasting, and dancing among clergy
Stop spread of heresy (denial of basic church teachings)
Convert first/ crush later

39. NEXT: The Crusades

40. The Crusades
Europeans undertook a series of military expeditions (9) to
reclaim the holy lands (Jerusalem) from the Muslims.
Why did the Christians consider these lands holy?
-This was where Jesus was killed and resurrected…
Why did the Muslims consider these lands holy?
-This was where Muhammad ascended to heaven…
In the 600s AD, Jerusalem fell to Muslim Arabs. Christians and
Jews were allowed to live there peacefully…
In the 1000s ad, the Seljuk Turks (Muslims from Asia) took
Over and closed the city to Jewish and Christian pilgrims…

41. 1st Crusade November, 1095ad Pope Urban II addresses
crowds imploring them
to take back the holy lands
“God Wills It!”
June, 1099AD- Jerusalem
falls to the Europeans.
Religious fever cools down… But Tensions are rising between
Muslims and Christians!!!

42. 2nd Crusade Less than 50 years later, The Seljuks recapture part
Of the Palestine states…
Pope Eugenius IV calls for the second crusade…
It fails… They were easily defeated…
This crusade only lasted from AD.

43. 3rd Crusade
In 1187AD a forceful leader named Saladin united the Muslim
Forces and took back Jerusalem… Europe was horrified!
Many kings, including
King Richard I of
England assembled
warriors for a third
crusade (called the
“Crusade of Kings”)
After three years of
fighting King Richard
called a truce…
Many other crusades followed… none were successful.

44. Results of the Crusades?
The result of the Crusades is
hard to determine…
Land gained from the
Crusades was later taken back.
-Europe lost many men in the
Crusades, but for what?
-Did they win anything?
Trade relations
New technology
Borrow culture