The Church and the Middle Ages

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
The Churchs 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.

3
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

4
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

5
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

6
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?

7
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

8
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

9
The Holy Roman Empire
10
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

11
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.

12
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

13
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

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E.Q 3 How did the churchs structure in the 5th
century reflect the structure of the Roman Empire?

• Pope Emperor
• Bishops regional governors
• Priests Centurions
• Canon Law Imperial Law

15
E.Q 4 How did the churchs 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

16
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

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