Preview

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Power of the Church

• Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• Religion in the Middle Ages
• Growth of Papal Power
• Changes in Monasticism
• Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
• Video The Impact of the Feudal System in Europe

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Power of the Church
Main Idea Reform and changes swept through the
Christian Church, one of the most influential
institutions in medieval Europe.

• Reading Focus
• What was the nature and influence of religion in
  the Middle Ages?
• What led to the growth of papal power in Europe?
• What changes in monasticism were introduced in
  the Middle Ages?

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Religion in the Middle Ages
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• Religious Ceremonies
• Major life events marked by religious ceremonies
• Monks acted as peacemakers, prayed for safety of
  rulers, armies
• Church officials served as teachers, record
  keepers
• Clergy peoples main connection to church, had
  great influence

• Dramatic Increase
• Around 1000, influence of church increased
  dramatically
• Great upwelling of piety, level of devotion, in
  Europe
• Members of Christian church became more devout
• Participation in religious services increased,
  thousands flocked to monasteries, joined
  religious orders

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Identify Cause and Effect Why was the medieval
clergy so influential?
Answer(s) Christian church had strong influence
over daily lives of most Europeans clergy were
the people's link to the church
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Growth of Papal Power
Not only were Europes common people inspired by
a new sense of piety, many clergy members sought
ways to improve conditions.
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Power and Conflict

• Excommunication
• Bishops guilty of bad offenses excommunicated,
  cast out of church
• No greater punishment for Christians in Middle
  Ages
• Person excommunicated could not take part in
  Eucharist, could not be saved

• Reforms
• Leo became more active in governing church than
  other popes in past
• Reforms brought him into conflict with political,
  religious leaders
• Many bishops believed pope had no authority to
  tell them how to act

• Conflict
• One who rejected Leos authority, bishop of
  Constantinople
• 1054, Leo excommunicated bishop, split Christian
  Church in two
• Those who agreed Leo called Roman Catholics
  those who sided with bishop, Orthodox

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Popes and Politics

• Popes gained influence over peoples religious
  lives, also over European politics
• Pope became head of huge network of
  ecclesiastical courts, heard cases on religious,
  moral matters
• Pope also ruled territories, like Papal States
• Had ability to raise armies to defend territories
• Several popes hired Normans to fight wars
• Crusades against Muslims launched by popes

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Conflict over Bishops
Although popes had increased their power, they
still came into conflict with political leaders.
Popes of the late 1000s were firmly resolved to
change the way members of the clergy were chosen.
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Gregory and Henry

• Excommunication
• Gregorys response was to excommunicate Henry
• Called on clergy, nobility of Germany to replace
  emperor

• Canossa
• Fearing he would lose his throne, Henry traveled
  to Canossa to beg forgiveness
• Reluctantly, Gregory lifted excommunication

• Bishops
• Gregory, Henry continued fighting over bishops
  for years
• Later popes reached compromise local clergy
  would choose bishops

• Power
• Most important outcome Gregory stood up to
  emperor
• The pope had become one of strongest figures in
  Europe

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Analyze In what ways did popes become stronger
in the Middle Ages?
Answer(s) eliminated corrupt clergy, appointed
bishops, became political leaders, built armies,
ruled territory
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Changes in Monasticism

• Contemplation and Prayer
• Early Middle Ages, monasteries founded by men
  seeking lives of contemplation and prayer
• Monasteries often paid for by local rulers, who
  chose abbots who led them

• Benedictine Rule Abandoned
• By around 900, rulers had stopped choosing
  qualified abbots
• Many held positions only for prestige
• In these monasteries, strict Benedictine Rule
  abandoned

• Return to Monasticism
• Early 900s, group of monks sought to return
  monasticism to strict roots
• Established new monastery at Cluny, France, to
  live by Benedictine Rule
• Monks of Cluny reserved right to choose own abbot

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Network of Monasteries

• Cluny became most influential monastery in Europe
• Monks established daughter houses, leaders had to
  answer to Cluny abbot
• Other monasteries in France, Spain, Italy adopted
  Clunys customs, agreed to follow direction of
  its abbots
• Cluny became core of network of monasteries
  across western Europe

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Find the Main Idea What changes were introduced
to monasticism?
Answer(s) stricter rules, monks stayed out of
politics, simplified lives
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VideoThe Impact of the Feudal System in Europe
Click above to play the video.