Transcript File
The Middle Ages Outcome: Church leaders and political leaders competed for power and authority The Power of the Church 1. The far- reaching authority of the Church a. Pope Gelasius I recognized two great forces; The Church and the State i. ii. The Church; was supreme in religious authority The state; was supreme in political authority The Structure of the Church; power was based on status. b. i. ii. iii. iv. The Pope headed the Church The clergy; bishops and priests fell under his authority Bishops; supervised priests, settled disputes over church teachings Priests; served as the main contact for the church The Power of the Church Religion as a Unifying Force c. i. ii. iii. iv. Feudalism created divisions among people, but the Church served to bond people together The Church occupied center stage during the Middle Ages Sacraments unified members of the Church The village Church was the local unifying force The Power of the Church The Law of the Church d. i. ii. iii. iv. Created a system of justice to guide peoples actions All medieval Christians were subject to canon law Popes used the power of excommunication as a threat against uncooperative political leaders; this gave the pope greater power The interdict; many sacraments and religious services could not be performed in the king’s land The Power of the Church 2. The Church and the Holy Roman Empire a. Otto the Great crowned king in 936 i. ii. iii. iv. Adhered to the policies of Charlemagne Dominated the church in Germany Invaded Italy on behalf of the pope In 962, the pope crowned Otto Emperor Signs of Future Conflicts b. i. ii. The Holy Roman Empire; remained the strongest state in Europe until 1100 Popes and Italian nobles resented German power over Italy The Power of the Church 3. The Emperor Clashes with the Pope a. Lay investiture; emperors had the power to appoint Church officials i. ii. iii. iv. Gave emperors tremendous power within the Church 1075; Pope Gregory VII banned lay investiture German Emperor, Henry IV, called a meeting of the bishops to order Pope Gregory VII to step down Pope Gregory VII then excommunicated Henry IV The Power of the Church Showdown at Canossa b. i. ii. Henry IV goes to the Italian town of Canossa to beg for Pope Gregory’s forgiveness Waited in the snow for three days before the Pope forgave him Concordat of Worms c. i. ii. Dispute over lay investiture continued until 1122 Representatives of the Church and emperor met in Worms, Germany; they reached a compromise allowing for absolute papal authority except the emperor could veto appointments The Power of the Church 4. Disorder in the Empire a. The Reign of Frederick I i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. 1152; the seven princes responsible for appointing the king chose Frederick I Holy Roman Empire became a patchwork of feudal territories Continued Henry’s invasions of Italian cities 1176; The Lombard League, Italian foot soldiers, defeated Fredericks knights at the Battle of Legnano 1177; Frederick made peace with the pope and returned to Germany 1190; Frederick I drowned and his empire fell to pieces The Power of the Church German States Remain Separate b. i. ii. Frederick II and his predecessors; attempted to rebuild Charlemagne’s empire Conflict with Italian cities and the pope led to the fragmentation of the feudal states of Germany Result: The Catholic Church gained power and established its dominance in European affairs.