Transcript PowerPoint

• 1/8 Focus:
– The Christian church helped to unify western
Europe after the collapse of the Roman
Empire.
• Important Terms:
– Papal, Secular, Excommunicate
• Do Now:
– Identify one effect that the fall of Rome and
invasions by Germanic tribes had on western
Europe?
The Middle Ages
Germanic Kingdoms
The Power of the Church
The Church in the Middle Ages
• Two major Christian
Churches
– Orthodox
Christian Church
• Byzantine
– Roman Catholic
Church
• Western Europe
The Church in the Middle Ages
• Catholic Church
led by a pope
based out of
Rome
– Papacy; Papal
– Believed by
followers to be
the spiritual
representative
of Jesus on
Earth
The Church in the Middle Ages
• Catholic church
provided order and
security after the
fall of Rome
– Served the
spiritual needs of
followers
– Became a powerful
political force
• Had authority over
powerful rulers
Nuns and Monks
• Devoted their life
to prayer and good
works
• Lived in
monasteries or
convents
– Religious
communities
– Had to follow strict
rules
• Benedictine rule
Nuns and Monks
• Took an oath of
poverty
• Provided social
support to
communities
– Helped the sick and
the poor
– Educated children
• Preserved ancient
writings by copying
Greek and Roman
texts
A Medieval Monk’s Day
Nuns and Monks
• Missionaries
– Worked to
convert
Germanic tribes
and Celts in
Britain
– Example: St.
Patrick setup
the church in
Ireland
Economic Power of the Church
• Church required
Christians to pay a tithe
– Tax
– Required to pay 10% of
income
• Church became very
wealthy
• Became the largest
landholder in Europe
Political Power of the Church
• Church had its own laws
and courts
– Canon Law
• Claimed authority over
secular rulers
– Secular= not having to
do with religion
– Could excommunicate
rulers who did not obey
the church
– Banned from the church
Role of the Church in Everyday
Life
• Church provided
spiritual protection
in exchange for land,
protection and crops
• Christians attended
village churches led
by priests (clergy)
Points for Discussion
• What role did the Church play in
Western Europe after the collapse of
the Roman Empire?
• What was excommunication?