CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MEDIEVAL

EUROPE

FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY Jesus- started religion After his death religion carried on by his

disciples Also wrote down stories from Jesus’s life

(Holy Bible)

POWER OF THE CHURCH Catholic Church-largest landowner in

Europe All Christians in W. Europe were Roman

CatholicPeople needed the church to stay out of hell

Church members were only people that could read

1050 C.E. the Catholic Church is largest land owner in Europe

VIKING CONQUEST WEAKENED THE CHURCH Church leaders were corrupt

More concerned with money than God

REFORMS Pope now chosen by cardinals (no

outside influence) Priests can’t get married

REFORMS No more simony

The buying and selling of church offices No more lay investiture

Ceremony where church officials received their offices from feudal king or lord

GREGORY VS. HENRY Pope Gregory VII

Ended marriage of priests and simony Married priests had to abandon their family

Henry IVGerman ruler who did not like this. Went

against the Pope and the Pope Excommunicated him. Excommunication- kicked out of the church

1077 Henry travels to Pope to ask forgiveness and ends his excommunication (Pope wins)

Interdict no church ceremonies could be

held in the land of someone who was excommunicated

Concordat of WormsOnly the Church could grant a Bishop a ring

and staffBut lords and kings could still present land

to church officials

BishopsHeld Church power outside of Rome,

enforced Canon Law “church law” Heretics

Someone with different or no religious beliefs

Inquisition1225 Church experts who went out to find

and judge Heretics

FRIARS Dominicans

Spanish Friars named for Dominic. Good scholars and wore white robes

Franciscans Italian named for Francis of Assisi All creatures were spiritual brothers and

sisters. They wore brown robes

CHURCH CONSTRUCTION Romanesque (old style) Gothic Style Churches that had more

room, more height, and more light50yrs to make.

CHURCH CONSTRUCTION• 1. Ribbed Vaults This allowed

for stain glass windows

CHURCH CONSTRUCTION 2. Flying Buttresses Helped support

a massive structure

CHURCH CONSTRUCTION 3. Pointed Arches Emphasize height

(point to heaven)