The Early Middle Ages
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
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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?
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Religion in the Middle Ages
Popes as Political Figures
Christian Beliefs
• Pope is head of Roman
Catholic Church
• Manorialism, feudalism
encouraged local loyalties
• Early popes seen as spiritual
leaders
• Christian beliefs brought people
across Europe together in
spiritual community of
Christendom
• During Middle Ages, they
became powerful political
figures
• Religion touched almost every
aspect of Christians’ lives
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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 people’s 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
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
Growth of Papal Power
Not only were Europe’s common people inspired by a new sense of
piety, many clergy members sought ways to improve conditions.
Papacy
• 900s, 1000s, pope had little
authority
• Considered head of church,
but local bishops made most
important religious decisions
• Papacy not held in high regard
• Few popes noted for religious
devotion; most were nobles
concerned with increasing own
power
Church Reforms
• 1049, first of series of clever,
capable popes dedicated to
reforming papacy came to
power, Leo IX
• Believed that Europe’s clergy
had become corrupt, wanted
to reform it
• Concerned with simony,
buying and selling of church
offices by bishops
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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 Leo’s 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
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Popes and Politics
Popes gained influence over people’s 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
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
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.
Tradition
• Kings, other
leaders played
active role in
choosing clergy
• Kings chose most
bishops
• Holy Roman
emperor named
several popes
Reform
• Reform popes did
not think anyone
but clergy should
choose religious
officials
• Issue became
critical during Pope
Gregory VII’s
pontificate
Bishop of Milan
• Henry IV, Holy
Roman emperor,
chose new bishop
for city of Milan
• Gregory did not
approve, removed
bishop
• Henry disputed
Gregory’s authority
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
Gregory and Henry
Excommunication
• Gregory’s response was to
excommunicate Henry
• Called on clergy, nobility of
Germany to replace emperor
Bishops
Canossa
• Fearing he would lose his
throne, Henry traveled to
Canossa to beg forgiveness
• Reluctantly, Gregory lifted
excommunication
Power
• Gregory, Henry continued
fighting over bishops for years
• Most important outcome:
Gregory stood up to emperor
• Later popes reached
compromise: local clergy would
choose bishops
• The pope had become one of
strongest figures in Europe
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
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
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
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 Cluny’s customs,
agreed to follow direction of its abbots
• Cluny became core of network of monasteries across western
Europe
New Orders
• For some monks, Benedictine life
not strict enough
• Monks wanted lives free from any
worldly distractions
• Created new orders, most popular
of which was Cistercian order
Cistercian Monasteries
• Usually built outside of towns to
ensure isolation
• Undecorated, unheated even in
winter; monks divided time between
prayer, labor
• Other new orders even stricter,
members lived like hermits
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Find the Main Idea
What changes were introduced to
monasticism?
Answer(s): stricter rules, monks stayed out of
politics, simplified lives
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
Video
The Impact of the Feudal System in Europe
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