Name: ___________________________________________________________________Period: __________ Date: __________
Medieval Church
Standard: Analyze European medieval society with regard to culture, politics, society, and economics.
Essential Question: How did European medieval society develop with regard to culture, politics, society,
and economics?
Explain the role of the church in medieval society.
The Role of the Church
Developed a system of Organization:
Developed a body of Doctrine:
Monks:
Benedictine’s:
Role:
Describe the political impact of Christianity; include Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV of
Germany (Holy Roman Emperor).
The Papal Monarchy
Papal State:
Feudalism Impact on the Church:
Pope Gregory VII:
Church v. State:
Pope Innocent III:
Medieval Church
Standard: Analyze European medieval society with regard to culture, politics, society, and economics.
Essential Question: How did European medieval society develop with regard to culture, politics, society,
and economics?
Explain the role of the church in medieval society.
The Role of the Church
Developed a system of Organization:
 Priests headed local communities called parishes
 group of parishes(bishopric/diocese) headed by a
bishop
 bishop of Rome claimed he was the leader of the
Roman Catholic Church
 later called popes from the Latin word papa,
“father”
Monks:
 played an important role in the Church
 a man who separates himself from worldly life
 dedicated himself to God (monasticism)
Developed a body of Doctrine:
 Church councils met to define Church teachings
Benedictine’s:
 sixth century
 order of monks founded by Saint Benedict
 wrote rules for their practice, The Benedictine
rule
 used by other monastic groups
 social work in their communities made them the
new heroes of Christian civilization
Role:
 provided a basis for unity and order
 most powerful entity of the period
 largest land holder of the period
Describe the political impact of Christianity; include Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV of
Germany (Holy Roman Emperor).
The Papal Monarchy
Papal State:
 control over the territory in central Italy
 involved the popes in politics
 often at the expense of their spiritual duties
Pope Gregory VII:
 eleventh century pope
 claimed that the pope’s authority extended over
all the Christian world (including rulers)
 asserted the Church’s right to appoint clergy and
run its affairs (College of Cardinals)
 in 1075 issued a decree forbidding high-ranking
clerics from receiving their offices from lay
(secular) leaders (lay investiture)
Feudalism Impact on the Church:
 Bishops and abbots held offices as grants from
nobles
 were vassals with allegiance to a secular
authority
 obligated to carry out military duties (Crusades)
Church v. State:
 Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV opposed the
reform of Gregory VII
 in 1076, Gregory excommunicated Henry and all
the bishops he had appointed
 the princes subsequently meet to elect a new king
 Henry held a private penance with Gregory VII
 ceded the superiority and equality of imperial
rulers to the church

lessened the power of kings (King Henry IV of
Germany)
Pope Innocent III:
 thirteenth century
 reached the height of political power
 believed he was the supreme judge of European affairs
 ordered Philip Augustus to take back his wife after Philip had sought an annulment