The Later
Middle Ages
1000-1500
The Church in
Medieval Europe
Popes and Kings
Section 1
Learning Goal: I can explain how Popes and kings
dominated European society in the Middle Ages.
Key Terms & People
• Bishops-local leaders in the early Christian church
• Pope- the bishop of Rome and the head of the Roman
Catholic Church
• Priest- a person who performs religious ceremonies
• Excommunicate-to cast out from the church
• Pope Gregory VII-(1020–1085) A powerful medieval pope, he
fought with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV over the power to
choose church officials.
• Emperor Henry IV- (1050–1106) Holy Roman Emperor, he
fought against Pope Gregory VII over the power to choose
church officials.
Christians at End of Rome
• Christians, followers of Jesus were at first
persecuted by the Romans
• 313 = Constantine issues decree allowing
Christians to practice freely
• 395 = Christianity official religion of Roman
Empire
• 1000 = In early Middle Ages, all Christians
were part of the Roman Catholic Church
Church at End of Rome
• Churches organized distribution of food
• Provided leadership
• Monasteries (communities of monks)
provided hospitality for refugees and travelers
• Monks preserved and copied old texts
Popes & Kings
• In the early Middle Ages, great nobles and
their knights held most of the political power.
• As time passed this power began to shift to
two types of leaders, popes and kings.
• The pope had great spiritual power.
• The kings had political power.
• Together, the pope and the kings controlled
most of European society.
Organization of Roman Catholic Church
• POPE = The Catholic church’s top
position
• Bishop of Rome, supreme head
of the Catholic Church
• The first pope was St. Peter.
(Yes, the guy at the gates of
heaven)
• Since nearly everyone in the
Middle Ages belonged to this
church, the pope had great
power.
• People saw the pope as God’s
representative on Earth. They
looked to him for guidance
about how to live and pray.
Organization of Roman Catholic Church
• CARDINALS =
advisors to the Pope,
high-ranking
bishops/archbishops
appointed by Pope.
• One of the most
important jobs of a
cardinal is to elect
the new Pope.
Organization of Roman Catholic Church
• ARCHBISHOPS = govern large areas called
“archdioceses”
• BISHOPS = govern smaller areas called “dioceses.”
Kings in the Middle Ages had the right to select these
men.
• PRIESTS = leaders of parishes (church communities) in
cities and towns.
Power of the Church
• 1050 = Church is the largest landholder in
Europe
• TITHE = a tax where each person gives 1/10 of
their income to the church
• Latin was only common language of Europe.
Church officials keep records for monarchs
Cause and Effect: Conflict!
• Conflicts arise between kings and popes—
kings thinking they should appoint church
officials
• Popes excommunicate kings—throw out of
church
• Kings would seek forgiveness so they would
not be deprived salvation (entry into heaven)
Own that Word!
• EXCOMMUNICATE
EX
COMMUNICATE
Meaning
“to be without”
Meaning
“communion—the
Catholic holy meal at
Mass where believers
can receive the bread and
wine that represents the
body and blood of Jesus”
Power Held by the Kings
• In 1000 Europe was divided into many states that were
ruled by kings. Many of the kings did not have much
power.
• But the kings of England, France, and the Holy Roman
Empire held a lot of power.
• In France and England, the throne was inherited
through family.
• The Holy Roman Empire got its name because the
empire existed with the pope’s approval.
• In the Holy Roman Empire, the nobles elected the
emperor. The pope settled any disagreements among
the nobles.
Kings and Popes Clash!
• Popes also argued with kings, particularly over the king’s
right to select bishops.
• A dispute arose when Pope Gregory VII did not like a bishop
chosen by Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.
• Henry tried to remove the pope from office. The pope
excommunicated Henry.
• Henry had to beg for the pope’s forgiveness to remain in
power.
• After their deaths, a compromise was ultimately struck.
From then on, the pope would select religious officials, but
religious officials must obey the emperor.
Put it all together!
• Explain in a paragraph how Popes and Kings
dominated European society in the Middle
Ages.
• Finish your paragraph if you did not finish it
on Monday.
The Crusades
1905-1270
Section 2
Learning Goal: I can describe how the Christian and Muslim cultures fought
over holy sites during a series of medieval wars.
Key Terms & People
• Crusades: a long series of wars between Christians and Muslims
in Southwest Asia fought for control of the Holy Land from 1096
to 1291
• Holy Land: the region on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean
Sea where Jesus lived, preached, and died
• Pope Urban II: (c. 1035–1099) Medieval pope, he called on
Christians to launch the First Crusade.
• King Richard I: (1157–1199) King of England, he led Christian
soldiers in the Third Crusade. He earned the respect of his
enemies as well as Christian soldiers for his bravery and his
fairness.
• Saladin: (1137–1193) Muslim general, he led the Muslim forces
during the Third Crusade.
Crusades Invade the Holy land
• The Crusades were a long series of wars
between Christians and Muslims in Southwest
Asia.
• Crusaders comes from the Latin term for
“marked with a cross.”
• The Europeans fought the Muslims to retake
Palestine.
• Christians call the region the Holy Land
because it was where Jesus had lived,
preached, and died.
The Pope Gets Involved
• In the late 1000s, though, a group of Turkish Muslims
entered the area and captured the city of Jerusalem.
• Pilgrims returning to Europe said that these Turks had
attacked them in the Holy Land, which was no longer safe
for Christians.
• Before long, the Turks began to raid the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine emperor, fearing an attack on
Constantinople, asked Pope Urban II of the Roman
Catholic Church for help. Although the Byzantines were
Orthodox Christians and not Catholic, the pope agreed to
the request.
Why fight?
•
•
•
•
Save their souls
Do what God wants them to do
Land and treasure
Adventure—just looking for something to do
The First Crusade
• Some 5,000 peasants (not professional
soldiers) set out for Holy Land in 1096.
• On their way through Germany, they attacked
Jews—believed they were responsible for
Jesus’s death
• 1099—noble soldiers reach Jerusalem. After a
month of fighting, the Christians capture
Jerusalem, and divide it into 4 kingdoms.
The Second Crusade
• The four kingdoms only lasted about 50 years.
Muslims began taking land back away from
Christians.
• 1147—French and German kings launch 2nd
Crusade. TERRIBLE FAILURE.
• Poor planning, heavy losses on the journey.
• They left the Holy Land in less than a year
The Third Crusade
• Muslims retake Jerusalem in 1189.
• Only Richard I of England stayed to battle.
• Saladin, Muslim leader—showed kindness to
Christians… well-respected.
• Months of fighting and negotiating between
Richard and Saladin. Christians had
protection, but Jerusalem still controlled by
Muslims.
The Fourth Crusade
• 1201—French knights arrive in Venice, but
had no money to pay for the Crusade to the
Holy Land
• Venetians said they’d pay if knights attacked
Zara, a rival trade city.
• Knights attack Zara and Constantinople (never
made it to the Holy Land) and ran off with
treasures
Why did the Crusades fail?
• Crusaders had to travel large distances with
many deaths and casualties along the way
• Crusaders were not prepared to fight in
Palestine’s desert climate
• Christians were outnumbered by Muslims
• Christian leaders fought among themselves
and planned poorly
The Crusades Change Europe (and the World)
• Trade between Europe and Asia grows
• Europeans learned about apricots, rice, cotton
cloth
• Exchange of Christian and Muslim ideas
• Kings, Nobles, and Knights gain more power—
disagreement with Popes
• Uneasy feelings between Jews, Christians, and
Muslims
Write an inference statement
about the Crusades based on the
map below:
Christianity and
Medieval
Society
Section 3
Learning Goal: I can explain how the Christian
Church was central to life in the Middle Ages.
Key Terms & People
• Clergy: church officials
• religious order: a group of people who dedicate their lives to
religion and follow common rules
• Francis of Assisi: (c. 1182–1226) Italian saint, he encouraged people
to be kind to others and founded the Franciscan Order.
• Friar: a member of a religious order who lived and worked among
the public
• Thomas Aquinas: (uh-KWY-nuhs) (1225–1274) Dominican
philosopher, he argued that rational thought could be used to
support Christian belief.
• natural law: a law that people believed God had created to govern
how the world operated
The Church Shapes Society & Politics
• The clergy were very influential in medieval
European culture and politics.
• For many people in the European Middle
Ages, life revolved around the local church.
Religious ceremonies like baptisms and
weddings were key events in people’s lives.
• Some people made pilgrimages, or journeys to
religious locations.
Power of the Church
• The church owned a lot of land in Europe
because many people left their property to
the church when they died.
• In this way the church became a major feudal
lord.
• Church officials often became political
advisors to local rulers.
Monks & Friars
• Some people thought that the church was becoming too
involved with politics.
• The monks of Cluny, France, established a new religious
order. They dedicated their lives to religion with common
rules. Other new orders followed.
• Most monks lived apart from society, but two new religious
orders developed for those who wanted to live and teach
among people.
• These were the Dominicans, started by Dominic de Guzmán,
and the Franciscans, started by Francis of Assisi. The
members of these orders were called friars.
Assisi, Italy
Cross of St. Francis
Education
• Schooling took place in monasteries, convents, and
cathedrals
• Clergy were most likely to be educated
• Universities = started by cathedrals. Studied Latin
grammar, logic, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy,
music
• Some Greek philosophers banned from universities
• Thomas Aquinas – bridged the gap between reason
and faith (both are gifts from God)
• He developed a philosophical system called natural law
to show how God had ordered the world.
Holidays
• Major holidays of medieval times were
Christmas (Jesus’s birth) and Easter (Jesus’s
resurrection)
• Music, dancing, food, bonfires, acrobats,
jugglers, dancing bears, plays
Church Architecture
• Gothic style: 1150-1400
• Gargoyles – warn people about
not going to church (the devil
would get you)
• Flying buttresses (stone arches
supporting the roof)
• Pillars, religious images, stained
glass windows
• Could take anywhere from 50200 years to complete
• Their spires and high ceilings
and colorful stained glass
windows are all designed to
bring people closer to God.
Put it all together!
• In a 5 sentence paragraph, explain how the
Christian Church was central to life in the
Middle Ages.
Political and Social
Changes
Section 4
Learning Goal: I can give details to explain how
Europe’s political and social systems underwent
great changes in the late Middle Ages.
Key Terms & People
• Magna Carta: a document signed in 1215 by King John
of England that required the king to honor certain rights
• Parliament-(PAHR-luh-muhnt) the lawmaking body that
governs England
• Hundred Years' War: a long conflict between England
and France that lasted from 1337 to 1453
• Joan of Arc: (c. 1412–1431) French peasant girl, she
rallied the French troops during the Hundred Years’ War.
• Black Death: a deadly plague that swept through
Europe between 1347 and 1351
Building Background
• By the 1200s many people were upset with
kings because kings felt they could do as they
pleased, even if the nobles disagreed with
them.
• This upset many people when the kings began
to impose new taxes and take away people’s
land.
• Nobles began to look for a way to limit the
kings’ power and protect their own rights.
Political Changes of the Middle Ages
• 1215-group of nobles force King John to respect
their rights as citizens
• Signing of the Magna Carta (Latin for “Great
Charter”)—a document of a list of rights the king
could not ignore.
• This charter became a key principle of English
government and an important step in the
development of democracy.
Effects of the Magna Carta
• Habeas corpus—you can’t be put in jail
without a reason (just cause)
• EVERYONE, including the king, must follow the
law. Nobody is above the law.
• Council of nobles was created to advise the
king.
• This council would later become Parliament,
the lawmaking body of England that’s still
there today.
• By the late 1600s, the court system was free of
king’s control… the king could no longer
appoint judges.
Hundred Years’ War
• 1328, France—the king dies with no sons
• Two men claim the throne—one French, one English.
The French one is crowned.
• King of England invades France, the fighting lasts
over 100 years with many English victories.
• Joan of Arc—French teenager that rallied French
troops. Although she was captured and killed by the
English, the French prevailed and drove the English
out by 1453.
Results of the War
• ENGLAND = Parliament’s power grew—the
king could not ask for funding to go to war
without Parliament’s consent.
• FRANCE = The king’s power grew—
overwhelming support from citizens from the
victory over England.
Black Death (Plague)
• 1347-1351
• Caused by fleas on rats—victims would
develop sores under armpits and groin, spat
blood—died usually within three days or so.
• Mass graves, abandoned villages
• 1/3 of Europe’s population died (estimate
about 25 million people!)
Effects of the Black Death
• Collapse of the manor system—too many
people died to keep it going!
• Peasants and serfs that survived found that
their talents and skills were in higher demand,
so they could demand more money and land
for their families.
Put it all together!
• Explain in a paragraph (5 sentences at least)
how Europe’s political and social systems
underwent great changes in the late Middle
Ages.
Challenges to Church Authority
Section 5
Learning Goal: I can summarize how in the Middle Ages,
the Christian Church dealt harshly with people who did
not respect its authority.
Class Instructions
• Please have out your Middle Ages Packet. We
will complete our notes today.
• These packets are DUE ON FRIDAY. They should
be 100% complete by then. That includes the
various paragraphs.
• Study Guide will be given out at end of classthis is due on Friday.
• Please turn in your Middle Ages Plague Reading
Packet if you did not on Friday. If you were
absent, please see Mrs. Burnette to get one.
Key Terms & Key People
• Heresy-(HER-uh-see) religious ideas that oppose accepted church
teachings
• Reconquista-(re-kahn-KEES-tuh) the effort of Christian kingdoms in
northern Spain to retake land from the Moors during the Middle Ages
• King Ferdinand: (1452–1516) King of Spain, he and his wife Isabella
completed the Reconquista. They forced Jews in Spain to become
Christian or leave and banned Islam.
• Queen Isabella: (1451–1504) Queen of Castile in Spain, she helped
complete the Reconquista. She and her husband banned Islam and forced
all Jews in Spain to become Christian or leave. She also helped pay for the
voyages of Christopher Columbus.
• Spanish Inquisition-an organization of priests in Spain that looked for and
punished anyone suspected of secretly practicing their old religion
The Church Reacts to Challengers
• By around 1100, some Christians in Europe
felt that the clergy were more concerned with
money and land than with God.
• Others did not agree with the church’s ideas.
They began to preach their own ideas about
religion.
• Religious ideas that oppose church teachings
are called heresy.
What happens?
• Church officials sent priests and friars throughout
Europe to find people who might be heretics.
• Most of these priests and friars tried to be fair, but
some were not. Some tortured people until they
confessed, even if they were innocent.
• Most people found guilty in these trials were fined or
put in prison. Some, however, were put to death.
• By the early 1200’s, Pope Innocent III encouraged
king of France to rid the country of heretics—led to a
bloody 20 year war.
Christians Fight the Moors
• In Spain, the reign of the Muslim Moors collapsed in
the 1000s.
• Christian kingdoms in Spain started a war to drive out
the Muslims.
• They called their war Reconquista (reh-kahn-KEEStuh), or reconquest.
• The kingdom of Castile was the first to free itself of
Muslim rule.
Rise of Portugal & Spain
• Portugal declares independence shortly after driving
out the Moors.
• Ferdinand of Aragon marries Princess Isabella of
Castile in 1469.
• Ten years later, they became king and queen of their
countries. Together, they ruled all of Spain as King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
• Ferdinand and Isabella created the Spanish
Inquisition.
Ferdinand & Isabella’s Actions
1. By 1495, Ferdinand and
Isabella’s armies
conquered the last Muslim
stronghold in Spain.
2. They had forced all Jews
to convert to Christianity
or leave the country.
3. They had also outlawed
the practice of Islam.
The Inquisition
• The Inquisition = an organization of priests that
looked for and punished anyone practicing their old
religion.
• RUTHLESS—they purposely sought out Jews and
Muslims.
• Public torture, trials—attempts to get people to
renounce their faith and force conversion to
Christianity.
• Brutal and embarrassing torture techniques—many
burned at the stake.
• The inquisition executed about 2,000 people in
Spain and almost 1,400 more in Portugal.
Jews Face Discrimination
• Spain’s treatment of Jews spurred a more wide-scale
attack on Jews.
• It had become common among many Christians to
blame all Jews for the persecution and death of
Jesus.
• Some people even blamed the Jews for the Black
Death.
• In many kingdoms, Jews were driven out by angry
mobs, and sometimes by the kings themselves. They
had to flee from their homes or die.
Sum it Up!
• Summarize how in the Middle Ages, the
Christian Church dealt harshly with people
who did not respect its authority.