Download The Catholic Church in the European Middle Ages

Chapter 13 – The
Rise of the Middle
Ages
The Catholic Church
The Story continues…
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During the Feudalist Middle Ages the Catholic
church was one of the few sources of stability
and leadership that people could rely on.
Map of Medieval Europe
The Catholic Church’s Influence
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The medieval Catholic church had broad
political powers because Europe used the
feudalist political system so its central
governments were weak.
The Catholic church’s power extended across
kingdoms and through every social and political
level from king to peasant.
The Catholic Church Hierarchy
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The church was organized according to a strict
hierarchy of rank.
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Pope
Cardinal
Archbishop
Bishop
Parish Priest
The Pope and the Cardinals
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The pope held the supreme authority in the
Catholic church.
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The cardinals (princes of the Catholic church)
advised the pope on legal and spiritual matters.
The Archbishop and Bishop
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An archbishop supervised a group of bishops in
their archdiocese.
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A bishop managed a group of parishes called a
diocese. Nobles chose the bishops and many
bishops were feudal lords or vassals.
The Parish Priest
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The parish priest held the lowest rank in church
hierarchy but was one of most important
leaders.
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The parish priest directly served people in his
parish.
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He was responsible for the religious instruction,
And moral and spiritual life of his community
Monasticism
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The medieval church
was made up of two
types of clergy.
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1) Secular clergy
2) Regular clergy
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Monks - monasteries
Nuns – converts
 Adopted the
Benedictine Rule –
rules created by Saint
Benedict to govern
monks’ lives.
The Church and Medieval Life
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The Christian clergy played a major role in
medieval institutions and everyday life.
The church also enjoyed great political,
economic, and social influence across much of
Europe.
Political Role
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Many popes claimed that the church held
political as well as spiritual power over all
monarchs.
Canon law – was the church’s own code of law
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Could excommunicate
Could issue an interdict – close region’s churches (no
marriages, burials or sacraments could be performed).
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Used interdict to turn people against their rulers who
opposed church power and authority.
Political role cont’d..
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The church didn’t allow anyone to question the
basic principles of the Christian religion.
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IF YOU DID, you were labeled a Heretic – people
who didn’t believe in the church’s teachings or who
preached beliefs that were not approved by the church.
Economic and social role
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The church had the power to tax its people a
tithe.
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The family was a sacred institution so divorce
was forbidden.
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The clergy took care of the poor and needy.
Problems of the church
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Church’s biggest problems:
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1) Investiture – the practice of a noble
appointing a friend or relative to be a bishop.
2) Simony – people buying high positions with
the church hierarchy
3) Reform – this led to the Inquisition – search
for heretics – by the Dominicans.
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Problems for the Church
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These practices would eventually corrupt the
Catholic Church & would allow people to
create & accept other Christian religions during
the Protestant Reformation.