Download Aim: Why was the Catholic Church the most dominant force during

Aim: Why was the Catholic
Church the most dominant force
during the Middle Ages?
Key Terms
Roman Catholic Church
Tithes
Coach Smith
With the fall
of Rome,
central
government
collapsed
in
western
Europe.
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Unity Through Religion

Hundreds of little governments replaced
the Roman Empire.

Western Europeans were not adhering to
one set of laws.

However, most Medieval Europeans were
Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic
Church united the people of Western
Europe.
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The Roman
Catholic
Church was
very powerful
in Medieval
times.
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
Medieval people were very religious.

They believed that the Roman Catholic
Church had the power to send people to
Heaven or Hell.

Their intense religious convictions led
many of them to accept Church teachings.
The Power of Heaven or Hell
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The Roman Catholic Church was
the largest landowner in Western
Europe.
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
The Roman Catholic Church was the
largest landowner in Western Europe
during the Middle Ages.

Nobles frequently left land to the Church.

Nobles hoped to gain entry to Heaven
through such good works.
The Largest Landowner
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The Roman Catholic Church was
the main center of learning in
Medieval times.
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
The Roman Catholic Church was the main
center of learning in Medieval times.

Usually the only people who could read or
write were Church officials.

It is important to remember that with the
fall of Rome, much secular education
ended.
A Center of Learning
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The Roman Catholic Church was
a wealthy institution in the Middle
Ages.
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
The Roman Catholic Church was a wealthy
institution in the Middle Ages.

People paid tithes or church taxes.

A tithe was a percentage of a person’s
total income that was paid to the Church.
The Wealth of the Church
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Even today, Christians tithe.
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The Roman Catholic Church united the
people of the Middle Ages.
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Questions for Reflection:





How did the fall of Rome affect the people
of Western Europe?
What institution united people during the
Middle Ages?
Why did this institution unite people
during the Middle Ages?
Why was this institution wealthy and
powerful?
Define tithe.
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