Role of the Church

ROLE OF THE CHURCH

Center of LifeA. Clergy

1. Church had great power over the people because it decided who could achieve salvation

Center of LifeB. Monks

1. Benedict: instilled the practice of taking vows of poverty and chastity as a monk

Worldly ChurchA. Powerful

1. Tithes: Tax the Church required Christians to pay

2. Ecclesiastical: Church court system

3. Excommunication: banned from church and partaking of sacraments

CrusadesA. 1095 AD: goal was to free the Holy LandB. Changed way people lived:

1. Increased trade 2. Contact with the Muslim world

a. Marco Polo: “Prince of Liars”- told tales from overseas

Holy Roman EmpireA. Otto the Great:

gave land to the church to create the Holy Roman Empire

B. Henry IV has conflict with popes over power

InvestitureA. 1075 Pope Gregory VIII

1. Concordat of Worms 1122 AD Conflict: who would appoint bishops? Treaty that ended the struggle between the

emperors and popes over investiture

Reconquista in SpainA. Isabella Castile & Ferdinand of Aragon

1. Inquisition:a. Help unify Spainb. Drive the Muslims out of Spain & make everyone

Catholic