ROLE OF THE CHURCH

System of Organization Christianity had become the main religion of the Roman Empire – Spread to other parts of Europe – Christianity appealed to many during the medieval times since many people’s lives were filled with suffering and hardship and Christianity offered them the promise of a happy afterlife – Christendom = a Christian society that included most of western Europe

– The pope was the head of the entire Roman Catholic Church – formerly the Bishop of Rome – Monk – a man who separates himself from everyday life to dedicate himself entirely to God, lives in a monastery run by an abbot Spent lots of time in prayer and physical labor, took a vow of poverty

Monasteries became centers of learning – Monks copied Christian and Latin manuscripts in writing rooms Monks worked to spread Christianity throughout Europe – Called missionaries = people sent out to carry a religious message Monasteries also were centers of wealth as kings and nobles donated money or gifts in exchange for prayers said on their behalf – Women who dedicated themselves to God were called nuns and lived in convents

Rise of Papal Power Popes became increasingly involved in politics due to their control of the Papal States – Region in central Italy under the control of the Pope – More interested in the secular world rather than spiritual duties The first pope to really increase the power of the papacy was Pope Leo IX – His reforms brought him into conflict with political leaders – Kings resented his interference in their kingdoms

Pope Innocent III strengthened papal power and believed that the pope was the supreme judge and ruler of European affairs – Used the interdict to exercise his powers An interdict forbids priests to give the sacraments (Christian rites) to a particular group of people – A pope used an interdict against a country whose ruler has disobeyed him – People under interdiction lost the comforts and blessings of religion – They exerted pressure on their ruler to follow the pope’s wishes

Heresy and The Inquisition Heresy = denial of basic Church doctrines, or beliefs that opposed the official teachings of the Church – People who committed heresy were called heretics and were usually burned at the stake The Inquisition was a court created by the Catholic Church to find and try heretics – Used torture and heretics who converted to Catholicism were freed, while others were killed – The Spanish Inquisition was the most brutal and was still operating in the 1800s The two groups it went after the most were Jews and Muslims

The Crusades From the 11 th to 13 th centuries, European Christians went on the Crusades – The Crusades were a series of military campaigns to regain the Holy Land from the Muslims who were known as infidels (non-believers) – The goal of each Crusade was to take Jerusalem and the surrounding area away from the Muslims Many Christians believed that Jesus would only come again once Christians held Jerusalem The Muslims also considered Jerusalem holy The First Crusade started when Muslim Turks attacked the Byzantine Empire

– The Byzantine Emperor asked for help and Pope Urban II responded by urging Christians to take up arms in a holy war (1095) Slogan: “God wills it!” – Two groups set out for the Crusade Peasant Crusaders – slaughtered entire Jewish communities on the way to Jerusalem – Most died quickly when they did reach the Holy Land Trained knights – even they were still unprepared for the hardship – Three years after heading out, the Crusaders finally reached Jerusalem

Captured Jerusalem and killed most of its inhabitants – Set up four Latin Crusader states that were surrounded by Muslims and were intended to be strongholds against future Muslim aggression Second Crusade – A few years later the Muslims began to recapture lands – The Second Crusade is organized after one of the Latin Crusader states falls to the Muslims – The Crusade was launched in 1147 and included King Louis VII of France and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine – It was a complete failure – took no lands from Muslims

Third Crusade – A new leader emerges among the Muslims – Salah ad-Din, whom the Europeans call Saladin His goal was to recapture the Holy Land In 1187 he captured Jerusalem – Richard and Saladin fought fiercely against each other and although Richard won several battles, he was not able to take Jerusalem – Richard instead negotiates an agreement with Saladin for Christian pilgrims to be allowed to go into Jerusalem and he returns home

Effects of the Crusades – There were nine Crusades launched from 1096 to 1291 – the First Crusade was the only successful one – The Crusades increased trade and some Italian cities benefited economically – Lots of money and manpower spent on the Crusades – Led to the deaths of many knights and nobles Kings gained power as they took over unoccupied lands – Brought knowledge of Muslim culture to Europe – Began to view all non-Christians as enemies Undertaking holy wars against Muslims while the “murderers of Christ” ran free at home

Massacres of Jews became a feature of medieval European life, anti-Semitism increases Anti-Semitism = hostility towards Jews – Breeds centuries of mistrust between Christians and Muslims