The Medieval Church

Church Authority Involved in spiritual and political matters Structure –Clergy –Pope –Bishops –Local priests

Religion as a Unifying Force Stable force during constant warfare Sense of security and community Religion was very important Church building served as a religious and social center

Church Justice Provided a unified set of beliefs Canon Law –Marriage –Religious practices Excommunication –Banish from church –Freed king’s vassals Interdict –Harshest punishment to king –No religious services could be performed on the King’s land

Germanic people adopt Christianity Frankish rulers convert people Missionaries spread ideas Monasteries- religious communities

Church Reform Problems in the church –Married with children –Lay investiture-kings or nobles could appoint religious officials Concordat of Worms Only the church could give a bishop his power, but the emperor could veto a proposed bishop

Gothic architecture –Tall –Light, filled with stained glass –Used flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, spires Almost 500 churches were built between Effect on Town –$$$$ –pilgrims Art –Sculpture, –Woodcarvings –stained glass Cathedrals

Crusades - Causes Pope Urban II issued a call for a “Holy War” – crusade – main goal was to gain control of the Holy Land and Jerusalem from Muslims Motives: –Q–Quarrelsome knights –Y–Younger sons and positions –R–Religious zeal –M–Merchants

First and Second Crusades Briefly conquered Jerusalem –Defeated by Saladin Saladin –Muslim leader

Third Crusade “Crusade of the Three Kings” Goal Leaders: –P–Philip Augustus –F–Frederick I –R–Richard the Lion-hearted Richard and Saladin Truce Results- still hostility between Muslims and Christians today

Reconquista-Spain Effort to drive the Muslims from Spain Led by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella 1492 – all Jews and Muslims were expelled