1. Secular v. Religious Authority
Lesson 1.3

2. The Roman Empire

3. Post-Roman Empire

4. Carolingian Empire

5. Feudalism

6. Who has the power?
“There are two powers by which this world is chiefly ruled: the sacred authority of the priesthood and the authority of kings”
Pope Gelasius I (AD 500)

7. Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE EAST
Rift in the Church
Many in Eastern Europe remained literate and practiced Orthodox Christianity
Many in Western Europe were illiterate and varied in their practice of Christianity
Conflict arises over use of icons
Icons – holy pictures of Jesus and the saints
Iconoclastic Controversy
Why might many people have liked to use icons?
Conflict grows and results in split in Christian Church in 1054 into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic
Called the Great Schism
Constantinople falls to the Muslim Ottomans in 1453

8. The Church Priests headed local communities called parishes
group of parishes(diocese) headed by a bishop
Bishop of Rome claimed he was the leader of the Roman Catholic Church
later called Popes from the Latin word papa, “father”

9. Monasticism

10. The Church
Germanic peoples united to create the Holy Roman Empire in 962
Otto I defeats the invading Magyars and unites central Europe
162 years after Charlemagne, Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope – Why title it Holy Roman Empire when it’s a bunch of Germans?
Not much of an empire
Lasted in some form until 1806
The two main powers in the Middle Ages were the Church and the Empire – Why doesn’t the empire get rid of the Church?
The Emperor was the head of secular power
The Pope was the head of religious power
Often the two would clash
The Emperor could attempt to appoint regional bishops and priests, infringing on Church power (lay investiture)
The Pope could excommunicate the Emperor, affecting the people of his reign

11. The Crusades Armed pilgrimages of Christian Europeans
To attack the holy land, Muslims, other non-Christians…
First Crusade began in 1095
Christians gained control of the holy lands, only to lose them back to the Muslims shortly thereafter
Different Crusades continued through the 1400’s
At least 9 different crusades of varying size and success
The Crusades were probably just as much about power, influence, and wealth as they were about religion
Although those participating DEFINITELY thought they were doing God’s will – as did the Muslim defenders
Who was right?

12. THE BLACK DEATH A Weakened Church Authority of the Pope Questioned
John Wycliffe – thinker/reformer
Jesus is the authority, not the Pope
Jan Hus – thinker/reformer
The Bible is the authority, not the Pope
The Church had no answer for…
THE BLACK DEATH