The Crusades, Inquisition, Vikings and Black Plague were devastating to Western Christianity, while the internal battles over power, territory and authority over secular powers brought the Church from its highest power at the beginning to its lowest power by the end of this period

General status of the Church at 1000 16.9% of world is Christian with 21.3%

“evangelized” Total martyrs to date est. 3,064,000 (3,400/yr av.) World population is est. 275 million Average lifespan is 30 years; average Male height:

5’6” End of N. African Church More than 50% of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan,

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan had become Nestorian Christians – Soon this would disintegrate as the Seljuk Turks

gain control and rule until 13ths century After the Viking raids ended in 11th cent. only

internal problems persisted

Medieval churches owned privately by wealthy laymen, monasteries or bishops: owners profited personally; appointed priests, had him ordained, and paid him.

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• The appointment of church officials was being done by Emperor or princes by simony (“sale of church office”)• Pope Gregory in 1059 declared no secular leader

could determine the next pope, rather a College of Cardinals• Gregory declared the absolute and infallible

authority of the Pope, which the Emperor refused, denouncing him as pope and selected another.• Pope Gregory excommunicates Emperor Henry IV,

forcing his humiliating repentance at Canossa in 1077• Succeeded in separating secular power from the

church• Power of papacy grew, preparing for Crusades

and the Inquisition

Church was like the sun and kings were like the moon – thus kings derived their power from the Church!

Excommunication: set apart from the benefits of the Church’s sacraments which were essential for salvation (so they believed)

Interdict: Blockage of Church’s benefits to an entire population because of a rebellious leader Pope Innocent III (1160-1216) applied an interdict 85

times Concordat with Rome: Special privileges granted

to RCC The first was the Concordat of Worms 1122, ended the

power struggle between emperor and pope. Now the Church decided its own bishops without the emperor

The state must sign its allegiance to Rome Recently Brazil refused to sign a Concordat with Rome

(2007)stating the separation of Church and State, but later signed.

Pilgrimages arose out of two beliefs:1. The need to do penance (costly, risky and

lengthy, thus just payment for one’s sins)2. Cult of relics (relicta: “anything left behind” from

Holy Lands)▪ Belief that saints were present especially at shrines or

relics, especially body parts, thus more assuredly would hear prayers

▪ When demand too high dismemberment of corpse▪ Any item associated with a saint: clothing, cross, sword,

bones▪ To touch remains of a saint was especially beneficial▪ Thousands of items could be purchased from RCC which

would help deceased family member to be released from Purgatory.

When Muslim attacks threatened these venues of salvation military action was inevitable.

Chains of Peter in Rome

Bones of martyr Demetrius in

Greece

Eastern Empire fell to Seljuk Turks in 1071 Eastern Emperor Alexius I appealed to

Pope Urban II for a Crusade to win back Holy Lands

With the promise of booty and complete forgiveness (first time ever offered!)

Christian Europe unleashed its Viking-like warriors on the Middle East for 200 years of carnage.

The expense of the Crusade would break the Vatican

Pope Urban II preaching to take back the Holy Lands at Council of

Clermont 1070Middle East before Crusades

Jerusalem conquered in 1099, held till 1242 There was a pause of 12 to 50 years between

each Crusade Most notable Crusades:

First Crusade to Jerusalem was most successful and bloodiest

Second Crusade: Templars were stewards who were allowed to kill to protect pilgrims and possessions

Third Crusade: Richard the Lion-Hearted of England negotiated pilgrim’s right to Jerusalem

Forth Crusade: Crusaders defeat Constantinople and set up Latin (Western) Empire; end of Eastern empire

Muslims would advance in 14-17 century to Vienna

Middle East after 1st Crusade

Saladin and Guy de Lusignan 1187 surrender of Jerusalem

Jerusalem would remain under Muslims 1242-1917

Introduction of indulgences for fund-raisingDestruction of Constantinople weakened

the Eastern defense against Muslim invasion

Atrocities of “Christian Crusaders” never forgotten

Authority of Papacy increasedKings lost many barons in their realm

Augustine’s justification for a Just War accepted inevitable cruelties of war

As surgeon must amputate a leg to save a life

If one exception to violence being evil, then violence not intrinsically evil.

Crusaders were taught to demonstrate their love to God by sacrificing everything and inflicting the greatest destruction

1050 Celtic Church looses independence after 230 years of fighting (1050 to 1284)

1149 Cathars (dualistic) or Albigenses grow in France and Italy – heretical dissident groups pleading reform

1209 Francis of Assisi funds traveling preachers (Franciscans) – largest medieval order

1211 Genghis Khan, emperor of Mongols, kills 36 million Chinese in 10 yrs – enroute to Europe

1215 Magna Carta, charter of English liberties and limitation of kings, subject to laws.

1217 Albigensians kill 2 monks sent to teach RCC; seen as act of war resulting in massacre and intolerance

1229 Vernacular Scriptures prohibited by Synod of Toulouse in SW France

John of England signs Magna

Carta