The Later Middle Ages

1000-1500

The Church in Medieval Europe

Popes and KingsSection 1

Learning Goal: I can explain how Popes and kings dominated European society in the

Middle Ages.

Key Terms & People

• Bishops-local leaders in the early Christian church • Pope- the bishop of Rome and the head of the

Roman Catholic Church • Priest- a person who performs religious ceremonies • Excommunicate-to cast out from the church • Pope Gregory VII-(1020–1085) A powerful medieval

pope, he fought with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV over the power to choose church officials.

• Emperor Henry IV- (1050–1106) Holy Roman Emperor, he fought against Pope Gregory VII over the power to choose church officials.

Christians at End of Rome

• Christians, followers of Jesus were at first persecuted by the Romans

• 313 = Constantine issues decree allowing Christians to practice freely

• 395 = Christianity official religion of Roman Empire

• 1000 = In early Middle Ages, all Christians were part of the Roman Catholic Church

Church at End of Rome

• Churches organized distribution of food

• Provided leadership• Monasteries (communities of monks)

provided hospitality for refugees and travelers

• Monks preserved and copied old texts

Popes & Kings

• In the early Middle Ages, great nobles and their knights held most of the political power.

• As time passed this power began to shift to two types of leaders, popes and kings.

• The pope had great spiritual power. • The kings had political power. • Together, the pope and the kings

controlled most of European society.

Organization of Roman Catholic Church

• POPE = The Catholic church’s top position

• Bishop of Rome, supreme head of the Catholic Church

• The first pope was St. Peter. (Yes, the guy at the gates of heaven)

• Since nearly everyone in the Middle Ages belonged to this church, the pope had great power.

• People saw the pope as God’s representative on Earth. They looked to him for guidance about how to live and pray.

Organization of Roman Catholic Church

• CARDINALS = advisors to the Pope, high-ranking bishops/archbishops appointed by Pope.

• One of the most important jobs of a cardinal is to elect the new Pope.

Organization of Roman Catholic Church

• ARCHBISHOPS = govern large areas called “archdioceses”

• BISHOPS = govern smaller areas called “dioceses.” Kings in the Middle Ages had the right to select these men.

• PRIESTS = leaders of parishes (church communities) in cities and towns.

Power of the Church

• 1050 = Church is the largest landholder in Europe

• TITHE = a tax where each person gives 1/10 of their income to the church

• Latin was only common language of Europe. Church officials keep records for monarchs

Cause and Effect: Conflict!

• Conflicts arise between kings and popes—kings thinking they should appoint church officials

• Popes excommunicate kings—throw out of church

• Kings would seek forgiveness so they would not be deprived salvation (entry into heaven)

Own that Word!

• EXCOMMUNICATE

EX COMMUNICATEMeaning Meaning“to be without” “communion—the

Catholic holy meal atMass where believerscan receive the bread andwine that represents the body and blood of Jesus”

Power Held by the Kings• In 1000 Europe was divided into many states that

were ruled by kings. Many of the kings did not have much power.

• But the kings of England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire held a lot of power.

• In France and England, the throne was inherited through family.

• The Holy Roman Empire got its name because the empire existed with the pope’s approval.

• In the Holy Roman Empire, the nobles elected the emperor. The pope settled any disagreements among the nobles.

Kings and Popes Clash!• Popes also argued with kings, particularly over

the king’s right to select bishops. • A dispute arose when Pope Gregory VII did not

like a bishop chosen by Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.

• Henry tried to remove the pope from office. The pope excommunicated Henry.

• Henry had to beg for the pope’s forgiveness to remain in power.

• After their deaths, a compromise was ultimately struck. From then on, the pope would select religious officials, but religious officials must obey the emperor.

Put it all together!

• Explain in a paragraph how Popes and Kings dominated European society in the Middle Ages.

The Crusades1905-1270

Section 2

Learning Goal: I can describe how the Christian and Muslim cultures fought over holy sites during a series of medieval wars.

Key Terms & People• Crusades: a long series of wars between Christians

and Muslims in Southwest Asia fought for control of the Holy Land from 1096 to 1291

• Holy Land: the region on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea where Jesus lived, preached, and died

• Pope Urban II: (c. 1035–1099) Medieval pope, he called on Christians to launch the First Crusade.

• King Richard I: (1157–1199) King of England, he led Christian soldiers in the Third Crusade. He earned the respect of his enemies as well as Christian soldiers for his bravery and his fairness.

• Saladin: (1137–1193) Muslim general, he led the Muslim forces during the Third Crusade.

Crusades Invade the Holy land

• The Crusades were a long series of wars between Christians and Muslims in Southwest Asia.

• Crusaders comes from the Latin term for “marked with a cross.”

• The Europeans fought the Muslims to retake Palestine.

• Christians call the region the Holy Land because it was where Jesus had lived, preached, and died.

The Pope Gets Involved• In the late 1000s, though, a group of Turkish

Muslims entered the area and captured the city of Jerusalem.

• Pilgrims returning to Europe said that these Turks had attacked them in the Holy Land, which was no longer safe for Christians.

• Before long, the Turks began to raid the Byzantine Empire.

• The Byzantine emperor, fearing an attack on Constantinople, asked  Pope Urban II of the Roman Catholic Church for help. Although the Byzantines were Orthodox Christians and not Catholic, the pope agreed to the request.

Why fight?

• Save their souls • Do what God wants them to do• Land and treasure• Adventure—just looking for

something to do

The First Crusade

• Some 5,000 peasants (not professional soldiers) set out for Holy Land in 1096.

• On their way through Germany, they attacked Jews—believed they were responsible for Jesus’s death

• 1099—noble soldiers reach Jerusalem. After a month of fighting, the Christians capture Jerusalem, and divide it into 4 kingdoms.

The Second Crusade

• The four kingdoms only lasted about 50 years. Muslims began taking land back away from Christians.

• 1147—French and German kings launch 2nd Crusade. TERRIBLE FAILURE.

• Poor planning, heavy losses on the journey.

• They left the Holy Land in less than a year

The Third Crusade

• Muslims retake Jerusalem in 1189.• Only Richard I of England stayed to

battle.• Saladin, Muslim leader—showed

kindness to Christians… well-respected.

• Months of fighting and negotiating between Richard and Saladin. Christians had protection, but Jerusalem still controlled by Muslims.

The Fourth Crusade

• 1201—French knights arrive in Venice, but had no money to pay for the Crusade to the Holy Land

• Venetians said they’d pay if knights attacked Zara, a rival trade city.

• Knights attack Zara and Constantinople (never made it to the Holy Land) and ran off with treasures

Why did the Crusades fail?

• Crusaders had to travel large distances with many deaths and casualties along the way

• Crusaders were not prepared to fight in Palestine’s desert climate

• Christians were outnumbered by Muslims

• Christian leaders fought among themselves and planned poorly

The Crusades Change Europe (and the World)

• Trade between Europe and Asia grows• Europeans learned about apricots, rice,

cotton cloth• Exchange of Christian and Muslim ideas• Kings, Nobles, and Knights gain more

power—disagreement with Popes• Uneasy feelings between Jews,

Christians, and Muslims

Write an inference statement about the

Crusades based on the map below:

Christianity and Medieval SocietySection 3

Learning Goal: I can explain how the Christian Church was central to life in the

Middle Ages.

Key Terms & People• Clergy: church officials• religious order: a group of people who dedicate

their lives to religion and follow common rules• Francis of Assisi: (c. 1182–1226) Italian saint, he

encouraged people to be kind to others and founded the Franciscan Order.

• Friar: a member of a religious order who lived and worked among the public

• Thomas Aquinas: (uh-KWY-nuhs) (1225–1274) Dominican philosopher, he argued that rational thought could be used to support Christian belief.

• natural law: a law that people believed God had created to govern how the world operated

The Church Shapes Society & Politics

• The clergy were very influential in medieval European culture and politics.

• For many people in the European Middle Ages, life revolved around the local church. Religious ceremonies like baptisms and weddings were key events in people’s lives.

• Some people made pilgrimages, or journeys to religious locations.

Power of the Church

• The church owned a lot of land in Europe because many people left their property to the church when they died.

• In this way the church became a major feudal lord.

• Church officials often became political advisors to local rulers.

Monks & Friars

• Some people thought that the church was becoming too involved with politics.

• The monks of Cluny, France, established a new religious order. They dedicated their lives to religion with common rules. Other new orders followed.

• Most monks lived apart from society, but two new religious orders developed for those who wanted to live and teach among people.

• These were the Dominicans, started by Dominic de Guzmán, and the Franciscans, started by Francis of Assisi. The members of these orders were called friars.

Assisi, Italy

Cross of St. Francis

Education• Schooling took place in monasteries,

convents, and cathedrals• Clergy were most likely to be educated• Universities = started by cathedrals.

Studied Latin grammar, logic, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, music

• Some Greek philosophers banned from universities

• Thomas Aquinas – bridged the gap between reason and faith (both are gifts from God)

• He developed a philosophical system called natural law to show how God had ordered the world.

Holidays

• Major holidays of medieval times were Christmas (Jesus’s birth) and Easter (Jesus’s resurrection)

• Music, dancing, food, bonfires, acrobats, jugglers, dancing bears, plays

Church Architecture• Gothic style: 1150-1400• Gargoyles – warn people

about not going to church (the devil would get you)

• Flying buttresses (stone arches supporting the roof)

• Pillars, religious images, stained glass windows

• Could take anywhere from 50-200 years to complete

• Their spires and high ceilings and colorful stained glass windows are all designed to bring people closer to God.

Put it all together!

• In a 5 sentence paragraph, explain how the Christian Church was central to life in the Middle Ages.

Political and Social Changes

Section 4Learning Goal: I can give details to explain how Europe’s political and social systems underwent great changes in the late Middle Ages.

Key Terms & People• Magna Carta: a document signed in 1215 by

King John of England that required the king to honor certain rights

• Parliament-(PAHR-luh-muhnt) the lawmaking body that governs England

• Hundred Years' War: a long conflict between England and France that lasted from 1337 to 1453

• Joan of Arc: (c. 1412–1431) French peasant girl, she rallied the French troops during the Hundred Years’ War.

• Black Death: a deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351

Political Changes of the Middle Ages

• 1215-group of nobles force King John to respect their rights as citizens

• Signing of the Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”)—a document of a list of rights the king could not ignore.

• This charter became a key principle of English government and an important step in the development of democracy.

Effects of the Magna Carta

• Habeas corpus—you can’t be put in jail without a reason (just cause)

• EVERYONE, including the king, must follow the law. Nobody is above the law.

• Council of nobles was created to advise the king.

• This council would later become Parliament, the lawmaking body of England that’s still there today.

• By the late 1600s, the court system was free of king’s control… the king could no longer appoint judges.

Hundred Years’ War

• 1328, France—the king dies with no sons• Two men claim the throne—one French, one

English. The French one is crowned.• King of England invades France, the fighting

lasts over 100 years with many English victories.

• Joan of Arc—French teenager that rallied French troops. Although she was captured and killed by the English, the French prevailed and drove the English out by 1453.

Results of the War

• ENGLAND = Parliament’s power grew—the king could not ask for funding to go to war without Parliament’s consent.

• FRANCE = The king’s power grew—overwhelming support from citizens from the victory over England.

Black Death (Plague)

• 1347-1351• Caused by fleas on rats—victims

would develop sores under armpits and groin, spat blood—died usually within three days or so.

• Mass graves, abandoned villages• 1/3 of Europe’s population died

(estimate about 25 million people!)

Effects of the Black Death

• Collapse of the manor system—too many people died to keep it going!

• Peasants and serfs that survived found that their talents and skills were in higher demand, so they could demand more money and land for their families.

Put it all together!

• Explain in a paragraph (5 sentences at least) how Europe’s political and social systems underwent great changes in the late Middle Ages.

Challenges to Church Authority

Section 5Learning Goal: I can summarize how in the Middle Ages, the Christian Church dealt harshly with people who did not

respect its authority.

Key Terms & Key People• Heresy-(HER-uh-see) religious ideas that oppose accepted

church teachings • Reconquista-(re-kahn-KEES-tuh) the effort of Christian

kingdoms in northern Spain to retake land from the Moors during the Middle Ages

• King Ferdinand: (1452–1516) King of Spain, he and his wife Isabella completed the Reconquista. They forced Jews in Spain to become Christian or leave and banned Islam.

• Queen Isabella: (1451–1504) Queen of Castile in Spain, she helped complete the Reconquista. She and her husband banned Islam and forced all Jews in Spain to become Christian or leave. She also helped pay for the voyages of Christopher Columbus.

• Spanish Inquisition-an organization of priests in Spain that looked for and punished anyone suspected of secretly practicing their old religion

The Church Reacts to Challengers

• By around 1100, some Christians in Europe felt that the clergy were more concerned with money and land than with God.

• Others did not agree with the church’s ideas. They began to preach their own ideas about religion.

• Religious ideas that oppose church teachings are called heresy.

What happens?• Church officials sent priests and friars

throughout Europe to find people who might be heretics.

• Most of these priests and friars tried to be fair, but some were not. Some tortured people until they confessed, even if they were innocent.

• Most people found guilty in these trials were fined or put in prison. Some, however, were put to death.

• By the early 1200’s, Pope Innocent III encouraged king of France to rid the country of heretics—led to a bloody 20 year war.

Christians Fight the Moors

• In Spain, the reign of the Muslim Moors collapsed in the 1000s.

• Christian kingdoms in Spain started a war to drive out the Muslims.

• They called their war Reconquista (reh-kahn-KEES-tuh), or reconquest.

• The kingdom of Castile was the first to free itself of Muslim rule.

Rise of Portugal & Spain

• Portugal declares independence shortly after driving out the Moors.

• Ferdinand of Aragon marries Princess Isabella of Castile in 1469.

• Ten years later, they became king and queen of their countries. Together, they ruled all of Spain as King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

• Ferdinand and Isabella created the Spanish Inquisition.

Ferdinand & Isabella’s Actions

1. By 1495, Ferdinand and Isabella’s armies conquered the last Muslim stronghold in Spain.

2. They had forced all Jews to convert to Christianity or leave the country.

3. They had also outlawed the practice of Islam.

The Inquisition

• The Inquisition = an organization of priests that looked for and punished anyone practicing their old religion.

• RUTHLESS—they purposely sought out Jews and Muslims.

• Public torture, trials—attempts to get people to renounce their faith and force conversion to Christianity.

• Brutal and embarrassing torture techniques—many burned at the stake.

• The inquisition executed about 2,000 people in Spain and almost 1,400 more in Portugal.

Jews Face Discrimination

• Spain’s treatment of Jews spurred a more wide-scale attack on Jews.

• It had become common among many Christians to blame all Jews for the persecution and death of Jesus.

• Some people even blamed the Jews for the Black Death.

• In many kingdoms, Jews were driven out by angry mobs, and sometimes by the kings themselves. They had to flee from their homes or die.

Sum it Up!

• Summarize how in the Middle Summarize how in the Middle Ages, the Christian Church dealt Ages, the Christian Church dealt harshly with people who did not harshly with people who did not respect its authority.respect its authority.