Topic 11 Medieval Christianity (500-1500)

1. Topic 11Medieval Christianity(500-1500) • Early Middle Ages • Late Middle Ages

2. I. Early Middle Ages (476-1054) A. Fall of Rome (476) – effects on church: • Barbarian invaders provided new prospects for conversion. • Church becomes most powerful institution in the West – hierarchy is strengthened. • Office of Pope rises to fill power vacuum. • Bishop of Rome evolved into office of Pope. • “Pope” derives from “papa” – term of endearment for bishops; became title for Bishop of Rome. • Bishops of Rome claimed authority over other bishops as successors of Peter. • Pope became supreme ruler of (Western) Church. • With collapse of imperial power in West, popes now exercised secular power as well. • Pope Gregory I negotiated with invaders; organized food relief during siege of Rome. • Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor of “Holy Roman Empire” (800). • Divided Eastern from Western Christianity.

3. I. Early Middle Ages (476-1054) B. Western vs. Eastern Christianity

4. I. Early Middle Ages (476-1054) • East-West Schism (1054) • Filioque (“and from the Son”) added to creed in West; Eastern theologians objected. • 1054 – Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated one another. • 1204 – Crusaders from West sacked Constantinople! (Dashed any hopes of reconciliation.) • Rise of Islam (610-732) • Religion of monotheism - founded by Muhammed. • Muslims captured Southern rim of Christendom: Middle East; Egypt; North Africa; part of Spain. • Christianity expanded northward.

5. N. Africa Palestine Arabia Egypt

6. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Development of the Papacy • Corruption • Church hierarchy grew wealthy, powerful, corrupt. • Bishops often functioned more like feudal warlords. • Specific abuses compromising integrity of church offices: • Nepotism – giving offices to relatives • Simony – selling offices to highest bidder • Lay investiture – appointment of church officials by secular ruler • 10th century: Papacy caught up in political intrigue; assassinations; sexual immorality. • Cluniac Reform • Promoted by monastery at Cluny. • Led to strengthening of papacy.

7. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Development of the Papacy – cont. • Three strong popes in high middle ages: • Pope Gregory VII • Strong reforming pope. • Conflict with Emperor Henry IV over lay investiture (1077). • Showdown at Canossa: Henry stood barefoot in snow repenting until Pope forgave him. • Pope Innocent III • Most powerful pope ever (c. 1200). • Most powerful man in Europe. • Council adopted doctrine of Transubstantiation (bread & wine become body & blood of Christ). • Started the Inquisition – church court for rooting out heresy. • Pope Boniface VIII • Claimed absolute power of pope. • Unam Sanctam (1302): no salvation outside church. • Secular authority must yield to pope. • No longer had power to enforce these claims.

8. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Development of the Papacy – cont. • Decline of the papacy • Papacy moved to Avignon, under control of French kings (1309-1377). • Period of rival popes: popes in Rome and Avignon, each claiming legitimacy (1378-1423). • Corruption: by end of Middle Ages, popes were again caught up in pursuit of immorality, wealth, luxury, and power.

9. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Crusades (1095-1291) • Series of military campaigns to retake Holy Land. • Minimal results in military objective. • First Crusade won control of Jerusalem for nearly a century. • Other crusades were less successful. • Side-effects: • Enhanced power of papacy. • Boosted economy of Europe. • Enhanced popularity of “relics.” • Reopened contact with East. • Rediscovered ancient classics, esp. Aristotle. • Sowed seeds of animosity between Muslims and Christians.

10. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Scholasticism • Scholastic theology • Taught in cathedral schools and universities. • Used reason to analyze Christian doctrine. • Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) • Most important scholastic theologian. • Summa Theologica – systematic theology; “crown of scholasticism.” • Became official Roman Catholic theology. • Salvation is by grace plus works. • Grace enables good works. • Works earn merit, which is necessary for salvation.. • Surplus merit (earned by saints, etc.) is stored in Treasury of Merit – can be dispensed by church.

11. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Early Reform Efforts (forerunners of Protestant Ref.) • John Wycliffe (1330-84) • English priest; Oxford professor. • Concerned about corruption in church. • Asserted authority of Bible over authority of church. • Popes/priests are subject to authority of Bible. • All Christians can read/interpret Bible for themselves. • Translated Bible into English – earliest complete English translation (worked from Latin Vulgate). • Disciples (Lollards) continued message; were persecuted. • 1418 – declared a heretic; bones exhumed, burned. • John Hus (1372-1415) • Professor in Prague; influenced by Wycliffe. • Authority of Bible over church. • Condemned corruption in clergy. • Burned at stake (1415). • Followers rebelled; won some concessions.

12. II. Late Middle Ages (1054-1453) • Renaissance (1300-1600) • Revival of classical culture • Burst of creative energy in art, sculpture. • Popes spent enormous sums. • Humanism • New kind of scholarship. • Openness to inquiry; freedom to question authority; reject traditional assumptions. • Went back to ancient classics; Bible in Hebrew and Greek. • Studied Bible for what it says, as opposed to church tradition. • Vernacular translations put Bible in hands of lay people. • Gutenberg’s printing press (c. 1450) made books cheap, plentiful. • Erasmus – Dutch humanist; published first printed text of Greek NT (1516). • Renaissance set stage for Protestant Reformation.