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Influence and Reform: The Power of the Medieval Clergy

Explore the influential role of the medieval clergy in the Christian Church and the reform movements that swept through the Church during this time. Learn about the growth of papal power, conflicts with political leaders, and the rise of new religious orders.

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Influence and Reform: The Power of the Medieval Clergy

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  1. “One faces the future with one’s past.”- Pearl S. BuckButterflies taste with their feet.

  2. Power of the Church Main Idea Reform and changes swept through the Christian Church, one of the most influential institutions in medieval Europe.

  3. Clergy and Piety Popes as Political Figures • Clergy people’s main connection to church, had great influence • Monks: peacemakers, prayed for safety of rulers, armies • Church officials: teachers, record keepers • Around 1000, influence of church increased dramatically - great upwelling of piety, level of devotion, in Europe • Participation in religious services increased, thousands flocked to monasteries, joined religious orders • Pope is head of Roman Catholic Church • Early popes seen as spiritual leaders – during Middle Ages, they became powerful political figures • Manorialism, feudalism encouraged local loyalties • Christian beliefs brought people across Europe together in spiritual community of Christendom • Major life events marked by religious ceremonies Religion in the Middle Ages

  4. Lincoln Cathedral in England is an example of a cathedral city

  5. Question: Why was the medieval clergy so influential? Answer(s): Christian church had strong influence over daily lives of most Europeans; clergy were the people's link to the church

  6. Papacy Church Reforms • 900s, 1000s, pope had little authority • Considered head of church, but localbishops made most important religious decisions • Few popes noted for religious devotion; most were nobles concerned with increasing own power • 1049, first of series of popes dedicated to reforming papacy came to power, Leo IX • Believed that Europe’s clergy had become corrupt, wanted reform • Concerned with simony, buying and selling of church offices by bishops Growth of Papal Power Not only were Europe’s common people inspired by a new sense of piety, many clergy members sought ways to improve conditions.

  7. Power and Conflict • Excommunication • Bishops guilty of bad offenses excommunicated, cast out of church • No greater punishment for Christians in Middle Ages - person excommunicated could not take part in Eucharist, could not be saved • Reforms • Leo became more active in governing church than other popes in past • Reforms brought him into conflict with political, religious leaders • Many bishops believed pope had no authority to tell them how to act • Conflict • One who rejected Leo’s authority, bishop of Constantinople • 1054, Leo excommunicated bishop, bishop excommunicated Leo - split Christian Church in two • Those who agreed Leo called Roman Catholics; those who sided with bishop, Orthodox

  8. Michael I Cerularius: Patriarch of Constantinople

  9. Popes gained influence over people’s religious lives, also over European politics Pope became head of huge network of ecclesiastical courts, heard cases on religious, moral matters Pope also ruled territories, like Papal States Had ability to raise armies to defend territories Several popes hired Normans to fight wars Crusades against Muslims launched by popes Popes and Politics

  10. Tradition Reform Bishop of Milan • Kings, other leaders played active role in choosing clergy • Holy Roman emperor named several popes • Reform popes did not think anyone but clergy should choose religious officials • Issue became critical during Pope Gregory VII’spontificate • Henry IV, Holy Roman emperor, chose new bishop for city of Milan • Gregory did not approve, removed bishop • Henry disputed Gregory’s authority • Most important outcome: Gregory stood up to emperor Conflict over Bishops Although popes had increased their power, they still came into conflict with political leaders. Popes of the late 1000s were firmly resolved to change the way members of the clergy were chosen.

  11. Question: In what ways did popes become stronger in the Middle Ages? Answer(s): eliminated corrupt clergy, appointed bishops, became political leaders, built armies, ruled territory

  12. New Orders Cistercian Monasteries • For some monks, Benedictine life not strict enough • Monks wanted lives free from any worldly distractions • Created new orders, most popular of which was Cistercian order • Usually built outside of towns to ensure isolation • Undecorated, unheated even in winter; monks divided time between prayer, labor • Other new orders even stricter, members lived like hermits Network of Monasteries • Early 900s, group of monks sought to return monasticism to strict roots • Est. new monastery at Cluny, France, to live by Benedictine Rule • Monks of Cluny reserved right to choose own abbot • Cluny became most influential and core of network of monasteries across western Europe

  13. St. Benedict and St. Robert of Molesme

  14. Question: What changes were introduced to monasticism? Answer(s): stricter rules, monks stayed out of politics, simplified lives

  15. The Crusades Main Idea The Crusades, a series of attempts to gain Christian control of the Holy Land, had a profound economic, political, and social impact on the societies involved.

  16. Muslims Control Holy Land Goal of Crusades • Jerusalem in control of North African Muslims, Fatimids, late 1000s • Seljuk Turkish Muslims took control of Persia, other lands, persecuted Christians visiting region • Turks attacked Byzantine Empire, destroyed army, 1071 • Emperor turned to Western Europe, Pope Urban II, for help • European Christians launched series of religious wars, Crusades, in Middle Ages • Goal to take Jerusalem, Holy Land, away from Muslims • Jerusalem site of Holy Temple of Jews, also where Jesus crucified, buried, was to come again • Vital to Christians to control city Launching the Crusades

  17. Muslim Expansion 7th - 8th c.

  18. Pope Urban II called church leaders to council in Clermont, France Described dangers faced by Byzantines Called on Christian warriors to put aside differences, fight against Turks Effective call to arms Hundreds of knights, nobles volunteered for Crusade Set out to meet foes with slogan “God wills it!” The Council of Clermont

  19. Question: What events led to the call for a Crusade? Answer(s): Seljuk Turks conquered Holy Land, threatened Byzantines; Byzantine emperor called on pope for assistance

  20. First Crusade Knights • Crusaders in two groups, peasants and knights • Unskilled peasants answered Pope’s call • Eager to fight non-Christians in Holy Land • On the way attacked and slaughtered German Jews despite protests • Fell to Seljuk Turkish army at Jerusalem • Better trained in warfare than peasants, but unprepared for hardship of journey • Traveled three years • Siege of Jerusalem victory for Crusaders, disaster for city • Renamed four states in Holy Land, intended to be strongholds against future Muslim conquests Fighting the Crusades Crusaders left France in 1096 in First Crusade. In all, nine Crusades set out between 1096 and 1291 to claim or protect the Holy Land.

  21. Second Crusade • Muslims began retaking lands lost in First Crusade • Took city of Edessa, capital of one Crusader state, 1144 • European leaders called for Second Crusade, launched in 1147 • Second Crusade a failure, took no lands from Muslims • Third Crusade • New leader arose in Muslim world, 1177 • Salah ad-Din, known to Europeans as Saladin • Overthrew Fatimids, took title of sultan • Set out to take back Crusader states, succeeded, drove European Christians out of Jerusalem

  22. Edessa

  23. The Mediterranean world after the Second Crusade in 1173.

  24. Third Crusade • Three Kings • Richard, Philip, Frederick set out from Europe on Third Crusade • Frederick was killed, Philip quarreled with Richard, returned home • Only King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England fought in Holy Land • Mutual Respect • Richard, Saladin admired each other as military leaders, gentlemen • Made proposals for peace, including marriage alliance of Richard’s sister, Saladin’s brother; never took place because of religious differences • Fierce Fighting • Richard, Saladin fought fiercely for control of Holy Land • Richard won several battles, not able to drive Muslims out of Holy Land • Richard could not take Jerusalem, had to return to England

  25. Richard I, England; Philip II, France; Frederick I, Holy Roman Empire

  26. Fourth and Later Crusades • Fourth Crusade, 1201 • Jerusalem still in Muslim hands • Crusaders could not pay Venetians to take them to Holy Land • In lieu of payment, Crusaders agreed to attack Zara • Zara • Zara once belonged to Venice, now held by Christian king of Hungary • Pope angered that Christian city attacked, excommunicated all • Constantinople • Crusaders pushed on • Attacked Christian city of Constantinople • Ransacked city, made one leader new emperor • More Failures • Disorganization, lack of leadership made Fourth Crusade failure • Five other Crusades followed, none successful

  27. After the Fourth Crusade

  28. Question: What was the goal of the Crusades? Answer(s): to take Jerusalem and the Holy Land away from the Muslims who controlled it

  29. Political Changes Social Changes • Crusades led to deaths of many knights, nobles • Lands left vulnerable • Other ambitious nobles took control of unoccupied lands • Nobles then had more power, influence in Europe • Some Europeans respected other cultures, others intolerant • Many viewed non-Christians as enemies, persecuted Jews • Holy Land Jews saw Crusaders as cruel invaders • Relations strained for centuries Effects of the Crusades • Economic Changes • Historic evidence of trade between Muslims, Byzantines, Europeans prior to Crusades • Crusades enhanced existing trade • Returning Crusaders brought more goods, spices, textiles, to Europe • Increase in trade added to changing European economy during Middle Ages

  30. Question: Why did people’s attitudes change after the Crusades? Answer(s): Europeans became more intolerant and saw Jews and Muslims as enemies; Jews and Muslims saw the Crusaders as enemies

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