How did the Catholic Church maintain power in

Europe’s middle ages?

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in Europe’s middle ages?

Political Power

• They made alliances with powerful rulers

• They used wealth to intimidate and impress commoners

• They influenced kings, emperors, and other political leaders

• They had alliances with powerful rulers

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in

Europe’s middle ages?

• They owned approximately 1/3 of the land.• They barred priests from marrying (so they

could not pass land on to the next generation).

The man wearing white with a gold cape is a Roman Catholic pope.What is being depicted in the scene?What does this painting say about the pope?

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in

Europe’s middle ages?• They threatened

people with excommunication:

• If they disobeyed the teachings of the church, they would be excluded from salvation and sent to hell.

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in

Europe’s middle ages?• Church members

had to pay a tithe (10% of their wages)

• They built impressive cathedrals and churches

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in Europe’s middle ages?

• Imagine you are a French peasant from 1200 CE. You live in a cramped apartment.

• How would the interior of this cathedral make you feel about the Roman Catholic church?

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in Europe’s middle ages?

• They controlled and influenced education.• Church officials were highly educated. • The first universities were founded to educate

and train the clergy. • Most people were illiterate

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in Europe’s middle ages?

• Religious beliefs were used to explain everything in the natural world.

• If it rained, God made it happen.• If you won a battle, God was on your side.• If you got sick and died, he wasn’t.• Reason and science were at odds… until…

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in Europe’s middle ages?

• Look at the painting. Who are the men around Aquinas? Why are their books closed, while Aquinas’ is wide open? What does the glowing light on Aquinas’ book represent?

• Thomas Aquinas (13th century CE), along with other religious scholars began to think, write, and teach that theology and the natural law can coexist.

How did the Catholic Church maintain power in Europe’s middle ages?

• Theology = study of god and religion• natural law = there is a universal order built

into nature that guides moral thinking• Examples: Human rights (like the right to live,

travel freely, defend yourself)

• http://jacksonbbrown.com/ss/2012/09/06/1-8-influence-of-the-roman-catholic-church-on-medieval-europe/