The Early Middle Ages

Section 5
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Religion in the Middle Ages
Growth of Papal Power
Changes in Monasticism
Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of the Feudal System in Europe
Power of the Church
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Reading Focus
What was the nature and influence of religion in the Middle
Ages?
What led to the growth of papal power in Europe?
What changes in monasticism were introduced in the Middle
Ages?
Main Idea
Reform and changes swept through the Christian Church, one of
the most influential institutions in medieval Europe.
Power of the Church
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Manorialism, feudalism
encouraged local loyalties

Christian beliefs brought people
across Europe together in
spiritual community of
Christendom

Religion touched almost every
aspect of Christians lives
Christian Beliefs
Pope is head of Roman
Catholic Church

Early popes seen as spiritual
leaders

During Middle Ages, they
became powerful political
figures
Popes as Political Figures
Religion in the Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Dramatic Increase
Around 1000, influence of church increased dramatically
Great upwelling of piety, level of devotion, in Europe
Members of Christian church became more devout
Participation in religious services increased, thousands flocked to
monasteries, joined religious orders
Religious Ceremonies
Major life events marked by religious ceremonies
Monks acted as peacemakers, prayed for safety of rulers, armies
Church officials served as teachers, record keepers
Clergy peoples main connection to church, had great influence
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Identify Cause and Effect

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
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Not only were Europes common people inspired by a new sense of
piety, many clergy members sought ways to improve conditions.
900s, 1000s, pope had little
authority
Considered head of church,
but local bishops made most
important religious decisions
Papacy not held in high regard
Few popes noted for religious
devotion; most were nobles
concerned with increasing own
power
Papacy
1049, first of series of clever,
capable popes dedicated to
reforming papacy came to
power, Leo IX
Believed that Europes clergy
had become corrupt, wanted
to reform it
Concerned with simony,
buying and selling of church
offices by bishops
Church Reforms

Growth of Papal Power
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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
Conflict
One who rejected Leos authority, bishop of Constantinople
1054, Leo excommunicated bishop, split Christian Church in two
Those who agreed Leo called Roman Catholics; those who sided with
bishop, Orthodox
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
Power and Conflict
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Popes and Politics
Popes gained influence over peoples 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
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
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.
Kings, other
leaders played
active role in
choosing clergy
Kings chose most
bishops
Holy Roman
emperor named
several popes
Tradition
Reform popes did
not think anyone
but clergy should
choose religious
officials
Issue became
critical during Pope
Gregory VIIs
pontificate
Reform
Henry IV, Holy
Roman emperor,
chose new bishop
for city of Milan
Gregory did not
approve, removed
bishop
Henry disputed
Gregorys authority
Bishop of Milan
Conflict over Bishops
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Excommunication
Gregorys response was to
excommunicate Henry
Called on clergy, nobility of
Germany to replace emperor
Bishops
Gregory, Henry continued
fighting over bishops for years
Later popes reached
compromise: local clergy would
choose bishops
Canossa
Fearing he would lose his
throne, Henry traveled to
Canossa to beg forgiveness
Reluctantly, Gregory lifted
excommunication
Power
Most important outcome:
Gregory stood up to emperor
The pope had become one of
strongest figures in Europe
Gregory and Henry
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Analyze

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
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Contemplation and Prayer
Early Middle Ages, monasteries founded by men seeking lives of
contemplation and prayer
Monasteries often paid for by local rulers, who chose abbots who led them
Return to Monasticism
Early 900s, group of monks sought to return monasticism to strict roots
Established new monastery at Cluny, France, to live by Benedictine Rule
Monks of Cluny reserved right to choose own abbot
Benedictine Rule Abandoned
By around 900, rulers had stopped choosing qualified abbots
Many held positions only for prestige
In these monasteries, strict Benedictine Rule abandoned
Changes in Monasticism
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Cluny became most influential monastery in Europe
Monks established daughter houses, leaders had to answer to Cluny
abbot
Other monasteries in France, Spain, Italy adopted Clunys customs,
agreed to follow direction of its abbots
Cluny became core of network of monasteries across western
Europe
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
New Orders
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
Cistercian Monasteries

Network of Monasteries
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Find the Main Idea

What changes were introduced to
monasticism?

Answer(s): stricter rules, monks stayed out of
politics, simplified lives
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
The Early Middle Ages
Section 5
Video

The Impact of the Feudal System in Europe
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