CHAPTER 13

EUROPEAN MIDDLE
AGES
500 – 1200 A.D.
Section 4: The Power of Church

By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy

 Describe the Church’s structure, power,
and influence.
LEARNING
List events in the power struggle OBJECTIVES
between popes and German emperors.

Explain why Germany’s feudal states

did not unify during the Middle Ages.

By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy

 Clergy: Sacrament: Important Canon Law:
Religious officials religious ceremony Law of the church

Holy Roman Empire:

Lay Investiture:
Kingdom originally
Appointment of
made up of what is
religious officials by
now Germany and
kings or nobles
Italy

TERMS AND NAMES

By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy
 Church and European rulers competed
for power.
 Church had its own organization.
 Pope
 Clergy
 Bishop
 Priests

THE FAR-REACHING
AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy
 Feudalism divided many people.
 Religion unified them.
 Being part of religious community.
 Law of the Church.
 Canon Law.
 Marriage.
 Religious practices.
 Consequences.
 Excommunication.
 Interdict - religious services would not be performed.

By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy

FEUDALISM & THE CHURCH
 Otto the Great was king of Germany in 936.
 Built up his power by forming alliance with
church.
 Limited the power of nobles.
 Later invaded Italy on Pope’s behalf and was
named emperor.
 German-Italian Empire became Holy Roman
Empire.
 Caused many problems.

THE CHURCH & THE HOLY

ROMAN EMPIRE
By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy
 Church not happy that the Emperor controlled the clergy
 Lay investiture – kings and nobles appoint clergy.
 1075, Pope banned lay investiture.
 German Emperor Henry IV was upset.
 Tried to force the pope to resign.
 Emperor was excommunicated.
 Begged Pope for forgiveness to save throne.

THE EMPEROR CLASHES WITH

THE POPE
By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy
 Showdown at Canossa.
 King Henry went to meet the Pope.
 The Pope forced Henry to wait outside for 3 days in
the snow.
 The Pope was forced to forgive.
 Successors to Pope and Emperor met.
 Established Concordat of Worms.
 Treaty:
 Church could appoint Bishops.
 Emperor could veto.

TREATY
By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy
 King Fredrick is elected in 1152.
 Barbarossa
 Aggressively invaded rich cities in Italy.
 Pope and Italian merchants formed alliance called
Lombard League.
 Lombard league soldiers defeated King Fredrick.
 Used crossbows against knights.
 Fredrick was forced to make peace.

DISORDER IN THE EMPIRE

By: Mr. Hisham El.Meniawy