CHURCH HISTORY

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CHURCH HISTORY

• Middle Ages

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Charlemagne

• Charlemagne Second Constantine (AD 742-814)
• Became Holy Roman Emperor in 800 having formed
  an alliance with Pope Leo III
• Promoted education and building of schools
• Gave significant powers to bishops Many bishops
  especially the pope, became rulers in their own
  right, with lands and armies
• He united Europe and made it a Christendom

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Church as a Unifying Force

• The Church became the main civilizing force of
  the Middle Ages (AD 500 -1500)
• After his death, Europe became divided among his
  3 grandsons. The Church was the only unifying
  force throughout Europe.
• With the Church as the guide, Middle Ages became
  a time of great artistic and intellectual
  development.

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Monasticism

• A way of life where a group of men or women live
  in community so that they can give themselves
  more fully to God
• Developed around AD 300 with Anthony of Egypt and
  re-interpreted for Church in the East by Basil
  
• Further developed by Benedict around the 6th
  century

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Monasticism

• Monasteries were central to medieval towns and
  villages.
• Monks spent hours in prayer and reflection
• Copied and illustrated books,
• Developed new medicines, improved farming
  techniques,
• Educated local town people, provided food and
  shelter for travelers.

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Faith reflected in Art

• Most of the art created during the Middle Ages
  was religious
• Gregorian Chant - A music used to accompany text
  in masses was developed.
• Visual arts - painting, sculpture, stained glass
  were used to express faith
• Abundance of religious architecture, especially
  in Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals (AD 1145)

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East-West Schism

• Division was caused by differences in doctrine,
  culture, politics, authority and language. In AD
  1054, there was a split between Church in the
  East (Orthodox Christianity) and Church in the
  West (Rome)
• Eastern Church - Orthodox Christianity

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Crusades

• When Muslims tried to invade the East, the
  Emperor asked the Pope to help
• In AD 1095, the pope called for a holy war,
  called Crusades.a military war to reclaim
  Jerusalem for Christians

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Crusades

• First Crusade (1096-1099) - rescued Holy Land
  from the Turks
• Second Third Crusades Misguided soldiers
  profiteered and killed innocent People
• Fourth Crusade-(AD 1202-1204) Soldiers invaded
  and looted Constantinople
• Failed to achieve many of the goals of promoted
  by the Church

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Inquisition

• Heretics - People who taught ideas that were
  against the churchs teachings
• Heresy was considered a crime.
• In AD 1233, a court was set up to question
  suspected heretics and encourage them to return
  to the beliefs of the church
• Church leaders abused their power by confiscating
  properties, imprisonment, torture, and even put
  them to death
• In 2000, Pope John Paul II made a public apology
  for all cruelties committed by Christians in the
  Crusades and in the Inquisition.

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Great Western Schism (AD1378-1417)

• Disagreement between France and Italy about the
  election of popes led to a crisis in authority
• King of France moved papacy to Avignon
• Bishops in Italy elected own pope
• For more than 30 years, many claimants to title
  of pope
• Finally, Bishops met in the Council of Constance
  Existing claimants rejected and installed new
  Pope
• Summary Church guided Europe through a trying
  time in the Middle Ages. Many gained a new
  appreciation of art, architecture and faith in God

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Faith reflected in Art -St Peters Basilica