Roman Catholicism was the dominant religion in Western Europe during the Middle Ages:
Without a common government to hold everyone together, the Catholic Church filled an important role in peoples’ lives
The Catholic Pope became the strongest political leader in Western Europe
Each territory in medieval Europe had a church which provided order on the manor
Priests controlled peoples’ access to heaven by delivering the sacraments & absolving sins
Peasants’ lives were hard, but the hope of a salvation in heaven kept them loyal & obedient the Church
Local priests were the main contact most people had with the Catholic Church
How did priests influence the lives of medieval peasants?
A) By managing agricultural production
B) By controlling access to education
C) By delivering the sacraments and absolving sins
D) By organizing trade routes
Who was the main point of contact for most people with the Catholic Church in medieval Europe?
A) Nobles
B) Knights
C) Local priests
D) Monks
The Catholic Church conducted spiritual rituals (called sacraments) & created a system of rules called Canon Law that all Christians had to follow
Christians who violated Canon Law could be excommunicated (banished from the church)
Kings or lords who violated Canon Law could face interdiction (ban on religious services in a king’s lands)
Medieval Christianity was so important that small churches were built on manors, but large cathedrals were built in cities
In 1095, the Islamic Empire invaded & took the holy city of Jerusalem
Pope Urban II issued a call to Christians for a Crusade (a holy war) to regain control of the Holy Land
Over the next 300 years, Christians fought Muslim armies in 9 different Crusades
Merchants wanted access to trade routes
The Pope wanted to unite Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox Christians & regain holy lands from Muslims
Knights wanted to support the Church; Many hoped to gain land & wealth