the church

I. Reform and Renewal of the Church

A. Background: Corruption and the Need for Reform

By the 900s and 1000s, the Church—meant to be holy and spiritual—had become tangled with politics and
wealth. Many Church leaders cared more about money and power than religion.

 Simony: This means buying and selling Church jobs. People could pay to become bishops or abbots,
even if they were unqualified.
 Clerical Marriage: Priests and bishops were supposed to stay celibate (not marry), but many
ignored this rule.
 Lay Investiture: Kings and lords chose Church leaders, giving them land and power. This meant
bishops were loyal to kings, not the Pope or God.

These issues made people lose trust in the Church, and many called for reform.

B. The Cluniac Reform Movement (10th–11th Century)

In 910, a monastery was founded in Cluny, France. The monks there wanted to fix the Church’s problems.
They focused on:

 Strict monastic discipline: Living simple, holy lives with prayer and hard work.
 Rejecting secular interference: Not letting kings or nobles control Church affairs.
 High moral standards: Encouraging honesty and purity among priests.

The Cluny reforms spread across Europe and helped the Pope become stronger again.

C. The Gregorian Reforms (11th Century)

Later, Pope Gregory VII (1073–1085) took these reforms even further.

He made bold changes:

 Ban on Lay Investiture (1075): Only the Pope could choose bishops, not kings.
 Clerical Celibacy: Priests had to stay unmarried and pure.
 Papal Supremacy: The Pope claimed to have authority over everyone—even emperors.

This caused a huge conflict with Emperor Henry IV, leading to the Investiture Controversy.

II. The Investiture Controversy (1075–1122)

A. Origins of the Conflict

For a long time, kings had chosen bishops. But Pope Gregory VII said only the Church could do that. Henry
IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, refused to give up this power.
Gregory responded by excommunicating Henry—cutting him off from the Church. This made Henry look
weak, and his nobles started to rebel.

B. The Walk to Canossa (1077)

In 1077, Henry IV traveled to Canossa, Italy, where the Pope was staying. He stood barefoot in the snow
for three days, asking for forgiveness. Gregory finally lifted the excommunication. But this peace didn’t last
—kings and popes continued to fight.

C. Why Did Popes Have So Much Power?

 Spiritual Authority: The Church controlled access to Heaven. Being excommunicated was
terrifying.
 Interdict: The Pope could ban all Church services in a kingdom, pressuring people to turn against
their ruler.
 Political Power: The Pope owned land and could support rival rulers or call rebellions.
 Divine Right: Kings said their power came from God—but the Pope was seen as God’s
representative on Earth.

D. The Concordat of Worms (1122)

Finally, in 1122, Pope and Emperor reached a compromise:

 The Pope would choose bishops for religious reasons.

 The Emperor could give them political power (land), but not choose them.

This deal was called the Concordat of Worms and was a victory for the Church’s independence.

III. Division and Decline of Byzantium

A. The Great Schism (1054)

In 1054, Christianity split into two:

 Roman Catholic Church in the West (led by the Pope).

 Eastern Orthodox Church in the East (led by the Patriarch of Constantinople).

Reasons for the split:

 Disagreements about the Pope’s authority.

 A fight over the word “Filioque” in the Creed (Western Church added it without asking the East).
 Cultural differences: the West used Latin; the East used Greek.

Both sides excommunicated each other, breaking Christian unity.

B. The Rise of External Threats

As the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) grew weaker, enemies attacked:

 Seljuk Turks took much of the land after the Battle of Manzikert (1071).
 The Crusades were meant to help Byzantium but later hurt it.

C. The Fourth Crusade and Sack of Constantinople (1204)

Instead of fighting Muslims, the Fourth Crusade turned on fellow Christians and attacked Constantinople.
The city was looted and controlled by Western knights, weakening Byzantium badly.

D. The Fall of Byzantium (1453)

In 1453, the Ottoman Turks finally captured Constantinople. This ended the Byzantine Empire and made
the city part of the Muslim world.

IV. The Crusades (1095–1291)

The Crusades were wars started by the Church to take back Jerusalem and other holy lands from Muslims.

1. Origins

In 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade to help the Byzantines and reclaim the Holy Land. He
promised a "remission of sins" to anyone who joined.

2. Major Crusades

 First Crusade (1096–1099): Captured Jerusalem.

 Second Crusade (1147–1149): Failed to protect Christian lands.
 Third Crusade (1189–1192): Led by Richard the Lionheart; ended in a truce with Saladin.
 Fourth Crusade (1202–1204): Attacked Constantinople instead of Muslims.

3. Consequences

 Jerusalem was lost again, but trade and knowledge increased.

 The Byzantine Empire weakened.
 The Pope’s power grew.
 Crusades spread to Spain (Reconquista) and against heretics (like the Albigensians).

V. The Age of Pope Innocent III (1198–1216)

Pope Innocent III ruled during the height of papal power.

1. Background

He believed the Pope was “lower than God but higher than man” and had control over kings and
emperors.

2. Political Involvement

 Interfered in royal affairs in England, France, and Germany.

 Forced King John of England to accept a new archbishop. When John refused, he was
excommunicated, and England was placed under interdict.

3. Religious Campaigns

 Called the Fourth Crusade (which went badly).

 Launched the Albigensian Crusade to fight heresy in southern France.

4. Fourth Lateran Council (1215)

A major Church meeting:

 Enforced clerical celibacy.

 Declared transubstantiation (bread and wine become body and blood of Christ).
 Required Christians to confess sins yearly and take communion.

VI. Popular Devotion (12th–13th Century)

While the Church grew in power, ordinary people also grew more religious in personal ways.

1. Pilgrimages and Relics

People traveled to holy places like Rome, Jerusalem, and Santiago de Compostela. They also worshipped
relics (holy objects), believing they had spiritual power.

2. New Religious Orders

 Franciscans (founded by St. Francis of Assisi) and Dominicans were new groups of traveling
monks.
 They lived in poverty, preached to the people, and fought heresy.

3. Marian Devotion and Mysticism

  Love for the Virgin Mary increased—she was seen as a kind helper to humans.
 Mysticism grew: people (often women) had visions and spiritual experiences.
 Devotion to Christ’s suffering inspired plays, songs, and prayers.

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