NAME: DATE: CLASS:

DBQ FOCUS: Christendom in Europe

Was the political rise of Christendom healthy for the spread of Christianity?

Question

Document-Based Question Format

Directions: The following question is based on the

accompanying Documents (The documents have

been edited for the purpose of this exercise.)

This question is designed to test your ability to

work with and understand historical documents.

Write a response that:

Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence from the documents.

Cites evidence from included source perspectives.

Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many appropriate ways as possible. Does not simply summarize the documents individually.

Takes into account both the sources of the documents and the author’s points of view.

Historical Context: "Christendom" has referred to the medieval and renaissance notion of the Christian

world as a sociopolitical polity. In essence, the earliest vision of Christendom was a vision of a Christian theocracy, a government founded upon and upholding Christian values, whose institutions are spread through and over with Christian doctrine. In this period, members of the Christian clergy wield political authority. The specific relation-ship between the political leaders and the clergy varied but, in theory, the national and political divisions were at times subsumed under the leadership of the church as an institution. This model of church-state relations was ac-cepted by various Church leaders and political leaders in European history.

Document 1

How is social peace achieved according

to this passage?

Source: Gelasius I on Spiritual and Temporal Power, 494

Letter of Pope Gelasius to Emperor Anastasius on the superiority of the spiritual over temporal power: The pope's view of the natural superiority of the spiritual over the temporal power finds a clear expression the following remarkable letter of Gelasius I (494).

There are two powers, august Emperor, by which this world is chiefly ruled, namely, the sacred authority of the priests and the royal power. Of these that of the priests is the more weighty, since they have to render an account for even the kings of men in the divine judgment. You are also aware, dear son, that while you are permitted honorably to rule over human kind, yet in things divine you bow your head humbly before the leaders of the clergy and await from their hands the means of your salvation. In the reception and proper disposition of the heaven-ly mysteries you recognize that you should be subordinate rather than superior to the religious order, and that in these matters you depend on their judgment rather than wish to force them to follow your will.

Student Analysis

Document 3

Source: Valentian - Decree on Papal Power (455)

The following edict was issued by the western emperor, during Leo I's pontificate:

Since, then, the primacy of the Apostolic See is established by the merit of St. Peter (who is the chief among the bishops), by the majesty of the city of Rome, and finally by the authority of a holy council, no one, without inexcusable presump-tion, may attempt anything against the authority of that see. Peace will be secured among the churches if every one recognize his ruler.

Why does Pope Gelasius confer that his

authority is greater than the emperor?

Student Analysis

Document 2

Source: The Emperor Gives the Pope Authority in Certain Secular Matters, late 5ht

century.

One of the chief effects of the invasions of the barbarians was an increased lawless-ness and disorder throughout the territory in which they settled. The administration of justice was seriously disturbed by their presence in the country, and the machin-ery of government was, to a certain extent, destroyed by them. Under these circum-stances the clergy, by virtue of their office and character, were looked on as repre-sentatives of law, order, and justice, and they were quite naturally given a voice in the administration of justice and in the general management of affairs. The bishop of Rome was entrusted to restore and secure order and good government in Italy after the long, destructive, and demoralizing wars which he waged with the barbari-ans. 12. The bishops and chief men shall elect officials for each province who shall be qualified and able to administer its government, etc. 19. That there may be no opportunity for fraud or loss to the provinces, we order that, in the purchase and sale of all kinds of produce [grain, wine, oil, etc.] and in the payment and receipt of money, only those weights and measures shall be used which we have established and put under the control of the pope and of the sen-ate.

Student Analysis

How is political power entrusted with

the Roman Catholic Church?

What role does the Roman Catholic

Church have in administering law and

order in 5th century Europe?

Document 4

Why was the power of the Roman

Catholic Church so influential in

common laws?

Student Analysis

Document 5

Source: Excerpt from Pope Gregory VIII in 1073, making note of the papacy that

represented an extreme position on his office.

The pope can be judged by no one; The Roman Church has never erred and never will err until the end of time; The pope alone can depose and restore bishops; He alone can call general councils and authorize canon law; He can depose emperors; He can absolve subjects from their allegiance; All princes should kiss his feet.

Describe how the Roman Catholic

Church depicts papal power.

Student Analysis

In this case of a controversy about an inheritance in movable goods, an appeal was made to the Emperor. His decision in favor of the right of the clergy to make a will is explained in the document itself. This decision would apply to all people under the jurisdiction of the Emperor.

l. Just as it is certainly held both by human and by divine law to be definitely crimi-nal that any one either by tyrannical violence or by any other detestable craftiness should attempt any damage or harm to the Holy Church of God, which prepares us for our heritage of divine adoption, so everyone, who takes up its defense, advancement, and liberty provides for himself certain hope of remuneration in the presence of that Tremendous Judge.

Source: Frederick I Barbarossa: Affirmation of the Right of a Priest to Make a Will,

1165.

Document 6 Source: 14th Century Europe compiled from various sources.

Student Analysis

The papal states we’re considered

Byzantine subjects during a significant

portion of the Byzantine empire.

How did the Roman Catholic Church

become a independent political entity

when the Byzantine Empire gradually

declined in power?

Document 7 Source: Petrarch - Letter Criticizing the Avignon Papacy (c. 1345)

How do the representatives of the

Roman Catholic Church conduct

themselves since the Church has

become entangled in politics?

Student Analysis

Petrarch, Letter to a friend, 1340-1353 I am now living in [Avignon], in the Babylon of the West . . . Here reign the successors of the poor fishermen of Galilee [who] have strangely forgotten their origin. I am astounded, as I recall their predecessors, to see these men loaded with gold and clad in purple, boasting of the spoils of princes and nations; to see luxuri-ous palaces and heights crowned with fortifications, instead of a boat turned down-wards for [their] shelter. We no longer find the simple nets which were once used to gain a frugal living from the lake of Galilee . . . . One is stupefied nowadays to hear the lying tongues, and to see worthless parchments turned by a leaden sea [i. e., official bulls of the pope] into nets which are used, in Christ's name, but by the arts of Belial [i.e., the devil], to catch hordes of unwary Christians. These fish, too, are dressed and laid on the burning coals of anxiety before they fill the insatiable maw of their captors.

Instead of holy solitude we find a criminal host and crowds . . .; instead of sobriety, licentious banquets . . .; instead of pious pilgrimages . . . foul sloth; instead of the bare feet of the apostles . . . horses decked in gold . . . . In short, we seem to be among the kings of the Persians or Parthians, before whom we must fall down and worship, and who cannot be approached except presents be offered.

Document 8

Source: Marsilius of Padua in his The Defender of Peace (Defensor Pacis), early 14c

We now wish . . . to adduce the truths of the holy Scripture . . . which ex-plicitly command or counsel that neither the Roman bishop called pope, nor any other bishop or priest, or deacon, has or ought to have any rulership or coercive judgment or jurisdiction over any priest or non-priest, ruler, community, group, or individual of whatever condition . . . . Christ himself came into the world not to dominate men, nor to judge them [coercively] . . . not to wield temporal rule, but rather to be subject as regards the . . . present life; and moreover, he wanted to and did exclude himself, his apostles and disciples, and their successors, the bishops or priests, from all coercive authority or worldly rule, both by his example and by his word of counsel of command . . . . When he was brought before Pontius Pilate .

. . and accused of having called himself king of the Jews, and [Pilate] asked him whether he had said this . . . [his] reply included these words . . . 'My kingdom is not of this world,' that is, I have not come to reign by temporal rule or dominion, in the way . . . worldly kings reign . . . . This, then, is the kingdom concerning which he came to teach and order, a kingdom which consists in the acts whereby the eternal kingdom is attained, that is, the acts of faith and the other theological virtues; not however, by coercing anyone thereto.

Student Analysis

How does Marsilius of Padua critique

the Catholic authority?

What is his inspiration?

Comments: