The Late
Catholic Influence
The Crusades
The Rise of the Monarchies
Challenges to the Church
Middle Ages
Section Focus
• One power was above the King’s and Noble’s word; The Church.
• European life revolved around the Christian Church.
• Church took control of government, law, art, and learning.
Catholic Influence
• Nobles and Clergy began to clash over power.
• Pope took control of the “Holy Roman Empire” and claimed power over all kings.
Catholic Influence
• People who went against Pope lost all rights (excommunicated).
• Pope excommunicated the Bishop of Constantinople and his followers for arguing over power.
• Church split in two: Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.
The Crusades
The Crusades
• Turkish Muslims also challenged power of the “Holy Roman Empire” by capturing Jerusalem.
• Christians were furious and wanted land back.
• Attacked in series of wars called “The Crusades” that lasted almost 200 years.
The Crusades
• Pope Urban II sent troops to recapture Jerusalem and to reunite church.
• Promised rewards of:
– Money
– Land
– Forgiven of all sins
The Crusades
The Crusades
• There were a total of 8 Crusades.
• 1st Crusade: (Peasants)
– Peasant warriors, were wiped out by Turks.
– Nobles eventually captured city but it was retaken 50 years later.
• 2nd Crusade: (Nobles)
– Nobles, reluctantly, set out to recapture, complete failure.
The Crusades
• 3rd Crusade: (Kings)
– Kings of Europe attacked but were unable to retake land.
– King Richard of England signed peace treaty with Saladin.
• 4th Crusade: (Knights)
– Too far away & expensive so they decided to attack Constantinople.
• All other Crusades were complete failures.
Effects of the Crusades
• Church split became permanent.
• Muslims gained more land.
• Many new towns were developed and trade grew.
• Feudalism diminished, Kings took all power.
The Rise of Monarchies
• Four main powers emerged:
– England
– France
– Germany
– Spain
• Kings tried to control all all power in regions but some had problems.
The Rise of Monarchies
• Many English nobles (barons) did not go to Crusades and still wanted power.
• Nobles rebelled against King and forced him to sign the Magna Carta.
• Reestablished democracy.
• Nobles and King worked together to rule England (Parliament).
The Rise of Monarchies
• Enraged, the King of England, tried to conquer new land in France.
• Began the Hundred Years’ War.
• England was winning until Joan of Arc, led the French and defeated England.
• English King lost more power and French king gained power.
The Growth of Trade and Towns
The Growth of Trade and Towns
The Growth of Trade and Towns
• Because of Crusades and Hundred Years’ War, the Church began to fear the loss of power.
• Trade and money began to control the people.
• Simple markets developed into towns.
The Growth of Trade and Towns
• Workers formed Guilds and began apprenticeshipsto learn new jobs.
• Towns grew in wealth, population, and size.
• Merchants took over, basically ending Feudalism.
The Growth of Trade and Towns
• Unfortunately towns were crowded, unhealthy, and disease was everywhere.
• Most destructive was “The Black Death” which killed more than 30 million people.
• Survivors decided to take over and demanded money for services.
The Growth of Trade and Towns
Europe in Transition
• The Church wanted to regain power.
• Most of Spain had been conquered by Muslim Empire.
• Church united with monarchy of Spain, began the “Reconquista.”
• Spain agreed to work with Church to retake land and power.
Europe in Transition
• Began the Inquisition, to remove heretics with force.
• Inquisition was to stabilize government and church.
Europe in Transition
• In 1492, Spain sent Columbus to India to find a faster route for trade.
• Accidentally found the “New World.”
• New discoveries sparked the Renaissance.
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