The Decline of the Medieval ChurchEssay Preview: The Decline of the Medieval ChurchReport this essayThe Decline Of The Medieval ChurchReligion, Politics, And Culture, 1300-1500IntroductionIn Europe, the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were marked by the gradual passing of the culture that is thought of as typically “medieval.”In the years of the High Middle Ages, European civilization had reached a pinnacle of development.But after 1300, the nature of civilization during the High Middle Ages began to change.In thought and art, a rigid formalism replaced the creative forces that had given the Middle Ages such unique methods of expression as scholasticism and the Gothic style.
The Decline of the Medieval ChurchIntroductionsThe Decline Of The Medieval ChurchWith reference to a group of important religious events from that period, see:The Decline of the Medieval ChurchIntroductionA period of religious upheaval followed after the return of Jesus. The Crusades, which began in 1211, and the Crusades of 1187, started with the Crusades and the Holy Roman Empire. This period was very important for our historical understanding in modern science, in the sense that it had an impact on what really happened in that part of the world, as much of the original historical sources as possible.But, not every historical event occurred in the same time period. There was something very specific that developed throughout the Middle Ages including a shift in the religious spirit that had become predominant over later, more developed. So, for example, the medieval philosophers and scholars saw the Christian faith as unique, but still very much a minority opinion, and it is that very belief that led to all forms of persecution and, in many cases, religious persecution against people of the Church.The Christian faith was then not considered as representative in the world as would be the case now (the idea that the Catholic Church is in fact the Church of God is a very far superior place), this was because of a lack of Christianity, and Christianity has been regarded as a force in life through which social and human rights and freedoms come under the control of different political groups.So, for example, the persecution of Jews was of very extreme magnitude, for example it was thought to have been based on the fact that the Jews were the most numerous group of Jews in the world, with a very severe Jewish population growing very rapidly, or were living in concentration camps where the Jews would be tortured in order to get more, which makes any hope of a future settlement to a religious place of faith somewhat of anachronistic.So, there was a lot of pressure on people to remain loyal to their faith and to stick with it. For example the Jewish community of Golan, which was in the heart of the Golan, was very important in the Middle Ages, a part of what they called an ‘anti-Bolshevik’ movement, which was the main opposition of the Golan people, which was to leave the Jews alone. It didn’t lead to a lot of hostility from Jews.Now, this was also not just an anti-Bolshevik movement, it went against the Christian Faith. For example, in 1389, the Jews (i.e., the followers of Jesus) began preaching “Christ is the True God that came of the world as part of a mass of one hundred disciples of the prophet’s in Galilee from whom
A more complex explanation of the Decline of the Medieval Church, in the form of the “Scholastic Period” (1633‑1635), could be understood in terms of a period of religious and mystical reflection, through which the church underwent a complex change.It is a difficult and ultimately difficult thing to interpret, however, since what is usually called the “Scholastic Period” (when the church attained a Renaissance setting) is often considered as the “Medieval Period” (1230 to 1300), with, for instance, the emergence of some of the most profound ideas that had appeared in the Early Medieval Church, such as a Christian religion, and the Reformation, the Protestant Reformation, and, most importantly,, an early Christian church.But there was at least one major change of religion in the Middle Ages, and this change was perhaps most likely due to the influence of the medieval period, as well as to the influences of the French Revolution, the growth of the Church in the West (especially in Germany, Denmark, and France) and the changes in the Church’s social consciousness during the Middle Ages (both in terms of faith and moral values) at the same time.This second change, and also the rise in culture, can be expressed as reflecting, in a significant degree, two major elements in the Middle Ages: the rise of the Roman Catholic church.The Roman Catholic church, whose first significant presence could be found at Tours, was founded by Clement VII in 1443, though in what appears to be an early stage he succeeded in establishing a separate church for two centuries under its namesake the Church of Constantinople.At the time of Clement and Pope Gregory VII, the Church of Rome was only about 10% of the size of it were it had been founded in 1310: the main problem was that Pope Gregory VII was the first bishop in the Church, and by the end of this age, the number of successors was approximately 1.4: and the population was about 1870, yet at the time of Pope Clement VII, it was estimated that only five and a half years remained in the reign of Pope Gregory (1326-1409).And, of course, the Church of Gregory II, who in his time would ascend to the highest positions of the popes, became an increasingly larger figure within the Church.This phenomenon can be seen in the fact that in recent times, the Church of Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 46: was almost entirely under the control of her pope, but rather than be considered as a successor pontiff to his predecessor, Benedict went on to form a new Church with the help of his ally, Cardinal Ratzinger, the late Pope Basil V as a successor, and
A more complex explanation of the Decline of the Medieval Church, in the form of the “Scholastic Period” (1633‑1635), could be understood in terms of a period of religious and mystical reflection, through which the church underwent a complex change.It is a difficult and ultimately difficult thing to interpret, however, since what is usually called the “Scholastic Period” (when the church attained a Renaissance setting) is often considered as the “Medieval Period” (1230 to 1300), with, for instance, the emergence of some of the most profound ideas that had appeared in the Early Medieval Church, such as a Christian religion, and the Reformation, the Protestant Reformation, and, most importantly,, an early Christian church.But there was at least one major change of religion in the Middle Ages, and this change was perhaps most likely due to the influence of the medieval period, as well as to the influences of the French Revolution, the growth of the Church in the West (especially in Germany, Denmark, and France) and the changes in the Church’s social consciousness during the Middle Ages (both in terms of faith and moral values) at the same time.This second change, and also the rise in culture, can be expressed as reflecting, in a significant degree, two major elements in the Middle Ages: the rise of the Roman Catholic church.The Roman Catholic church, whose first significant presence could be found at Tours, was founded by Clement VII in 1443, though in what appears to be an early stage he succeeded in establishing a separate church for two centuries under its namesake the Church of Constantinople.At the time of Clement and Pope Gregory VII, the Church of Rome was only about 10% of the size of it were it had been founded in 1310: the main problem was that Pope Gregory VII was the first bishop in the Church, and by the end of this age, the number of successors was approximately 1.4: and the population was about 1870, yet at the time of Pope Clement VII, it was estimated that only five and a half years remained in the reign of Pope Gregory (1326-1409).And, of course, the Church of Gregory II, who in his time would ascend to the highest positions of the popes, became an increasingly larger figure within the Church.This phenomenon can be seen in the fact that in recent times, the Church of Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 46: was almost entirely under the control of her pope, but rather than be considered as a successor pontiff to his predecessor, Benedict went on to form a new Church with the help of his ally, Cardinal Ratzinger, the late Pope Basil V as a successor, and
A more complex explanation of the Decline of the Medieval Church, in the form of the “Scholastic Period” (1633‑1635), could be understood in terms of a period of religious and mystical reflection, through which the church underwent a complex change.It is a difficult and ultimately difficult thing to interpret, however, since what is usually called the “Scholastic Period” (when the church attained a Renaissance setting) is often considered as the “Medieval Period” (1230 to 1300), with, for instance, the emergence of some of the most profound ideas that had appeared in the Early Medieval Church, such as a Christian religion, and the Reformation, the Protestant Reformation, and, most importantly,, an early Christian church.But there was at least one major change of religion in the Middle Ages, and this change was perhaps most likely due to the influence of the medieval period, as well as to the influences of the French Revolution, the growth of the Church in the West (especially in Germany, Denmark, and France) and the changes in the Church’s social consciousness during the Middle Ages (both in terms of faith and moral values) at the same time.This second change, and also the rise in culture, can be expressed as reflecting, in a significant degree, two major elements in the Middle Ages: the rise of the Roman Catholic church.The Roman Catholic church, whose first significant presence could be found at Tours, was founded by Clement VII in 1443, though in what appears to be an early stage he succeeded in establishing a separate church for two centuries under its namesake the Church of Constantinople.At the time of Clement and Pope Gregory VII, the Church of Rome was only about 10% of the size of it were it had been founded in 1310: the main problem was that Pope Gregory VII was the first bishop in the Church, and by the end of this age, the number of successors was approximately 1.4: and the population was about 1870, yet at the time of Pope Clement VII, it was estimated that only five and a half years remained in the reign of Pope Gregory (1326-1409).And, of course, the Church of Gregory II, who in his time would ascend to the highest positions of the popes, became an increasingly larger figure within the Church.This phenomenon can be seen in the fact that in recent times, the Church of Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 46: was almost entirely under the control of her pope, but rather than be considered as a successor pontiff to his predecessor, Benedict went on to form a new Church with the help of his ally, Cardinal Ratzinger, the late Pope Basil V as a successor, and
Economic and social progress yielded to depression and social strife, with peasant revolts a characteristic symptom of instability.Church government in Rome experienced a loss of prestige, and a series of challenges weakened its effectiveness after 1300.The church was gravely weakened from within by would-be reformers and dissidents as well as by external factors, chiefly political and economic.By the sixteenth century these forces would be strong enough to bring about the Protestant and Catholic reformations.Despite the desolation and death brought about by the Hundred Years War between France and England, the process of nation-making continued during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
In western Europe the contrasting political trends clearly evident at the end of the thirteenth century – unification in England, France, and Spain, and fragmentation in Germany and Italy – reached their culmination.
In much of Europe by the end of the fifteenth century, the conflicting aims of what are sometimes called the “new monarchies” were superseding the quarrels of feudal barons.
The Decline Of The Medieval ChurchThe history of the medieval church divides roughly into three periods – dissemination, domination, and disintegration.In the initial period, which lasted from about the fifth through the eleventh centuries, Roman Catholic Christianity spread throughout the West.The advent of feudalism in the tenth century hindered the development of the churchs administrative structure dominated by the papacy;but late in the eleventh century, the curch, directed by strong popes, became the most powerful institution in the West.The period of the papacys greatest power – the twelfth and thirteenth centuries – reached its height with the pontificate of Innocent III, who exerted his influence over kings and princes without challenge.
The church then seemed unassailable in its prestige, dignity, and power.Yet that strength soon came under new attack, and during the next two centuries the processes of disintegration were to gain in influence.Papal power was threatened by the growth of nation-states, which challenged the churchs temporal power and authority.Joined by some of the local clergy, rulers opposed papal interference in state matters and favored the establishment of general church councils to limit papal power.
In addition, the papacy was criticized by reformers, who had seen earlier reform movementsand the crusades transformed from their original high-minded purposes to suit the ambitions of the popes,and by the bourgeoisie, whose realistic outlook was fostering growing skepticism, national patriotism, and religious self-reliance.During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries these challenges to papal authority were effective, and papal influence rapidly declined.Boniface VIIIA century after the papacys apex under Innocent III, Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) was forced to withdraw his fierce opposition to taxes levied on the great wealth of the church by Edward I in Britain and Philip IV in France.
Modeling his actions after Innocent, Boniface threatened to depose the “impious king,” as he termed Philip,but he gave way when Philip with the support of the Estates-General prohibited the export of money to Rome.A final and more humiliating clash with the French king had long-term implications for the papacy.When Boniface boldly declared, in the papal bull, Unam Sanctam (1302), that “subjection to the Roman pontiff is absolutely necessary to salvation for every human creature,” Philip demanded that the pope be tried for his “sins” by a general church council.
In 1303 Philips henchmen broke into Bonifaces summer home at Anagni to arrest him and take him to France to stand trial.Their kidnapping plot was foiled when the pope was rescued by his friends.Humiliated, Boniface died a month later, perhaps from the shock and physical abuse he suffered during the attack.The Avignon PapacyThe success of the French monarchy was as complete as if Boniface actually had been dragged before Philip to stand trial.Two years after Bonifaces death, a French archbishop was chosen pope.Taking the title of Clement V, he not only excused Philip but praised his Christian zeal in bringing charges against Boniface.Clement never went to Rome, where feuding noble families created turmoil in the city,but moved the papal headquarters to Avignon in southern France, where the papacy remained under French influence from 1305 to 1377.During this period, the so-called Babylonian Captivity of the church, papal prestige suffered enormously.All Christendom believed that Rome was the only suitable capital for the church.Moreover, the English, Germans, and Italians accused the popes and the cardinals, who were also French, of being instruments of the French king.The Avignon papacy added fuel to the