Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Chapter 11, Lesson 1: The Power of the Church (pp. 282-288)
I. A Powerful Church in Europe
B. The church, headed by the pope in Rome, was organized as a hierarchy.
C. The church possessed large amounts of land and wealth.
D. Clergy were often literate when no one else was, and they often
advised and influenced kings.
II. A Power Struggle Between Kings and Popes
B. A reform movement sprang up to free the church from the control
of kings and nobles.
C. After a struggle with Henry IV of Germany, Pope Gregory VII won
the authority to select church leaders.
III. The Age of Faith
B. New religious orders, like the Franciscans, sprang up in towns.
C. Universities developed by the 1200s, replacing monasteries and cathedrals as centers of learning.
D. Christianity deeply influenced the art and architecture of medieval Europe.
Lesson at a Glance Outline
A. During the Middle Ages, most people in Europe were Christians.
A. Kings and nobles gained the power to appoint some church officials.
A. The church was the center of community activities such as meetings and markets, as well as worship.
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