The Influence of the Church on Politics
History: KS3, topic 1.6.2
The Influence of The Church on Politics
The Christian Church was a powerful force in medieval Europe.
The Christian Church and political power
- The Church had a lot of power over kings and rulers.
- If a king wanted to be seen as a proper ruler, he needed the Church’s approval.
- The Pope is the leader of the Church.
- The Pope could even decide a ruler was no longer in charge.
Investiture Controversy
- One big issue was who got to choose church leaders – kings or the Pope.
- This was known as the Investiture Controversy.
- The Investiture Controversy showed how the Church and rulers often argued about power.
Crusades
- The Church also stated the Crusades.
- The Crusades were military campaigns to take back holy places from other groups.
- The Crusades were driven by religious beliefs.
- The Crusades had a big impact on Europe and the Middle East.
Test yourself on The Influence of the Church on Politics
What was the issue of who got to choose church leaders called?