The Catholic Church
Examine the importance of your chosen topic in Medieval Europe
In the Medieval times, the Catholic Church played an extremely important role in nearly every area of life. The church played a far greater role in Medieval Europe then the church does today. In Medieval Europe, the church dominated everybody's lives. It even had it's own taxes and laws. It was very powerful, the church had enough power to control the kings of the land. The church was lead by the Pope and it's main responsibility of the was to serve the spiritual needs of the medieval society. Therefore, the Catholic Church was very important in the medieval era.
The Catholic Church in the medieval times had the total power of the people that lived there. The church's power affected the peasants more than anyone. Peasants worked for free on the Church’s land. This was difficult for peasants as the time they spent working on the land, could have been better spent working on their own plots of land producing food for their families. As the largest landholder in Europe, the church had significant power.
The church gained wealth through tithe. Tithe was a tax Christians were required to pay that equaled to 10% of their income. They also paid the church for various sacraments such as baptism, marriage and communion. As the church got given land from the wealthy, it eventually owned about one third of the land in Western Europe.
The Catholic Church in Medieval Europe had their own set of laws. This law is called the canon law. It also had it's own courts. Going against the church was known as heresy and was considered a foul crime. Many heretics were burned at the stake and therefore never made it to heaven. Some also faced excommunication which is an act of religious censure that is used to derive or suspend receiving sacraments. Overall, if you disobeyed the laws of the catholic church in the medieval times, you would be punished.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe was extremely important. From the taxes to the laws, everything thing was crucial in the medieval times. It is clear to see that the Catholic Church was so important in the Medieval Times
In the Medieval times, the Catholic Church played an extremely important role in nearly every area of life. The church played a far greater role in Medieval Europe then the church does today. In Medieval Europe, the church dominated everybody's lives. It even had it's own taxes and laws. It was very powerful, the church had enough power to control the kings of the land. The church was lead by the Pope and it's main responsibility of the was to serve the spiritual needs of the medieval society. Therefore, the Catholic Church was very important in the medieval era.
The Catholic Church in the medieval times had the total power of the people that lived there. The church's power affected the peasants more than anyone. Peasants worked for free on the Church’s land. This was difficult for peasants as the time they spent working on the land, could have been better spent working on their own plots of land producing food for their families. As the largest landholder in Europe, the church had significant power.
The church gained wealth through tithe. Tithe was a tax Christians were required to pay that equaled to 10% of their income. They also paid the church for various sacraments such as baptism, marriage and communion. As the church got given land from the wealthy, it eventually owned about one third of the land in Western Europe.
The Catholic Church in Medieval Europe had their own set of laws. This law is called the canon law. It also had it's own courts. Going against the church was known as heresy and was considered a foul crime. Many heretics were burned at the stake and therefore never made it to heaven. Some also faced excommunication which is an act of religious censure that is used to derive or suspend receiving sacraments. Overall, if you disobeyed the laws of the catholic church in the medieval times, you would be punished.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe was extremely important. From the taxes to the laws, everything thing was crucial in the medieval times. It is clear to see that the Catholic Church was so important in the Medieval Times
Pictured above are churches in the Medieval Times
Source - Google Images
Source - Google Images