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Catholic Church In The Middle Ages Research Paper

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5. Describe the role of the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages and explain why it was so powerful.
• Most powerful institution in feudal Europe o In desperate times, people looked to their faith (answers, stability, unity) o People were very concerned with the afterlife (wanted salvation- heaven) o The decentralized nature of the feudal age gave church more opportunities
• Church had its own hierarchy: Pope all-powerful!
Church had its own set of laws: Canon Law (everyone must follow
• Role of the Church in the Middle Ages:

Economics • Collected taxes (tithes)
• Power to excommunicate (banish from church) and issue interdict (excommunicate a manor)
• Offer sacraments (7 practices of Catholics) {like 5 Pillars …show more content…

Discuss the impact-revived trade had on the growth of medieval towns and cities.
Over time, merchants and craftsman settled in these towns, and some grew to be cities of several thousand people. Trade stimulated many new jobs in towns and cities, so peasants went to work there. They no longer worked on manors, so manors were not needed. The peasants got paid at their jobs in these towns and cities. The peasants slowly shifted from being serfs to having jobs in towns and cities. This changed the way people lived in Europe and marked the beginning of the end of feudalism as serfs began to pay their feudal obligations with cash instead of service.

13. Discuss the impact of the Plague on Europe.
• Loss of 1/3 population of Europe
• Decline of Feudalism
• Anti- Semitism… Jews were used as a scapegoat (since the Jews weren’t affected due to their cleanliness, diet, and seclusion from everyone else)
• Urbanization… eventually many people moved from the countryside to the cities
• Decline in birth rate
• Economic decline (fewer workers, higher taxes, scarcity of food, decline in trade)
• People look to church 1st: help (what can we do to help to stop it) 2nd: blame: (we are helping and doing everything you said, maybe you taught us

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