What was the medieval Church?

The medieval Church in Europe was the Roman Catholic Church.

What was the role of the medieval Church?

The role of the medieval Church was to serve as a representative of God's will on earth.

Why was the medieval Church so powerful?

The medieval Church was so powerful because it was understood as the sole representative of God's will.

What broke the power of the medieval Church?

The power of the medieval Church was broken by the Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in 1517.

The Medieval Church

Server Costs Fundraiser 2024

Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.

$3926 / $18000

❤ Donate

Definition

Religious practice in medieval Europe (c. 476-1500) was dominated and informed by the Catholic Church. The majority of the population was Christian, and "Christian" at this time meant "Catholic" as there was initially no other form of that religion. The perceived corruption of the medieval Church, however, inspired the movement known today as the Protestant Reformation.

More about: The Medieval Church

Timeline

c. 476 CE - 1500 CE
The Catholic Church holds supreme power in Europe during the Middle Ages.
c. 1118 CE - 1170 CE
Life of the Saint Thomas Becket.
1164 CE
In the Constitutions of Clarendon Henry II of England sets out the primacy of Common Law.
Jan 1414 CE
Henry V of England quashes riots by the heretical Lollards.
1517 CE - 1648 CE
The Protestant Reformation breaks the power of the Catholic Church.