SSWH 7 b, c, & d
b. Describe the political impact
of Christianity; include Pope
Gregory VII & King Henry IV.
c. Explain the role of the
church.
d. Describe how increasing
trade led to town & city growth.
What was everyday
life like in Medieval
Europe?
Growing Cities & Towns
Increase agri. & better tech. caused
population to grow
Economy up: Guilds (org. of individ.
in the same business)
Guilds set standards for quality,
wages, & conditions, allowed better
products
Manors no longer providing, people
needed to travel to the cities
Trade routes increased
Banking grew because of merchants
(needed credit, diff. currencies)
Cities & towns: overcrowded,
unsanitary
Feudal Sys. breaks down serfs ran
away to the cities
New Social Class: Burghers
merchants) – fought feudalism &
gained rights
Church In Medieval Society
Pope in Rome (head of the
Catholic church)
All clergy (priests) were under
the Pope
Church was security, a stable
force during warfare &
political turmoil
Religion occupied center
stage in society
Regardless of social class,
people were equal when it
came to salvation & heaven
Lower class accepted lifestyle
because church said they
would be rewarded in heaven
Political Impact of Christianity
 Pope’s office (papacy) becomes secular
(worldly), gained power in govt.
 Tithes (10% of income) were used, church $
went to raise armies, repair roads, helped
poor (negotiated peace treaties)
 Church created a sys. of justice to guide
conduct – canon law & court sys.
 Pope’s Threats to Rulers: Excommunication
(banishment from church) & Interdict (no
one receives sacraments)
Pope Gregory VII & King Henry IV
Henry practiced lay
investitures (king appoints
church officials) it controls
influential clergy
Pope Gregory VII banned lay
investiture (didn’t want kings
appointing church officials)
Henry ordered the Pope to leave
the papacy, Pope
excommunicated Henry
Henry begged for forgiveness
(priests sided with Pope), the
Pope ended excommunication
Concordat of Worms: Agreement
– church could appoint bishops
& kings could veto