Critical Thinking On European History Western Civilization

A review of the relationship between the church and state, especially during the medieval period, gives us an insight on the tug of war that existed between the two institutions and how both tried to win over the lives of people during that period in history. Furthermore, the relationship of these two institutions gives us an idea on how to understand Western traditional of government as a whole. From the 11th to the 14th century, Europe was in an uneasy state. These were centuries marked by conflict and warfare both within the kingdoms and outside the borders that a serious effect not only on the economy but also on the civilization of the era.
Describe the conflict between church and state in the medieval period. What is the conflict over? Include at least 3 examples of this conflict and explain how they exemplify the conflict.
The dispute between Pope Gregory VII and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV saw the Church’s power at its height. When the monk Hildebrand rose to the papacy as Gregory VII, he declared that the appointment of bishops should be solely left to the Church and should never be influenced or dictated by secular rulers. The kings and emperors during this period used the clergy to curb the power of nobility but with the authority of appointing clergy taken away from their hands, the authority of the rulers, especially the emperor, diminished. A bitter quarrel between the two leaders ensued. Henry defied the Church. In retaliation, the pope excommunicated him. Henry was without the support of his subjects and in repentance, he crossed the Alps one midwinter. He knocked at the pope’s castle in Canossa, humbly seeking forgiveness. He was forgiven but never forgot the humiliation and so years passed on and he once again defied Gregory. The pope excommunicated him once more, but Henry, more powerful now, installed a German antipope, Clement III to oppose him and drove Gregory out of Rome.
The issue between King John of England and the Church arose when in 1209, the king fell on a dispute with Rome over the appointment of archbishop of Canterbury. The pope excommunicated him and he in retaliation confiscated church properties only to sell them back to his bishops at a high price. The nobles grew discontented with his ineptitude and with paying extra taxes so they rebelled and captured London in 1215. The king had no choice but to meet the demands of the powerful barons. He signed the Magna Carta, also known as the 'Great Charter.'
In the year 1300, King Philip the Fair of France had the bishop of Parmiers arrested. Pope Boniface VIII, who held high regards for himself as the supreme over temporal and religious matters, considered this as a personal attack on his authority ordered thirty-nine French bishops to attend a synod in Rome. However, King Philip commanded that they not attend, only to confiscate their properties when they defied the king. In 1302, Pope Boniface VIII sent out the Unam Sanctam (One Holy) bull, which declared that the pope as the fount of all spiritual and temporal authority. Philip the Fair responded with personal attacks on Pope Boniface VIII. Pope Boniface VIII reacted by excommunicating the king and transferring the seat of papacy to his hometown, Anagni. The Colonna family, who used to be the pope’s ally but has since then detested him, sent mercenaries to arrest him. They succeeded only to be driven away by the locals of Anagni who rescued the pope and escorted him back to Rome.
Why are the 14th and 15th centuries (1300 and 1400s) often referred to as the centuries of crisis for Western Europe? Include at least 3 examples and explain why they exemplify the crises.
The last three centuries of the Middle Ages aw some of the most devastating events in the history of Western Europe. Wars, civil strife, conflict between the church and different European kingdoms, together with natural phenomena had serious effects on both the population and the European civilization as a whole. Among the events with most lasting impact on Europe were The Hundred Years’ War, the Bubonic Plague and the Great Famine, which seriously wiped out a significant portion of Europe, to the extent that these series of misfortunes have been labeled as Little Ice Age.
The Hundred Years' War, considered as the longest continuous war in history, which spanned from 1337 to 1453, saw the Kingdom of England fight against the Valois Capetians for the crown of France. The war eventually stemmed from King Edward III of England’s refusal to pay homage to King Philip VI of France. Traditionally, the kings of England inherited the Duchy of Normandy from William the Conqueror who became King of England in 1066 while at the same time holding the Duchy of Normandy in possession but they owe feudal homage to the French kings. Edward’s refusal to pay homage led to the confiscation of his property in Aquitaine. In retaliation, Edward III declared himself the rightful heir to the French throne, being the closest relative of Charles IV who died childless through Charles IV sister Isabella. However, Edward’s claim was barred by the prevalence of the Salic Law, which prevented male heirs through female line from succeeding to the throne. Thus, ensued the war that lasted for over a century.
Then there’s the Great Famine that plagued Europe from 1315-17, which extended from the British Isles to east Russia. The crisis started after the frequent bad weathers of spring in 1315, which worsened during the crop failures of 1316 and 1317. Europe did not recover until 1322 and crime, massive death, cannibalism and infanticide were commonplace during these years.
The crisis that heavily affected Europe during this time was the Bubonic Plague, popular known in history as the Black Death. The pandemic caused the death of about 200 million people in Europe, which saw its peak from 1348-50. The pandemic was said to have come from Oriental rat fleas that so populated merchant ships sailing on the Mediterranean.
Discuss the Protestant Reformation and its impact on the course of European history. Include at least 3 examples of the impact and explain how it is linked to the Reformation.
The Protestant Reformation was the greatest schism of the Western church, shaking not just the authority of the papacy but also the unity and supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church over temporal affairs. The reformation was initiated by Martin Luther in 1517, who questioned a number of Catholic doctrines. The first significant impact of the reformation was the division of Europe into two warring sides: the Protestants and the Catholics. The second was the culmination of the European wars of religion that did not end under the Treaty of Wesphalia in 1648. The third, and perhaps the most significant, was the end of the papacy’s influence over temporal matters in European affairs.