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How did the Roman Catholic Church lose power? (Church Corruption &…
How did the Roman Catholic Church lose power?
The Crusades (During the M.A.)
Goals of Crusades
R.C.C.'s Main Goal: To recapture the Holy Land (Jerusalem)
New Goal: Personal Gain (political power, personal wealth, etc.)
Political: Kings & Church officials wanted to rid themselves of squabbling knights
R.C.C.'s Secondary Goal: To weaken the religion of Islam
Social: Sons who would not inherit land could obtain land via the Crusades (land = power & place in society)
R.C.C.'s Secondary Goal: To reunite the different branches of Christianity
To encourage participation, the Pope assured anyone who died from participating in the Crusades would be granted admission into heaven.
Pope also used the concept of indulgences to encourage participation
Indulgence: A release from performing the penalty associated with repentance/sin
10 total Crusades
Effects of the Crusades
People did not like how the Crusades were being carried out (murder, rape, stealing, etc.)
Instead of the R.C.C. gaining power, other rulers gained power.
R.C.C. not delivering on their promise to reclaim the Holy Land
Credibility issue
Bubonic Plague (During the M.A.)
Killed millions (~50 million) throughout Asia & Europe
~20-25 million in Europe
Originated in Asia
Carried by fleas attached to rats that traveled via trade routes.
Effects of the Bubonic Plague
People ask the Pope to pray to God to end the plague.
Pope says, prays, & the PLAGUE CONTINUES.
Church Corruption & Developing Issues (from M.A. to Ref.)
Use of excommunication & the interdict = BLACKMAIL
False selling of indulgences
Exploitation of uneducated individuals
Church officials use Church funds for personal gain
Mixed messages from Church officials
Church officials becoming too involved in politics & abandoning their religious duties
Church officials having intimate relations, marrying, creating children, etc.
Church officials in the lower part of the hierarchy are less educated.
Other Reasons for leaving the R.C.C.
Political Reasons
Social Reasons
Economic Reasons