The roles that Christianity played

Medieval Europe was a large and mostly non-unified region . When the Roman Empire collapsed , Christianity became the dominant religion of Western civilization

In the middle ages the Christian church became very powerful it owned many lands , and it was the authority on moral and religious conduct Through Christianity Europe obtained its first common identity . The church became a prominent presence in art , and scholarship . When the papacy gained secular authority , much knowledge was preserved in monastic communities . The church spread roman culture through its missionaries , who were sent out to convert

people to Christianity . It was solely on the church that the sustenance of literacy and scholarship depended , and fortunately the church advocated literacy and scholarship Christianity had become the center of western culture by the 8th century

In the period known as the High Middle ages , Christianity was deeply entrenched into the young culture of the unified Europe the church was the center of culture , and served to unify the diverse peoples of Europe . Throughout Europe most of the population was Catholic to be otherwise was heresy . There were no other Christian churches recognized during the middle ages , and the pope was the representative of God Since most of these early Europeans were deeply religious , the Church held great power over them

The church did have a weakness , and that was where military strength was concerned . Since the church needed protection of its officials and property (particularly its lands , it turned to local military institutions for help . In return for protection , the church paid taxes Feudalism became the status quo in Europe . Because of this dependence on the feudal lords , the church degenerated into corruption and became mired by political interests . The feudal lords acquired power over the church and were able to appoint church positions to whomever they d . This pattern continued until the late 1000 's

The attempts of the church to eliminate nonconforming elements of society (through the inquisition and the crusades , for example ) further unified the people . In particular the crusades also brought unification to Europe , as its Christian people were obliged to face a common adversary , the non-Christians , or pagans . The crusades also brought back various cultural influences that were eventually assimilated into the young culture of Europe

The church was central to the establishment and unification of Europe and thus of Western society . The church became the unifying institution under which Europe as a whole gained its political muscles

Bibliography

Christianity . In Wikipedia . 21 March 2006 . Wikimedia Foundation Accessed 21 March 2006 http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Christianity History_and_Origins

History of Christianity . In Wikipedia . 19 March 2006 . Wikimedia Foundation . Accessed 21 March 2006

Middle Ages . In Middle Ages . 2006 . Columbia University Press . Accessed 21 March 2006 http /www .answers .com /middle-ages copyright

Middle Ages . In Wikipedia . 21 March 2006 . Wikimedia Foundation . Accessed 21 March 2006 http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Middle_Ages

Sedivy , Dave "Role of the Roman Catholic Church During the Middle Ages . In Medieval History . 2002 . Highlands Ranch High School , Accessed...