3. In the Byzantine Empire:
• Emperor Constantine relocated
the capital of the Eastern
Roman Empire to Byzantium
and renamed it Constantinople.
• Missionaries spread
Christianity. For example,
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Christianized Slavs in the north
and developed the Cyrillic
language to promote religion to
the Slavs.
4. In the Byzantine
Empire:
• Emperor Justinian
constructed the Hagia
Sofia and other churches
throughout the empire.
This shows the close
connection that existed
between church and
state!!
5. In Medieval Europe:
• The Church grew in
power during this time,
becoming a centralizing
and unifying force. All
authority was based in
the Church!
• Charlemagne was
crowned emperor by
Pope Leo III... Again,
there was a close
connection between
church and state!
• The Middle Ages seen as
the “Age of Faith.”
6. Influence of the Church
• 1) Provided Christians with
a sense of security and
protection during a time of
frequent wars
• 2) Religious and social
center-- people met there
for religious services,
social gatherings, and
festive celebrations
• 3) Unifying set of spiritual
beliefs and rituals: People
shared beliefs a strong
bond
7. Influence of the Church
• 4) Created a system
of justice, canon law,
to regulate people’s
conduct.
• 5) Social services,
such as caring for the
sick and the poor
• 6) Operated most
hospitals and ran
most libraries in
medieval Europe
8. The Great Schism (East-West Schism)
• “Schism” = split
• The Great Schism,
also called the East-
West Schism,
occurred in 1054 AD
• Resulted in a division
between Eastern
Orthodoxy and
Roman Catholicism
9. The Great Schism
• Roman Catholicism
– Pope has authority over all
other bishops, kings, and
emperors
– Services conducted in Latin
– Priests cannot marry
– Divorce is not permitted
• Eastern Orthodoxy
– Patriarch and other
bishops lead the church as
a collective group
– Services conducted in
Greek or in local languages
– Priests may marry
– Divorce is allowed under
certain circumstances
Christianity
