Year 7 - History
Background to the Crusades: the medieval Western Church
The Crusades: did Europeans go on crusade to capture the 'holy land'?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop a deep understanding of the First Crusade's background. They learn how the interplay of events across Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Seljuk Empire led to this significant campaign.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how the pope's power had increased by the 11th century.
Key Notes
- The Western Church was headed by the pope.
- In the early medieval period the pope and Church had little power compared to local kings, but gained more over time.
- Throughout the medieval period there was a power struggle between local kings and the pope over control of religion.
- The Church had gained significant control over the lives of Western Europeans by the 11th century.
- Christianity was a fundamental aspect of life for medieval Europeans.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Church: the Church is the organisation of the Christian religion
- pope: the pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church
- bishop: a bishop is a senior member of the Christian Church
- excommunication: excommunication is the action of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The pope has always been the most powerful person in the Roman Catholic Church.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The Western Church was headed by the pope. In the early medieval period the pope and Church had little power compared to local kings, but gained more over time.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Church'
the Church is the organisation of the Christian religion.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The pope has always been the most powerful person in the Roman Catholic Church. Correction: For much of the medieval period, a power struggle between the pope and local kings took place for control of religion within each country. In the early medieval period the pope had very little power at all.
More Lessons In This Unit
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