History Western Civilization: Lesson 105 Essay – (1) “What were the problems besetting the Church in the tenth and eleventh centuries? What was ‘moderate reform’?” (2) “Describe the events that took place during the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV. What was at stake?” (3) “What was Christendom?”

Lay control was one problem facing the Church. Lay control was when the lord and sometimes knights would dictate monasteries and churches that were nearby or on their land. The lords would try to name abbots, priests, and bishops of the local churches and monasteries. This was bad because the lords would not have anything to do with the Church’s hierarchy. Rich aristocrats would jockey for the office of Pope, which was not good. An example of “moderate reform” was the papacy of Pope Leo IX. He obtained his position as Pope fair and square, he wanted others to do the same so he advocated against simony. Simony was when a person purchased a church office. He also advocated against clerical marriage. He tried to convince people to elect ethical church leaders. The reform was moderate because he still let lay men elect church officials he just told them to pick good ones. Radicals wanted church officials to elect other church officials, not lay men choosing church leaders.

The conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV was over who elects church officials. Gregory said anyone who wasn’t a church leader or cardinal should not be able to elect church leaders. Henry thought he should be able to choose since he was king. The office of Pope and other high church offices were at stake because Henry wanted to choose who was in charge and Gregory said other church officials should choose. Eventually Gregory was exiled, but he persuaded people which caused his side of the argument to take the winning seat. Also it is important to see that had the Church and State merged the single group would have been less fair to people and likely become corrupt. Without one party to limit the other the winning power would have control over all religious and political issues.

Christendom was the international society that was formed by the Christian community as a whole. This is why many church leaders would move across many countries to help spread the word or help other Christians in another country. Sanctions would also apply throughout the entire Christian community not just one particular church or monastery.