It is evident that Church and State developed alongside one another in
Europe during the Middle Ages.  Choose one aspect, politics, society,
economics, religion, or philosophy that was influenced by the growing
and often conflicting powers of the Church and State.  In what ways
did the Church and the state influence European development in the
Middle Ages? It can be either positive or negative.

Hi smoothb,

Thanks for asking for help on Google Answers. I've given you lots of
links with lots of information to help you decide which aspect of the
strugle between Church and State most interests you. It is a
fascinating subject that affects how we live: even to this very day!

The Church and the State during the late middle ages underwent
dramatic change in England under King Henry VIII. Henry wanted a
divorce from his first wife, but the Catholic church would not give
it. Henry then struck off on his own to found the Church of England
where he was able to get his divorce.

A fascinating account of this is at:
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/REFORM/ENGLAND.HTM

I was also able to find an overview of your topic at:
http://flag.blackened.net/rocker/middle.htm

There is also an interesting timeline and more information at:
http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/GivenNames/midlages.htm

One other interesting place for information is here:
http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/antillians/middleages.html

But, perhaps the best resource for your homework is at
http://www.sparknotes.com

Specifically:
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/middle1
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/middle2

One last article that seems to include information on what you are
looking for:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ch/churchNs.html

To summarize my findings: The Church during the Middle Ages was very
much a force to be reckoned with. Also, without the Scientific method,
much of the world was mysterious and magical--religion (and the Church
in particular) sought to bring order to the world from seemingly
chaos.

Thanks for using Google Answers. If you require Clarification, please
ask prior to rating this answer.

Search Terms:

"king henry VIII" "church of england"
church and state middle ages
church and state conflict middle ages

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Request for Answer Clarification by smoothb-ga on 20 Nov 2002 12:09 PST

But how did the Church and State influence Europe's religious
development?  You only said that they changed in England.  How did
this affect the development?

---

Clarification of Answer by legolas-ga on 20 Nov 2002 12:47 PST

The Church influenced the development of the state in many key areas.
Such influence is felt in the legal framework of the times, the idea
of 'Divine Rights of Kings' and methods of punishments.

For example, the Ordalia, or "Trial by ordeal" was a method in which
the courts used God as a witness: after inflicting some torture on the
accused, they would see if the accused died or lived. If they died,
God was condemning them. If they lived, God saved them. Obviously
innocence or guilt would be glaringly obvious.

"Innocence or guilt of the accused was also determined in these trials
through the use of boiling or cold water. A ring was tossed into a
large pot of boiling water and the accused was ordered to get it out
with his arm. If the arm was not scalded, he was considered to be
innocent. A scalded arm meant that the accused was guilty."
http://www.carpatho-rusyn.org/customs/ordalia.htm

The Church also affected the state in Spain in 1492. A pet project of
the Spanish Inquisition, headed by Father Tomas De Torquemada, he
influenced Isabella and Ferdinand to expel the Jews from the state.
This obviously shows little to no distinction between the church and
the state.
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/expulsion.html

Prior to the Reformation started by Martin Luther, the church and
state were very intermingled. Church doctrine shaped and altered state
affairs. The Church was the "Relgion of the Country". If you did not
believe in God the way the church told you to believe in God, you were
a Heretic -- and often punished by death.
http://www.educ.msu.edu/homepages/laurence/reformation/Luther/Luther.htm

Search Terms:

middle ages determine guilt or innocence
martin luther reformation

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Request for Answer Clarification by smoothb-ga on 20 Nov 2002 19:27 PST

Can you please try to find me a link dealing with the influence of
Church and State on European politics in the Middle Ages? Thanks

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Clarification of Answer by legolas-ga on 20 Nov 2002 20:14 PST

Hi again..

I've found the following link that explains the Church's grasp on the
politics of the State.
http://www.janus.umd.edu/Feb2001/McGee/02.html

Basically, rulers needed to possess some sort of "sacred authority" to
rule: and the Church gave them the right - via God - to rule others.

This should answer your question.

Thanks again for using Google Answers.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by smoothb-ga on 21 Nov 2002 11:53 PST

What influence did the Church and State have on society in the Middle Ages?

---

Clarification of Answer by legolas-ga on 21 Nov 2002 14:22 PST

A fascinating paper on State and Society is at:
http://assets.cambridge.org/0521594553/sample/0521594553WSC00.PDF
You may wish to take a read of it.

Much of your question is simply different slants on the same idea. It
is important for you to understand that the Church and the State were
really two branches from the same tree. Much of what I've already
written can be slightly changed to show the societal influence from
it.

Since the Church and State were so close, people who did not believe
the state religion were often labeled as Heretics. This probably
caused fear in the people who lived during this age. Often, people
would be paranoid that they would be turned in by their neighbours as
heretics. Or, after being accused of a crime, society would force them
to accept God or risk death.

Hope this helps.

---

Clarification of Answer by legolas-ga on 21 Nov 2002 14:23 PST

Sorry, I thought I had lost the following:

This has gone outside the scope of the original question. Your
original question was to "Choose one aspect, politics, society,
economics, religion, or philosophy". I have given you information on
far more than one aspect at this time. Quite frankly, you should be
able to extrapolate from what I've answered here to answer all of the
above aspects.
 
To answer any of the aspects of life that the Church and State
influenced, merely change the slant of the information. For example:
 
Prior to the Reformation started by Martin Luther, the church and 
state were very intermingled. Church doctrine shaped and altered state
affairs. The Church was the "Relgion of the Country". If you did not 
believe in God the way the church told you to believe in God, you were
a Heretic -- and often punished by death. 
http://www.educ.msu.edu/homepages/laurence/reformation/Luther/Luther.htm
 
was used by myself to explain the influence on politics: and it was
right. However, you can also change the slant and use it for societal
influence. If everyone followed the same religion, and everyone was
expected to believe in the same God and believe in the same things,
it's easy for society to be moulded around the religion. What I mean
is that the Church's view of magic, mysticism and spirituality would
have been supreme: people would fear for their lives if they didn't
believe the "official Church dogma". Hence, society was probably very
secretive (about what they truely believed) and very paranoid of
others (i.e. worried thta they could be turned in as a heretic by
their neighbour).
 
Also, take a look at: 
http://assets.cambridge.org/0521594553/sample/0521594553WSC00.PDF 
It is a paper written about State and Society in the Middle Ages. 
 
Hope this helps.

I am requesting a refund because using this service only made me more
confused about my question.  Every answer I received was different and
had nothing to do with what I asked.  Some of the links were expired
or non-relevant.  I had to request several clarifications and each
time he responed back to me, it was something totally different and
even more unclear.  I know this was a very complexed question, but the
information I received was not worth my $50.00.  I did not find it
helpful at all.  I would very much appriciate a refund.  Thank you
very much for your time and consideration.

This has gone outside the scope of the original question. Your
original question was to "Choose one aspect, politics, society,
economics, religion, or philosophy". I have given you information on
far more than one aspect at this time. Quite frankly, you should be
able to extrapolate from what I've answered here to answer all of the
above aspects.

To answer any of the aspects of life that the Church and State
influenced, merely change the slant of the information. For example:

Prior to the Reformation started by Martin Luther, the church and
state were very intermingled. Church doctrine shaped and altered state
affairs. The Church was the "Relgion of the Country". If you did not
believe in God the way the church told you to believe in God, you were
a Heretic -- and often punished by death.
http://www.educ.msu.edu/homepages/laurence/reformation/Luther/Luther.htm

was used by myself to explain the influence on politics: and it was
right. However, you can also change the slant and use it for societal
influence. If everyone followed the same religion, and everyone was
expected to believe in the same God and believe in the same things,
it's easy for society to be moulded around the religion. What I mean
is that the Church's view of magic, mysticism and spirituality would
have been supreme: people would fear for their lives if they didn't
believe the "official Church dogma". Hence, society was probably very
secretive (about what they truely believed) and very paranoid of
others (i.e. worried thta they could be turned in as a heretic by
their neighbour).

Also, take a look at:
http://assets.cambridge.org/0521594553/sample/0521594553WSC00.PDF
It is a paper written about State and Society in the Middle Ages.

Hope this helps.

I'm just curious, Legolas -- by what standard is Henry VIII considered
middle ages, and not Renaissance?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/britain/tud_renaissance.shtml

The middle ages were from approx 500-1500CE. King Henry was around
1520CE. So, while you may be right technically, the middle ages ending
only 20 years previously still played a major role in his decision to
form the Church of England. Quite frankly, that move to cast the
Catholic church from England might be the reason that scholars put the
end of the middle-ages at around 1500CE.

So, yes, I appear to be a little off in characterizing King Henry VIII
within the middle ages: but, I still think it shows a fair
characterization of the feelings and influence the church had of and
on the state.