The Church and the Middle Ages (1000-1378): Cathedrals, Crusades, and the Papacy in Exile

by Steve Weidenkopf, Mike Aquilina (Editor)

Overview

History often identifies the Middle Ages as barbaric, superstitious, and bloody. Many secular historians classify the Catholic Church of the time as omnipotent and overbearing.

In reality, the Church provided the world with a common way of life, a common purpose, and unity. In The Church and the Middle Ages (1000-1378), historian Steve Weidenkopf explains that the medieval people were intensely faithful and that it was an era of grandiose adventures and brilliant advancements in human achievement. The actions of the faithful men and women of this period and their accomplishments reverberate to the modern day.

With vibrant accounts of pivotal events and inspiring stories of the people who shaped the Church during the eleventh through fourteenth centuries, Weidenkopf provides a clearer picture of an era where critics used events such as the Crusades and the relocation of the papacy to France to undermine the Church. The period also provided the hallmarks of Christian civilization—universities, cathedrals, castles, and various religious orders.

Weidenkopf also chronicles the development of Christian civilization in Europe and explores the contributions of St. Bruno, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Bridget of Sweden.

In this book, you will learn:

• Most Crusaders were motivated by piety and service, not greed.
• Heresy was both a church and civil issue and medieval inquisitors were focused on the eternal salvation of the accused.
• The Church preached against the mistreatment of Jews.

 

Books in the Reclaiming Catholic History series, edited by Mike Aquilina and written by leading authors and historians, bring Church history to life, debunking the myths one era at a time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594719530
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	12/25/2020
Series:	Reclaiming Catholic History
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	433,096
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Steve Weidenkopf is an adjunct professor at Christendom College Graduate School in Alexandria, Virginia. He is the author of several books on Catholic Church history, including The Glory of the Crusades, The Real Story of Catholic History, and Timeless.

Weidenkopf has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in theological studies from the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. He is a member of the Society for the Study of the Crusades and Latin East, has been a guest on EWTN, and writes regularly for Catholic Answers online. He lives with his family in Springfield, Virginia.

Mike Aquilina is a Catholic author, popular speaker, poet, and songwriter who serves as the executive vice president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

Table of Contents

Reclaiming Catholic History: Series Introduction xi

Chronology of The Church and the Middle Ages (1000-1378) xv

Map xviii-xix

Introduction: What's in a Name? xxi

Chapter 1 Medieval Man in a Medieval World 1

Up Close and Personal: Abbot Suger of St. Denis 8

You Be the Judge: Were serfs slaves? 14

Chapter 2 The Papal Reform Movement Begins 17

Up Close and Personal: St. Peter Damian 22

You Be the Judge: Were popes chosen by the people? 27

Chapter 3 The Great Schism and Norman Conquest 29

Up Close and Personal: St. Bruno of Cologne 35

You Be the Judge: Is the filioque an unauthorized addition to the Creed? 39

Chapter 4 The Investiture Controversy 41

Up Close and Personal: Matilda of Tuscany 43

You Be the Judge: Did the Catholic Church mandate celibacy in the Middle Ages in order to acquire land and wealth from the clergy? 49

Chapter 5 The Crusading Movement: Part 1 51

Up Close and Personal: Godfrey de Bouillon 56

You Be the Judge: Were crusaders motivated by greed and land? 69

Chapter 6 The Crusading Movement: Part 2 77

Up Close and Personal: Jean de Joinville 82

You Be the Judge: Did Pope St. John Paul II apologize for the Fourth Crusade? 93

Chapter 7 Crisis in England and the Beggar Monks 103

Up Close and Personal: St. Anthony of Padua 107

You Be the Judge: Was St. Francis a radical lover of animals and flowers? 115

Chapter 8 Medieval Inquisitors and Scholars 117

Up Close and Personal: Bernard Gui 119

You Be the Judge: Were millions of people tortured and killed by the Inquisition? 131

Chapter 9 Trouble in the Papacy 133

Up Close and Personal: St. Bridget of Sweden 138

You Be the Judge: Did the Church blame the Black Death on the Jews? 143

Acknowledgments 149

Notes 151

For Further Reading 163

Index 165

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Steve Weidenkopf’s book is an excellent and engaging primer on the persons, events, and culture of the High Middle Ages. Catholics should take a lively interest in Weidenkopf’s work, as it affirms the intrinsic connection between the Catholic faith and the hallmarks of Western civilization that developed in the medieval period. I recommend it highly.” —Phillip Campbell, Author of the Story of Civilization series

“This book provides up-close introductions to many of the colorful and attractive personalities that dominate the period, while also methodically, carefully, and fairly examining and exposing the numerous myths that obscure our vision of the Medieval age.” —Jamie Blosser, Professor of theology at Benedictine College, Author of Positively Medieval

“Knowing history is a crucial part of Catholic apologetics and this book is a superb place to start. Steve Weidenkopf debunks myths and dispenses illusions about one of the most misrepresented and misunderstood periods of history. Accompany Weidenkopf as he dives deep in this engaging and comprehensive presentation.” —Derya Little, Author of From Islam to Christ

“Steve Weidenkopf helps readers see the Church not only as culture-maker but also as troubled by foes inside and out, led by an array of saints and sinners, and with a fragile glory that can still inspire us if we understand it aright.” —David M. Wagner, Author of The Church and the Modern Era