Posted By admin on April 20, 2010

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Medieval church and economy during middle ages?

I know the church had a large impact on the economy during the middle ages but I need specific examples on how they controlled the economy. Thanks!
I'm talking about anywhere in Europe between the 400s and 1500s so it is pretty broad but if a certain time and place works better than others I can focus on specifics.

I think you need to be slightly more specific about what you are asking. Which economy (i.e. country) are you talking about and at which point in the medieval period?

The Church could demand large taxes (tithes) from the laity, but I've not come across direct intervention, unless you're referring to sixth century Italy!

***** Edits *****

Well, the Vatican State (land around Rome) was, in c.6, much bigger than it is now and was run by the Pope, acting as both a landholder and spiritual father. This actually caused the papacy quite a bit a grief later on... So there's an example, but it's tiny, really.

Another could come from the spread of monasteries in early Anglo-Saxon England. 'Bookland' - land that was effectively given to a lord to build an ecclesiastical residence (monastery, minster - early church, convent) from this they were required to provide pastoral care - church services etc, in return for this they could exact tithes. Tithes were 10% tax on literally everything that the local community earned: the church was effectively taxing 10% of the county's GDP. I am not sure of the case in Francia and other (now) European countries.

Aside from those examples, I cannot think of any other specific economic intervention... though in your essay you should consider that the Church didn't have such control...

So, you could then talk about indirect control of the economies. How the Church (in the latter part of your period) could ruin monarchs (Henry I and Becket - 1100s), or rally vast pilgrimages to the Holy Land (the Crusades c.11/12). In the case of the Crusades, lords and aristocrats mortgaged whole estates to 'free the path to the Holy Sepulchre'. In so doing there were early banks established to get money to and from the Crusader States. The Knights Templar, for example, set up a network of banks where one could deposit money in Paris and take it out in Jerusalem. Great transfers of wealth. Tho' all indirectly influence by the Church and religion.

I'm not sure exactly what your question is, but you should, if you decide to look at the 'big picture' note as a significant theme throughout your entire essay that the Church was not powerful in the early period. Popes in Rome were merely figure heads, and until c.8 they shared power with the other 5 patriarchs (of Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and later Constantinople). Indeed, until the rise of Islam, the Roman (or Holy-Roman) Emperor was head of the Church. Pope could speak first at Councils and Synods, but could not call, or chair them.

Would you like some book titles too? There are loads of ones that would deal, in greater detail, with what you're looking at.

Hope that helps.

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