• History -> Middle Ages and Feudalism

• 0 Comment

How did the Great Schism contribute to the social divide during the Middle Ages and Feudalism?

Winona Leipoldt

Well, well, well, my dear history buffs, buckle up because we're about to explore a topic that not only contributed to the social divide during the Middle Ages but also has a fancy name - The Great Schism! Yes, you heard it right, something that sounds like a superhero move, was indeed a significant event that had long-lasting effects.

Let's start with the basics, what was The Great Schism? It was a split within the Catholic Church that happened between 1378 to 1421 and caused there to be two popes! That's right, talk about a power struggle. The split occurred because of political and power issues that arose between the French and Italian Cardinals. Roughly put, one side believed that the Pope had power over the church, and the other believed that the Cardinals had power. So, instead of being all Buddha-like and finding a compromise, they both decided to elect their popes and excommunicate one another. Way to go, guys!

Now, how did this whole ordeal contribute to the social divide? Well, by having two popes, it caused a significant divide among the people who followed the church. It pushed them towards choosing a side, which led to feuds between communities, even families. The divide was not only limited to religious practices, but it also trickled down to political and economic aspects as well. The popes had significant influence over these areas, and people aligned themselves with the pope who they believed supported their interests.

For instance, in Italy, the split caused political turmoil since the Italian Pope had political superiority over the French Pope. This led to the Italians supporting their Pope and excommunicating anyone who followed the French Pope. The same happened in France where the French Pope had a sway over the local rulers, and anyone who was known to support the Italian Pope, or anyone excommunicated by him, was seen as a traitor.

Moreover, with both popes trying to increase their respective clan's power, they began giving away church positions to people who they were associated with, leading to empty promises and corruption. Hence, any chance of the church bringing people together, which it might have done before the schism, was now lost.

So, there you have it, folks - a brief, humorous explanation of how The Great Schism led to social divide during the Middle Ages and Feudalism. Who knew a power struggle could cause such a commotion! Let's hope we can take all the lessons from this event and apply them to make better decisions in the future. For now, let's sit back, relax, and enjoy a well-deserved cuppa tea while history continues to unfold in its own exciting way. Cheers!