Investiture Controversy summary
Know about the Investiture Controversy, the conflict between the papacy and the secular rulers of Europe
Below is the article summary. For the full article, see Investiture Controversy.
church and state Summary
Church and state, the concept, largely Christian, that the religious and political powers in society are clearly distinct, though both claim the people’s loyalty. A brief treatment of church and state follows. For full treatment of the separation of religion and politics, see secularism. For full
canon law Summary
Canon law, body of laws made within certain Christian churches (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, independent churches of Eastern Christianity, and the Anglican Communion) by lawful ecclesiastical authority for the government both of the whole church and parts thereof and of the behavior and
papacy Summary
Papacy, the office and jurisdiction of the pope (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, “father”), who presides over the Holy See (the central government) of the Roman Catholic Church, the largest of the three major branches of Christianity. The term pope was originally applied to all the bishops in the
Holy Roman Empire Summary
Holy Roman Empire, the varying complex of lands in western and central Europe ruled by the Holy Roman emperor, a title held first by Frankish and then by German kings for 10 centuries. The Holy Roman Empire existed from 800 to 1806. For histories of the territories governed at various times by the