The Roman Empire And The Rise And Fall Of The Papacy

For centuries the Vatican has occupied a unique position in history, exercising both sacred and secular power in activities that have generated as much fascination as controversy. Yet, for most people it remains a mysterious institution. One whose motives and maneuvers are not easily understood. From the struggles of the very first Christians to the challenges and scandals of today, the Catholic Church has wrestled with how to organize itself, express its beliefs, and nurture its members. The church has grown from a handful of disciples in the first century to over one billion members in the twenty-first, resulting in profound changes that demand a theological response. A candid but rational inquiry into the progress and establishment of Christianity may be considered a very essential part of the history of the Roman Empire and the rise and fall of the papacy. The history of the Papacy began over two thousand years ago with the reign of John Paul II. Peter, the humble fisherman of Galilee and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, became the figure head and the basis for the institution that has outlined not only the Roman and Byzantine empires but also the Carolingian Gaul, medieval Germany, Spain, Britain, the Third Reich of Hitler, and the Soviet Union. Jesus tells Peter, â€Å"And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:Show MoreRelatedThe Rise of the Papacy948 Words   |  4 PagesThis paper will look into the primary reasons for the rise of the Roman papacy to power, and a few of the many things that aided the papacy in getting there. The fall of the Roman Empire is clearly a key factor in the rise of the papacy, so a look into the factors that caused the fall of the Roman Empire is essential. Secondly, a look into how the church positioned itself, to step into the vacuum of power left behind by the fall of the Roman Empire will prove to be needed. Lastly, there will be a briefRead MoreTHE RISE OF THE PAPACY Essay examples1637 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Early in history, the Roman papacy consolidated its power. It became one of the most influential organizations in the medieval period. This rise to power resulted from the decline in the Western Empire, the leadership of Roman bishops, and special grants that gave the church land holdings. This rise to power caused some positive ramifications, such as the protection of the church from heresy. However, the absolute power of the pope also caused corruption and abuses, many of which wouldRead MoreThe Rise of the Papacy Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesCHHI-301-D10 LUO FALL2013 PAPER 2 The Rise of the Papacy INTRO In the void left by the collapse of the Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome grew even more in both power and prestige beginning in the sixth century and continuing to the reformation in the ninth century. It is the aim of this paper to explain how and why the papacy in Rome became the center of power of the medieval world, the factors contributing to this dominance over Western Europe, and the positive and negative ramificationsRead MoreThe Rise Of The Papacy Essay947 Words   |  4 PagesThe Rise of the Papacy There many Roman Catholics worldwide, who looks up to the Pope’s authority. The great question is, what is the foundation of the Papacy? The rise of the papacy came at a very important time in history, after the fall of Rome. In 380 CE, Emperor Theodosius I, made Nicene Christianity the state church of the Roman Empire. After this establishment, and the church was the top religion in Rome, order was a must. The head of the church normally known as the bishop, now knownRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1216 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the fall of the Roman Empire, the Church was able to stand tall and survive through the ruin. The power of Christianity prevailed as the glory of the city of Rome departed. The fall of Rome marked and epoch in the history of the west. Rome was no longer the city of Caesar, but it would now become known as the City of the Pope. The Catholic Church stepped in a filled the void left by the fall of Western Roman Empire. Several factors led to the papacy in Rome becoming the center of power.Read MoreThe Rise Of The Papacy1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rise of the Papacy Introduction The birth or the beginnings of the Papacy is a rather difficult task to really nail down to a specific time, place or person and also the growth of the Papacy was a rather slow and gradual process. In this modern age Rome has been associated with the birth place of the Papacy but history shows that Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople in the 4th century. In Constantinople the father of the church was referred to as the Pope. TheRead MoreEssay about The Rise of the Papacy1770 Words   |  8 PagesThe Rise of the Papacy Barry Blankenship CHHI 301 - History of the Christian Church I Professor – Dr. Jeffrey S. Mayfield February 20, 2012 The Fall of A Great Empire and the Rise of the Papacy Before the fall of the Roman Empire you must stop and look at the power that was held within the millions of miles of land, building, people, cities, kings, and customs. The Roman Empire was not known for being just another city or empire but it was known for its strength, power and victoriesRead MoreThe Christian Era Of The Western Roman Empire1424 Words   |  6 PagesIn the year 476 A.D, the Christian era of the Western Roman empire came to a close. What followed would be a series of Germanic Kingdoms such as the Visigoths, Angles, and Saxons. These kingdoms, like most budding nations, founded their own unique political systems, laying the groundwork for future European nations. Although these kingdoms were deemed â€Å"independent†, they still found themselves under the jurisdiction of the Church. This subjected them to the political model of the Church, and by extensionRead MoreComparative Essay on Uniformitarianism and Catasophism1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rise of P apacy The rise of the papacy came at a time when the Roman Empire collapsed and there was chaos as it related to the bishops who held office in Rome and what religion would be at the forefront of the representation of the west or east of Rome since its demise. The term â€Å"papacy† (papatus), meant to distinguish the Roman bishop’s office from all bishoprics (episcopatus), and The Head of the Roman Catholic Church the pope is considered the successor of Peter and the vicar of ChristRead MoreChhi 301 Papacy Paper1697 Words   |  7 PagesRAMIFICATIONS OF THE PAPACY’S POWER IN ROME Church History 301 April 20, 2014    Ramifications of the Papacy’s Power in Rome The papacy – the office held by the pope as head of the Catholic Church - gained great power from the sixth through eighth centuries, and there are several reasons for this surge in influence. Starting around 590, Pope Gregory I sought to convert Teutonic invaders to Christianity. Islam was also in play, as it had taken over most of Asia and Africa. According to