The Great Schism: The Split Between Eastern and Western Christianity

🌍The Roman Empire split into two halves, with the Western Empire being predominantly Latin-speaking and the Eastern Empire being Greek-speaking.

⛪Christianity quickly became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, but power struggles between Constantinople and Rome created tension.

👑Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor, further dividing the Eastern and Western Christian world.

🙏Political interference between the Frankish and Greek emperors caused disharmony in religious affairs.

🌐Differences in church rituals and theological beliefs led to further separation between Eastern and Western Christianity.

What caused the division between Eastern and Western Christianity?

—The division was caused by a combination of political power struggles, differences in church rituals, and theological disagreements.

Who were the major players in the division?

—The major players were the Roman Empire, the papacy in Rome, and the patriarchate in Constantinople.

How did Charlemagne and the Franks play a role in the division?

—Charlemagne's coronation as Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope challenged the authority of the Byzantine Emperor and further divided the Christian world.

What were some of the key differences between Eastern and Western Christianity?

—Some key differences included the use of different bread types in the Eucharist and differences in the belief of the procession of the Holy Spirit.

Did the division between Eastern and Western Christianity ever get resolved?

—No, the division persisted and eventually led to the Great Schism in 1054, marking the formal split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

00:00[Music]

00:05During the Middle Ages, the Roman Empire was divided into a Latin-speaking Western Empire and a Greek-speaking Eastern Empire.

00:28Christianity rapidly spread throughout the Roman Empire, but power struggles between Constantinople and Rome created tension.

01:59Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, further dividing the Christian world.

05:08Political interference between the Frankish and Greek emperors caused disharmony in religious affairs.

12:49Differences in church rituals and theological beliefs led to further separation between Eastern and Western Christianity.