The Papal Inquisition
At a glance:
- Series: Chronology of European History
- Categories: Religion, Ethics, Social Issues, Reform, and Protest, Law, Legal History, Courts, Terrorism
- Subcategories: Christianity, Christians, Churches, Murder, Homicide, Execution, Assassination, Catholic Church, Catholics, Popes, Papacy, Cardinals, Human Rights, Spanish Inquisition, Massacres, Genocide, Torture
- Curriculum: Italian History, German History, Medieval History/Middle Ages, French History, Spanish/Portuguese History
- Geographical Location: Germany, France, Spain, Italy
- Date: 1233
Article abstract: The papal inquisition develops a legal mechanism for suppressing heresy and is instituted gradually during the course of a millennium, causing the suffering and death of thousands of people during the Middle Ages.
Summary of Event
When Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire in 313, the sudden growth of Christian believers created problems of authority for both church and state. Maintenance of the social order required the prohibition of antisocial behavior such as sorcery, sacrilege, and treason. At first, coercion to...
[The entire page is 1449 words long]