Catholic Church in APE Period 0: Pre-1450 CE

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to the Catholic Church and its role in Pre-1450 Europe.

Edict of Thessalonica

A 380 CE decree establishing Nicene Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire and making the Catholic Church the state church of Rome.

Roman Catholic Church

Christian institution rooted in Jesus, organized in a hierarchical structure with the Pope at the top; influential in spiritual matters and often in tension with secular rulers in feudal Europe.

Pope

Bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter, and holder of the Keys to Heaven; supreme authority in Church orthodoxy and policy.

Keys to Heaven

Symbolic authority claimed by the Pope (and cardinals) to interpret doctrine and grant heavenly access, including influence over church policy and discipline.

Cardinals

Senior church officials who advise the Pope and elect his successor; a key part of the papal hierarchy.

Archbishops

Church leaders who oversee multiple dioceses within an archdiocese.

Bishops

Clergy who preside over a single diocese and its parishes.

Priests

Clergy who serve a local parish and administer sacraments.

Deacons

Clergy who assist priests in liturgical duties, including Mass.

Laity

The non-ordained members of the Church; the general laypeople.

Papal States

Territories in central Italy governed by the Pope, reflecting temporal as well as spiritual authority.

Inquisition

A medieval Church tribunal established to identify and punish heresy, often through interrogation, torture, imprisonment, or execution.

Heretic

A person whose beliefs or practices diverge from orthodox Catholic doctrine and are deemed a threat to Church authority.

Waldensians

Followers of Peter Waldo who were questioned and many times tortured or executed by the Inquisition in the 12th–13th centuries for criticizing church policies.

Hussites

Followers of Jan Hus who criticized clerical wealth and governance; persecuted by the Inquisition from the 13th–16th centuries.

Copernicans

Followers of Copernicus advocating heliocentrism; banned and persecuted for contradicting geocentric biblical accounts from the late Middle Ages onward.

Top-down conversion

Missionary approach targeting tribal or regional leaders first, who then enforce Catholicism on their subjects and replace pagan practices.

Missionary work

Efforts to convert non-Christians to Christianity, often through organized outreach and education.

Pagan conversion

Process of replacing pagan religious practices and sites with Christian versions, including holidays and temples.

Excommunication

Church-imposed exclusion from the sacraments and communion as a means to enforce orthodoxy and discipline, sometimes used against monarchs.