East-West Schism

Who

Cardinal Humbert served as representation for Pope Leo IX, during this time, Michael Cerularius (Constantinople leader) and the Pope excommunicated each other.

What

Byzantine Christianity and Western Christianity got increasingly differentiated over time, and in 1054 there was a formal agreement to separate the two

Why

• Western Christianity was based primarily on Roman law, whereas the other side had more roots in Greek philosophy

• The eastern church also did not recognize the power of the Pope, as they were led by Constantinople

• The two sides were competing over the conversion of foreign rulers. The Byzantine would excommunicate the pope and the pope would excommunicate Eastern christians. People realized this wasn’t sustainable

Where

Constantinople

When

1054

Latin vs Greek –

caused a lasting divide between the two that was never fully reconciled

Gradual separation between the

church and state

The church was internally split in terms of

doctrine and politics

It was the start of what would become the differing philosophies of

Catholic Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Theological differences)

Demonstrates a growing split between the

still somewhat Roman-identifying Byzantines and the catholic medieval Western Europeans