The Synthesis of "Pope Gregory VII"

An overview of Pope Gregory I, one of the most influential figures in the Catholic Church, known for his vast writings and administrative reforms.

A look at the medieval power struggle between popes and emperors over church appointments, a conflict that forever changed church-state relations.

An overview of the Papal States, the territories in central Italy ruled directly by the Pope for over a thousand years, from 756 to 1870.

Discover Pope Urban II, the influential medieval pope who ignited the First Crusade with a powerful speech, changing European and Middle Eastern history.

Explore the Salian dynasty (1024-1125), a pivotal era in the Holy Roman Empire defined by the epic power struggle between emperors and popes.

Explore the reign of Justinian I, the Byzantine emperor who reshaped Roman law, built the Hagia Sophia, and sought to restore the Roman Empire.

An explanation of the Great Schism of 1054, the monumental split that divided Christianity into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Discover the Hohenstaufen dynasty, the medieval German rulers of the Holy Roman Empire known for powerful emperors and their epic clash with the papacy.

A look at the Catholic Church's vigorous response to the Protestant Reformation, which reshaped European religion, art, and politics.

Discover the Byzantine dynasty famed for Emperor Justinian I's ambitious reconquests, the codification of Roman law, and building the Hagia Sophia.