Centralization of Control in Medieval Europe

Medieval times were shaped greatly by religious and secular motives to form centralized power and control. The religious leaders, in particular, were very influential in this process of centralization. The methods used to attain this power were directed at various aspects of their influence in order to realize the greatest control possible. The concepts of power and control are difficult to define because they present themselves in a variety of different ways in a variety …

…der to do so, they had to reaffirm their power over the way of thinking of their people and foster the expansion of thought to other lands far from their religious centers. Once they achieved a great deal of success with these goals, they were able to attain a sphere of influence that was perpetuated further by their overseeing of the king's practices. As a result, the church was able to increase its central authority.