Medieval and modern times : an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . l, which was asbeautiful outside as inside. The chief importance of the Church for the student of The Churchmedieval history does not lie, however, in its religious func- Roman gov-tions, vital as they were, but rather in its remarkable relationsto the government. From the days of Constantine on, theCatholic Church had usually enjoyed the hearty support andprotection of the government. But so long as the RomanEmpire remained strong and active there was no

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Medieval and modern times : an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . l, which was asbeautiful outside as inside. The chief importance of the Church for the student of The Churchmedieval history does not lie, however, in its religious func- Roman gov-tions, vital as they were, but rather in its remarkable relationsto the government. From the days of Constantine on, theCatholic Church had usually enjoyed the hearty support andprotection of the government. But so long as the RomanEmpire remained strong and active there was no chance for theclergy to free themselves from the control of the emperor, evenif they had been disposed to do so. He made such laws for 1 For reports of miracles, see Readings^ especially chaps. ^, xvi. emment 44 Medieval and Modem Times the Church as he saw fit, and the clergy did not complain. Thegovernment was, indeed, indispensable to them. It undertookto root out paganism by destroying the heathen shrines andpreventing heathen sacrifices, and it punished severely thosewho refused to accept the teachings sanctioned by the Church.. Fig. II. S.A.NTA Maria Maggiore This beautiful church at Rome was built shortly after Constantines time, and the interior, here shown, with its stately columns above which are fine mosaics, is still nearly as it was in the time of St. Augustine, fifteen hundred years ago. The ceiling is of the sixteenth century The Churchbegins toseek inde-pendgnce But as the great Empire began to fall apart, there was agrowing tendency among the churchmen in the West to resentthe interference of the new rulers whom they did not respect.Consequently they managed gradually to free themselves inlarge part from the control of the government. They then pro-ceeded to assume themselves many of the duties of government, which the weak and disorderly states into which the RomanEmpire fell were unable to perform properly. One of the bishops of Rome (Pope Gelasius I, d. 496)