Question

Create an acrostic poem that describes the influence of the Roman Catholic Church in medieval Europe. Use your student text, Reading Notes, and Handout D to complete your poem. Your poem must meet the following requirements.

• It must have nine short stanzas, or lines.
• The first letter of the poem’s stanzas must spell out the words THE CHURCH. So, the first word of Stanza 1 must begin with the letter T, the first word of Stanza 2 with the letter H, and so on.
• The poem must contain at least five of the Social Studies Vocabulary words from this lesson.
• The poem must contain correct spelling and grammar.

Answer 1

An acrostic poem depicting the pervasive influence of the Roman Catholic Church in medieval Europe, emphasizing its impact on language, governance, culture, and religious practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

Acrostic Poem of the Roman Catholic Church's Influence in Medieval Europe

Throngs of faithful gather 'neath the spire,
Hallowing lands with their cathedral's fire.
Each word from the Papacy's decree,
Cast in Latin, bridged the elite's esprit.
Hierarchies in fiefdoms, power's design,
Undermined by Viking force and Charlemagne's line.
Reformation beckoned, a Counter-Clash,
Councils convened, doctrines rehash.
Humanism's dawn, from Greek thought's liberty, refines.

This acrostic poem encapsulates the Roman Catholic Church's control and cultural imperialism over education, governance, and spirituality throughout the Middle Ages. Latin was the lingua franca among the educated, which included mainly clergy and nobility, reinforcing the Church's dominion across borders. The Counter-Reformation, responding to Protestants, would see the Church reaffirm spiritual and political sway with outcomes like the Council of Trent.