(in Polish) Relacje państwo-Kościół (średniowiecze) SzD-DH>Repako(śred)

The aim of the course “State–Church Relations in the Middle Ages” is to present undergraduate students with the complex dynamics of interaction between secular and ecclesiastical power in Europe from the early to the late Middle Ages. The course focuses on the analysis of major models structuring the relationship between Church and state, including the doctrine of the two powers (sacerdotium and regnum), the development of theocratic concepts, and imperial-papal conflicts over jurisdiction and authority.
The classes examine key historical processes such as the Investiture Controversy, the development of Christian monarchies, the political role of the papacy, and the emergence of canon law as a system regulating relations between secular and ecclesiastical institutions. Particular attention is given to the Church as a social and administrative structure and its influence on political life, education, culture, and the legal systems of medieval Europe.
An important component of the course is the analysis of historical sources, including papal documents, chronicles, normative texts, and narrative accounts, which help to reconstruct the dynamics of institutional power relations. Students learn to interpret these sources within their historical context, taking into account their legal, ideological, and propagandistic functions.
The course also situates these issues within the broader context of medieval political and religious culture, including theories of sacred kingship, political theology, and the influence of scholastic thought on the concept of the Christian state. As a result, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the Middle Ages as a period in which religious and political spheres were deeply interconnected and mutually constitutive.