2.2. Liderazgo educacional
2.2.3. Características del Liderazgo Educacional
Perhaps one can state that at the initial stage of Islam, the progress made was not through violence. Muhammad relied on moral influences in preaching his gospel. However, the method changed shortly after a peaceful take off to that of force. His converts became warriors and
forced people to accept Islam. Hurlbut said that, the Arab warriors gave two alternatives of Islam, tribute or death to every nation or tribe who resisted their arms. Accordingly, Muhammad was succeeded by a series of Caliphs who built up a vast Empire by the sword. Palestine and Syria were conquered and the holy places of Christianity fell under the power of Islam. Their conquest included Egypt, all Northern Africa and the greater part of Spain. The religion tore away province after province from Greek Emperors of Constantinople unto its final extinction.
Eastward, the Empire of the Caliphs extended beyond Persia into India.
Their capital was at the Bagdad on the Tigris (Hurlbut, 90).
Today, there are over a billion muslims around the globe. The following are facts about Islam:-
1) Islam is very simple to understand and far too superior to paganism
Islam opposes image worship
2) It rejects saintly meditation and cult of the saints
3) Throughout the Muslim world abstinence from strong drink is desired.
4) Literature and science were promoted under the Caliphs.
Interestingly, the Arabians gave the world the numerals 1, 2, 3, etc.
Without much questions, Islam has contributed immensely to the modern day society.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Throughout this unit, you have learnt about the zenith of Papal power.
The papacy exercised great temporal power between 1054 and 1305.
Hildebrand was able to humble the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Also, Innocent III was powerful enough to force rulers of rising nation states to do his will. However, the power of papacy got abated as from the time of Pope Boniface till the time of the Babylonian Captivity in 1309. The papacy was under the influence of the French monarchies until 1377 when the seat of Pope was brought back to Rome (Cairns p.209).
You have also studied the rise and development of Islam. Tim Dowley said that at the very time when Gregory the Great was turning away from the Eastern Mediterranean and seeking to extend papal influence throughout the West, there began in Arabia the career of a remarkable religious leader, Muhammad of Mecca. His teachings had an almost immediate impact. The movement of Islam was born, and spread with
dramatic speed outside Arabia after the prophet’s death under the caliphs, literally ‘successors’.
Tim Dowley added that, the major factor that led to the rapid growth was the extraordinary religious enthusiasm generated by Muhammad and his immediate converts, the ‘Companions’. Within a century of the prophet’s death, Islam had reached the Atlantic (Morocco) and the River Indus (Pakistan).
Without mincing words, the rise of Islam directly influenced the political and economic development of the two halves of Christendom.
Therefore, Islam became medieval Christianity’s greatest opponent (Tim Dowley, 234). You have also studied about the contributions of the Arabs to the world of Science and literature. Consequently, Islam impacted the development of the modern society.
5.0 SUMMARY
Throughout the pages of this unit, you have studied the various ways and also a stage of the consolidations of Papal powers. Some of the following points are considered as part of the contributing factors:
1. The ability, dynamism and capability of bishops of Rome.
2. The Church was highly orthodox. The Church of Rome was very conservative in nature.
3. The Church had respect for oral traditions of the Church Fathers.
4. The bishops of Rome were greatly involved in charity works.
5. The bishops of Rome devoted their time to political affairs when the seat of the Empire was removed from Rome.
6. The bishop of Rome, severally, through diplomacy rescued Rome from ruin, and the attacks of the enemies.
7. During the Pontificate of Gregory VII the following achievements were made
(a) The Clergy Reform was instituted
(b) The church was set free from the control of the State (c) The Church was made supreme above the State
8. During the Pontificates of Gregory VII and Innocent III the following documents were used extensively for the consolidation of Papal authority.
(a) Forged donation of Constantine. That was the claim of the bishop of Rome, that the first Christian Emperor Constantine had given to bishop of Rome, Sylvester I (314-335 A.D) Supreme authority over all European provinces of the Empire and proclaimed the bishop of Rome as ruler even above the emperors.
(b) The second document was False Decretals of Isidore published in 850A.D. said that the document professed to be decisions given out by early bishops of Rome, from the apostles downward, setting forth the highest claims, such as the absolute supremacy of the Pope of Rome over the universal church; the inviolability of the clergy of every rank from any accountability to the State;
to the extent that no secular court could judge in matters pertaining to the church.
9. Innocent III successfully humiliated king John of England by excommunicating him in 1208. He also compelled the licentious Philip Augustus, King of France to receive back his wife, whom he had divorced.
10. Probably, the decline in Papal Power started with the Pontificate of Boniface VII who was humbled by Edward I of England.
11. The period from 1305 to 1377 is known as the Babylonish Captivity, when the French King compelled the Papal seat to be transferred from Rome to Avignon in France
12. The rise and spread of Islam, with Muhammad as the Prophet whom Allah used to propagate the religion.
13. Islam has simple beliefs with only five major pillars of the faith.
14. Islamic religion began its propagation through persuasion and was supported with free will donations. Later, the mode of conversion changed to force and violence.
15. Islam has dominated many countries of the world today.
16. The contributions of the Arabs to the advancement of science and literature could not be over emphasized.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Discuss the Pontificates of Gregory I and Innocent III.
2. Discuss the rise and spread of Islam.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Cairns, Earle. E. (1981). Christianity Through the Century: A History of the Christian Church. (Rev. & Enlarged Ed.) Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, pp. 165-169; 173-175; 209-217.
Burns, Edward McNall Ralph, Philip Lee Lerner, Robert E. and Meacham, Standish (1986). World Civilizations (Vol.1, 7th Edition) New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman, (1981). The Story of the Christian Church, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. pp. 82-93; 165-169.
Dowley, Tim (ed.). (1996). Lion Handbook: The History of Christianity Singapore: Lion Publishing Plc. pp. 234-236.
Houghton, S.M. (2001). Sketches from Church History. Great Britain:
The Barth Press.