The Roman Empire that began with Julius Caesar in 46 BCE collapsed in 476 CE.
After Clovis I and Charlemagne established their Kingdoms, a pope was appointed the head of the Church. Their kingdoms then fell under the pope's rule which led to the emergence of the Holy Roman Empire.
How is the Holy Roman Empire different from the previous Roman Empire?
• a) The Holy Roman Empire was ruled by a religious leader - the pope.
• b) The Holy Roman Empire was not different from the previous Roman Empire.
• c) The Holy Roman Empire was larger and had more emperors.
• a) The Holy Roman Empire only lasted under one pope - Pope Gregory.
The correct answer is:
a) The Holy Roman Empire was ruled by a religious leader - the pope.
To understand why the Holy Roman Empire was different from the previous Roman Empire, we need to look at the key characteristics of each empire.
The Roman Empire, which began with Julius Caesar in 46 BCE, was a vast and powerful empire that stretched across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It was primarily a secular empire, with the Emperor as the head of both the state and the military. While the Roman Empire did have a strong influence from the Roman Catholic Church, it was not directly ruled by the pope.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, Europe became fragmented, and various kingdoms emerged. Among these kingdoms were the kingdoms established by Clovis I and Charlemagne. They were significant rulers in their own right.
It was during the reign of Charlemagne and his coronation as the Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800 CE that the concept of the Holy Roman Empire emerged. The Holy Roman Empire was unique in that it sought to combine both secular and religious authority under the rule of the emperor.
Under the Holy Roman Empire, the pope exercised significant influence in the selection of emperors, which is different from the previous Roman Empire. While the emperor held power and authority in secular matters, the pope held religious authority, further strengthening the connection between the state and the Catholic Church.
Therefore, the Holy Roman Empire was distinct from the previous Roman Empire because it was ruled by a religious leader, the pope, in addition to having an emperor who held secular authority.