The church exercised authority by:
being the largest landowner in Europe
requiring people to attend church services
making laws and controlling the legal system
The church influenced daily life by:
making and enforcing laws of marriage
overseeing the writing of wills and contracts
requiring people to perform penance for misdeeds
collecting donations for cathedrals
teaching and educating
The church offered hope to Europeans by:
teaching that salvation was possible
offering people a chance to confess their sins and be forgiven