During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church played a central role in European society, acting as a unifying force and a religious authority. It influenced various aspects of life, including politics, education, and culture. The Church controlled vast lands and accumulated wealth, serving not only as a spiritual institution but also as a political powerbroker. Monasteries were centers of learning and preservation of knowledge, while the Church had the authority to excommunicate rulers and influence laws. The Church organized important events such as crusades and the establishment of papal states, shaping the religious and political landscape of medieval Europe significantly.