Which evidence best supports the historical claim that the East-West Schism did not begin in 1054 CE, but that the mutual excommunication was part of an already growing division?(1 point) Responses The Roman Catholic Church affirmed the idea of papal supremacy at the First Vatican Council in 1870 CE. The Roman Catholic Church affirmed the idea of papal supremacy at the First Vatican Council in 1870 CE. Crusaders from Western Europe looted and sacked the city of Constantinople in 1204 CE. Crusaders from Western Europe looted and sacked the city of Constantinople in 1204 CE. The decreasing power of the pope following the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE conflicted with the rise of Byzantine power in the East. The decreasing power of the pope following the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE conflicted with the rise of Byzantine power in the East. The Byzantine Empire rose as a major economic and political power in the western Mediterranean region while Western Europe became more isolated.

The decreasing power of the pope following the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE conflicted with the rise of Byzantine power in the East.

The evidence that best supports the historical claim that the East-West Schism did not begin in 1054 CE, but that the mutual excommunication was part of an already growing division is: Crusaders from Western Europe looted and sacked the city of Constantinople in 1204 CE.

The evidence that best supports the historical claim that the East-West Schism did not begin in 1054 CE but rather was part of an already growing division is the decreasing power of the pope following the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE conflicting with the rise of Byzantine power in the East.

To understand why this evidence is relevant, we need to delve into the historical context. The East-West Schism refers to the division between the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East. The mutual excommunication in 1054 CE is often seen as the official starting point of this schism. However, this evidence suggests that there were underlying factors leading to the division.

At the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, the power of the pope started decreasing. This was due to various factors such as the fall of Rome and the political instability in Western Europe. On the other hand, the Byzantine Empire was rising as a major economic and political power in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The conflicting rise of Byzantine power and the declining authority of the pope set the stage for the growing division between the East and West. The political and economic differences between the two regions likely contributed to the theological disputes that eventually led to the schism.

Therefore, the fact that the papal power decreased following the end of the Western Roman Empire, while the Byzantine Empire became more powerful, supports the claim that the East-West Schism was not a sudden event in 1054 CE but rather a result of an already growing division.