How did the Church gain secular power?

From a structural standpoint, the Catholic Church acted as a very influential sovereign power and authority in Europe up until and through the protestant reformation in the 1500's. The Pope was an incredibly powerful political figure that could threaten entire nations with excommunication should they not bend to his will, believed by many to be the very intention of Christ Himself.

It is interesting when you examine the spread of religion throughout the world. Until the middle of the second millennium, Christianity had some serious competition from Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews. Something happened in the middle of the second millennium, which gave Christianity a decided advantage over these other religions, one that would forever change the shape of western society, and of the world.

When European empires began sending ships around the world to explore, conquer and set up trade, they didn't just send exploratory vessels. They sent ships with priests, and men with guns. They way it worked was simple. The priests would come, and spread the teachings of Christ. When there was sufficient divisiveness among the target population, then men with guns would come and the society would fall very easily.