The power struggle between church and state is new. The conflicts up to this point have mostly been between nations, tribes, or individuals. Other governments had connections between religion and government. In Egypt the pharoh claimed to be a god and therefore had the authority to rule. The Greeks and Romans had basicly the same religious ideas but elected their leaders before someone stronger took over. That seems to be the pattern, either you have authority from God or have more military strength. The smart ones used both tactics to gain support. The motives are repeating. The bishops and kings were motivated by the same things, land, money, and power. I'm not sure if Charlemagne claimed authority from God but he did use religious reasons to invade the pagan nations. The Saxon tribes were repeatedly invaded and converted.
I wonder if the Vatican still has politcal power. Is there still a power struggle between the Italian government and the Pope? Also, does the Church of England claim any political power?
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The struggle between church and state can be believed as "new" as long as the belief is that the United States is also a "new" nation. Our forefathers wrote the constitution based on the belief that there should not be a State Religion. This is what they had tried to escape from in England. The forefathers wanted our nation developed under the freedoms that come in the first amendment.
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