Europe in the High Middle Ages Big Idea: A steadily growing, complex, and non-homogenized Europe witnessed amazing innovations and devastating catastrophes. Important Relationship! Secular and Church Leaders A New Interpretation of Feudalism
Feudal Europe Power Pyramid The Pope King Lords/Nobles Knights Peasants
Popes Leader of Church Popes were seen as representatives of God on Earth.
Kingsngs Leader of Kingdoms/ States All lords/nobles and knights swore an oath of loyalty to the king to protect the land.
Nobles/Lordss Swore loyalty to the king and were given land called “ fiefs ” to protect
Knights Armored warriors that protected the land. They often received “ fiefs ” for their service.
Peasants Worked on the lords land
Main Idea
Main Idea Continued
Scope of the High Middle Ages (11 th -14 th centuries) Broken up into Four Parts – Europe in the Eleventh Century – “Renaissance of the Twelfth Century” – The Thirteenth Century – Christendom in the Early Fourteenth Century
Interesting References – The Story of Burnt Njal – Abelard’s History of My Calamaties (The Letters of Abelard and Heloise) – Medieval Woman’s Guide to Health (Trotula)
A Rising Population (Plague outbreak) – Population increase: 35 million – 80 million – France, Germanic speaking regions, Italy, England, the Iberian peninsula, and Scandinavia all saw increases – Various reasons explored to explain growth
A Non-Homogenized Europe Mediterranean Europe Northern Europe (Celts and Anglo-Saxons) France Central Europe
Religious Renewal The Church’s fight against simony Establishment of new religious orders and monasteries/convents Lay Investiture Controversy Glory tied to the First Crusade
Academic and Cultural Renewal Marked intellectual renewal/development Important pieces of vernacular literature Famed architecture
Explanation of Feudalism Issues with overuse of term – Often used prematurely – At times not prevalent – Used in a diverse set of ways Economic exploitation Corrupt political systems
Romantic Revival Criticism (19 th Century) Critiques of “courtly love” “General mythologizing of the Middle Ages” Influenced by Enlightenment critique of feudalism