1. 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

2. Feudal Europe Power Pyramid The Pope King Lords/Nobles Knights Peasants

3. Popes Leader of Church Popes were seen as representatives of God on Earth.

4. Kingsngs Leader of Kingdoms/ States All lords/nobles and knights swore an oath of loyalty to the king to protect the land.

5. Nobles/Lordss Swore loyalty to the king and were given land called “ fiefs ” to protect

6. Knights Armored warriors that protected the land. They often received “ fiefs ” for their service.

7. Peasants Worked on the lords land

8. Main Idea

9. Main Idea Continued

11. Scope of the High Middle Ages 1000-1400 (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

12. 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)

13. A Rising Population 1000-1346 (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

14. A Non-Homogenized Europe Mediterranean Europe Northern Europe (Celts and Anglo-Saxons) France Central Europe

15. 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

16. Academic and Cultural Renewal Marked intellectual renewal/development Important pieces of vernacular literature Famed architecture

17. 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

18. Romantic Revival Criticism (19 th Century) Critiques of “courtly love” “General mythologizing of the Middle Ages” Influenced by Enlightenment critique of feudalism