Western Europe During the High Middle Ages

The Establishment of Regional StatesWhile German princes established the

confederation of states known as the Holy Roman Empire, western monarchs consolidated power over France and England.

On the Iberian Peninsula, there were five regional kingdoms and the Italian cities worked toward independence from regional authority.

These states frequently clashed with one another but were very effective at organizing their own territories.

The Establishment of Regional KingdomsThe Holy Roman Empire

German King of Saxony, Otto, had defeated so many of his neighbors that by 962 the pope named him the Holy Roman Emperor.

However, there was enormous tension between the succeeding emperors and popes as emperors sought to control the Catholic church and the popes attempted to exert their own authority over all monarchs. Example – Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV excommunicated by

Pope Gregory VII for attempting to name his own regional bishops. (Known as the Investiture Contest Controversy)

Voltaire (18th Century Philosopher) – Liked to say, “The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.” Really, it was secular, German, and a group of states!!!

The Establishment of Regional StatesRegional Monarchies in France and England

Both the French and English consolidated their feudal estates into the centralized governments of French kings.

France Hugh Capet and his descendents formed strong monarchy

England William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo Saxon King of

England in 1066. Normans (William the Conq) reorganized the English

government to maintain strong central authority Successive generations of French and English kings fought

each other and faced internal challenges as well.

The Establishment of Regional States The Regional States of Italy and Iberia

Italy Decentralized during the High Middle Ages Popes influenced most Italian States, but ruled central Italy

as the Papal State Florence, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, and Venice grew

prosperous from trade and dominated the northern regions of Europe.

Naples (formed out of old Byzantine empire) also became powerful

Iberian Peninsula (Present day Spain and Portugal) Split b/t Catholics in the North and Muslims in the South By 13 Century Christian armies had pressed south and

conquered the regions that became Castile, Aragon, and Portugal.

Only Granada Remain Muslim

Economic Growth and Social DevelopmentIn the middle of all the political warfare, Europe

experienced notable growth in trade which changed the social hierarchy.

Growth of the Agricultural EconomyHorseshoes, horse collars, crop rotation, field

rotation, and animal fertilizerExperimented with many new cropsPublicized agricultural improvements to spread

knowledge. Improvements led to significant population growth

between 1000 and 1300 CE. Fueled urbanization and trade

Economic Growth and Social DevelopmentThe Revival of Towns and Trade

Increased trade and economic activity encouraged peasants to make their way to towns.

Roman cities like London, Paris, and Toledo became regional trading centers

Italian cities along the Mediterranean and northern cities along the Baltic and North Seas were cross cultural trading ports Hanseatic League – Port city trading network along

the Baltic and North SeasBanking and credit helped enhance European

trade

Economic Growth of the Agricultural CommunitySocial Change

Three Estates of medieval Europe (those who pray, those who fight, those who labor) changed as the High Middle Ages set in

Code of Chivalry implemented – governed the manners and actions of the fighting classes of Europe

Merchants became more powerful and demanded charters – agreements that exempted them from the control of local feudal lords

Craftsmen for guilds – Associations to protect prices and standardize production

Women had more opportunities due to urbanization – Opportunities to work the same jobs as men.

European Christianity During the High Middle AgesThe Roman Catholic church dominated the

lives of medieval Europeans.Served as the major cultural influence on

literature and the arts as well as dominating the city scene with its churches and cathedrals.

Average Europeans adopted a new form of popular religion that challenged the church while Catholic scholars adopted the long forgotten ideas of Aristotle.

European Christianity During the High Middle AgesSchools, Universities, and Scholastic Theology

As Europeans grew wealthier, education became more available.

Cathedral Schools – Northern Italy and France, people studied Latin, the Bible, and Christian Theologians.

Universities – Bologna, Paris, Salerno – People specialized in medicine, law, and theology

Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote books that merged Christianity with Greek philosophy (Aristotle) Helped people better understand the complex ideas of

Christianity.

European Christianity during the High Middle AgesPopular Religion

Common people were interested in the vibrant and emotional brand of Christianity that venerated saints, relics, and the Virgin Mary.

People would travel all over seeing artifacts left behind by the saints who they often prayed to. Led to a sort of travel industry and inns sprang up

along popular routes travelled by Christians paying homage to their favorite saints.

Most popular saint was the Virgin Mary

European Christianity During the High Middle AgesReform Movements and Popular Heresies

As wealth increased and pilgrimage sites raked in the riches, reformers within the church became concerned with the materialism of the church.

St. Dominic and St. Francis founded orders of mendicant monks who preaches messages of simple faith and begged for donations of food and clothing.

In parts of northern Italy and France people rejected the Catholic Church: Waldensians Cathers

The Medieval Expansion of EuropeA strengthened medieval Europe began to

expand into new regions of the Atlantic, Baltic, and Mediterranean.

Colonies established in Iceland, Greenland, and Canada and Christianity was introduced in the Baltic.

Christian Spain conquered Muslim Spain.

The Medieval Expansion of EuropeAtlantic and Baltic Colonization

When the Vikings of Scandinavia were turned back from continental Europe, they began to expand westward to the islands of the north Atlantic

While they were exploring, the Scandinavian monarchs converted to Christianity and began to press it on their subjects.

The Teutonic Knights (Christian Soldiers) conquered the Baltic regions of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

The Medieval Expansion of EuropeThe Reconquest of Sicily and Spain

As European interest in the Mediterranean increased, they confronted the Muslim states of Sicily and Granada.

By the mid-thirteenth century Christians had conquered Sicily and almost all of Granada.

Dominican friars played a large part in the conversion of Spaniards from Islam to Catholicism.

Medieval Expansion in EuropeCrusades

Attempts by European Christians to retake the Holy lands of the Bible which were controlled by Muslims

First Crusade – Jerusalem captured from Muslims, but later retaken

Second Crusade – Attempt to retake Jerusalem after Muslims regained control following the first Crusade

Series of Crusades followed that were never as successful as the first

Although they were largely unsuccessful, the crusades were beneficial for Europe because it exposed them to Muslim ideas (math, theology, medicine) and new goods, which reinvigorated Europe’s trade with the rest of the world.