High Middle Ages

Mr. Stikes

• SSWH7 The student will analyze

European medieval society with regard

to culture, politics, society, and

economics.

• b. Describe the political impact of

Christianity; include Pope Gregory VII and

King Henry IV of Germany (Holy Roman

Emperor).

Important Figures

• Pope Gregory VII: (1073-1085) - Pope

• King Henry IV:

(1056-1106)

King of Holy Roman Empire

The Church and Politics

• How did the church influence politics?”

Best example:

– “Lay Investiture” Controversy (1074-1122)

• Lay Investiture: Lay (non-church) leaders

[kings] wanted to appoint clergy (church)

leaders [bishops]

“Lay Investiture” Controversy

(1074-1122)

• Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiture

(meaning on he could appoint bishops) –

King Henry IV of Holy Roman Empire does

not want to give up this power

“Lay Investiture” Controversy

(1074-1122)

• Gregory VII threatens to excommunicate

Henry. Henry tried to “depose” the pope

(take him out of office)

• Pope tells Henry’s vassals they no longer

have to listen to him

• Henry’s lords rebel & defeat him at

Canossa (1077)

“Lay Investiture” Controversy

(1074-1122)

• Ends with Concordat of Worms (1122)

– Emperor lost the right to appoint bishops while retaining the right to grant them land and secular political power

• Long Term Results:

– Political destabilization in central Europe until 1870’s

– Germany and Italy not unified, unlike France and England

Height of Medieval Papal Power

• Innocent III (1198-1216)

– Goal: unite all of Christendom under papal

rule to able to bring right order to the world

– How? Crusades against heretics and to the

Middle East

• SSWH7 The student will analyze

European medieval society with regard

to culture, politics, society, and

economics.

• c. Explain the role of the church in

medieval society.

The Role of the Church

• Christians throughout Western Europe

recognized the Pope as the supreme

spiritual leader.

• Pope could provide legitimacy to a leader:

– ex. – crowning of Charlemagne

• In return, leaders provided military support

– ex. - Donation of Pepin – Holy Roman Empire

will protect Rome

So… Secular leaders

provided military strength

in exchange for

Recognition of Papal

(i.e. God’s) support

Problems in Europe

• 9th and 10th centuries: Viking invasions

leaves a power vacuum – the Church is

the sole unified power throughout Europe

Problems in Europe

• Problems with the church:

– Illiterate parish priests

– Bishops appointed by kings – often immoral

Reforms in Europe

• Monasticism:

– Tradition of Christians living outside the world

began in Egypt (hermits)

– Gradually, monasteries developed.

– Important…

• Monasteries: Cluny

• Orders: Franciscans, Dominicans

• Reformers: Francis of Assisi - (1182- 1226)

preached a life of total poverty, charity and good

works, and love for all; became one of the largest

and most powerful of the monastic orders

Reforms in Europe

• Inquisition:

– Founded by Pope Gregory IX in 1232 to root

out heresy – became misused

• Popular Movements:

– Albigensians: who rejected the leadership of

the Church and marriage, all forms of

materialism, and cooperation with the state

– Waldensians: founded by Peter Waldo, who

preached poverty, a strict moral life, and the

use of the vernacular language

• SSWH7 The student will analyze

European medieval society with regard

to culture, politics, society, and

economics.

• d. Describe how increasing trade led to the

growth of towns and cities.

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Agriculture increased

• Reasons:

– End of invasions from Eastern Europe/Asia

– Cultivation/clearing of new land

– Spread of new techniques and technology

(crop rotation, metal plow, horse collar)

– Use of wind and water mills to provide power

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

Increase in food

Population growth

Revival of trade, rise of towns

(remember, excess food usually leads to technological innovation)

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Revival of trade

• Reasons:

– Surplus food allows for specialization

– Crusades encourage trade from Italy to Middle East/Constantinople • Cities like Pisa, Genoa, Milan and Venice take

lead

• Europeans want luxury goods like spices, silks

– Stable government in Kievan Rus (Russia…remember?) allows for trade to N. Europe • Sea trade via Baltic Sea, rivers, Black Sea

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Revival of trade

• Results:

– Rise of money economy in Europe (Why?)

– Beginning of banking system

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Rise of cities

• Reasons:

– Excess food supplies

– Increased Trade

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Rise of cities

• Results:

– Rise of a middle class

• Had no place in feudal system

• Master artisans, merchants

• Belief in individual initiative

• Began to demand role in government

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Rise of cities

• Results:

– Rise of Guilds

• Guild: “medieval business association of

merchants or crafts workers”

• Purpose: control price, quality

• Levels of skill: apprentice, journeyman, master

High Middle Ages in Europe:

A.D. 1050-1300

• Rise of cities

• Results:

– Freedom

• Outside feudal system, serfs could become free

and advance in cities

• Money allowed large building projects and

provided protection

Assignment

• Create a study guide including the following:

– Crusades: Why do they matter?

– Gregory VII

– Henry IV (HRE)

– Lay Investiture

– Concordat of Worms

– Relationship between church and politics

– 2 Problems with the Medieval church

– 3 Reforms of the Medieval church

– How agriculture revived trade, which in turn led to the rise of cities.