The Western European Middle Ages: The High Middle Ages

Charlemagne: Creator of Medieval Europe

Charlemagne was king of the Franks and grandson of the man who formed Feudalism. Charlemagne went to war with the polytheistic Saxons that lived in Germany for 30 years. He beheaded nearly 5,000 Saxons in one day! When the Pope was in trouble, Charlemagne protected him, which in turn led the Pope to give Charlemagne control over the Holy Roman Empire.

A map of the Holy Roman Empire Frankish rule of the Holy Roman Empire would last over 500 years. Charlemagne improved the economy and literacy rates, built libraries, encouraged monasteries, and fixed the Roman alphabet. He’s called the “Father of Europe” because he had over 18 children. Today, a large portion of Europeans are related to him!

The High Middle Ages

The High Middle Ages began with an increase in wealth and an even more dramatic increase in population. In fact, the population doubled from 1000 to 1200 for three reasons. First, the Muslims, Vikings, and Goths stopped invading, allowing local populations to be established and maintained. Second, monks began using complex water mills to grind grain, cut wood, and do other activities. This technology spread rapidly outside of monasteries. Third, the 3-Field System developed, which led to more fertile soil. The 3-field rotation of crops (2 sections for crops and 1 left as grass for cows) helped put nitrogen back into the soil and helped protect society against famine.

The wealth gap between local lords and peasants grew. Local lords began acting, eating, and dressing distinctly apart from the rest of the manor. As a result of the larger peasant class, the peasants (especially women) lost their rights. Some peasants, as well as other groups, left the manors and recreated cities. Some nobles and city-dwellers wrote romantic and humorous short-story collections, including The Heptameron and Canterbury Tales. Most impressively, ornate Gothic Cathedrals with intricate stained-glass windows and Europe’s earliest Universities were constructed in cities as centers of medicine, law, and Christian faith.

A montage showing architecture from the middle ages

Image notes: top left, interior of a Gothic cathedral; top right, exterior of a Gothic cathedral; bottom left, a collection of stained glass windows depicting Christian religious iconography; bottom right, Bologna University, founded in the 11th c CE.

The Fall of Feudalism

Towards the end of the High Middle Ages, challenges arose to the feudal system. There were several important reasons for its decline, but most involve the knights. Let’s take a look:

Fewer invaders: Without a constant threat of invasion, knights needed to justify their existence. Some just couldn’t do it.
The Long Bow: While not invented by Europeans, the long bow was utilized in the High Middle Ages. It was powerful enough to pierce armor at a long range. This allowed peasants, with training, to become more effective in battle than knights.
The Crusades: Some knights caught a break when the Byzantine Empire lost the Holy Land (where Jesus and Muhammad had lived), to the Turks in 1085. Even though the Great Schism had just happened, the Byzantine Emperor asked the Pope for help to get the land back. Over the next 200 years, Popes sent thousands of knights in a series of 8 crusades (or holy wars) to reclaim the Holy Land. But the Holy Land largely remained under Dar-al Islam (Islamic rule). This led to 3 important effects:
1. Unsuccessful knights weren’t proving their importance
2. The Catholic Church wasn’t proving its divine power
3. Western Europe traded with the Middle East, which would lead to new wealth and a feudal-independent merchant class.
The Black Plague: A new disease entered Western Europe through trade with the Middle East. The Bubonic and Pneumonic plague killed 1/3 of the European population. Society was disrupted. Some peasants left their manors. Some manors collapsed altogether. But importantly, this was a foe that neither the knights nor the Church could fight.
The Peasant Revolt: in the 14th through 16th centuries, peasants rose up in dozens of local revolts. Most of the time, the revolts were very violent and the peasants lost. For example, in the 1525 revolt, over 100,000 people were killed. However, the Holy Roman Empire and the Feudal System itself would fall apart by the end of the 16th century

Practice Activity

Learn more about a medieval manor house!

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