 | High Middle Ages: Encyclopedia II - High Middle Ages - Historical events and politics
High Middle Ages - Historical events and politics
High Middle Ages - Britain
Main article: Britain in the Middle Ages
In England, the Norman Conquest of 1066 resulted in a kingdom ruled by a French-speaking nobility. The Normans invaded Ireland in force in 1169 and soon established themselves throughout most of the country, though their stronghold was the southeast. Likewise, Scotland and Wales were subdued to vassalage at about the same time, though Scotland later regained her independence. The Exchequer was founded in the 12th century under King Henry I, and the first parliaments were convened. In 1215, after the loss of Normandy, King John signed the Magna Carta into law, which limited the power of English monarchs.
High Middle Ages - Scandinavia
Main articles: Histories of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
From the mid-tenth to the mid-eleventh centuries, the Scandinavian kingdoms were unified and Christianized, resulting in an end to Viking raids, and greater involvement in European politics. King Cnut of Denmark ruled over both England and Norway. After Cnut’s death in 1035, England and Norway were lost, and with the defeat of Valdemar II in 1227, Danish predominance in the region came to an end. Meanwhile, Norway extended its Atlantic possessions, ranging from Greenland to the Isle of Man, while Sweden, under Birger jarl, built up a power base in the Baltic Sea.
High Middle Ages - Western and Central Europe
Main articles: France in the Middle Ages, Germany in the Middle Ages
By the time of the High Middle Ages, the Carolingian Empire had been divided and replaced by separate successor kingdoms east and west of the Vosges called France and Germany, although not with their modern boundaries. Germany was under the banner of the Holy Roman Empire, which reached its high-water mark of unity and political power.
High Middle Ages - Southern Europe
Main articles: Spain in the Middle Ages, Italy in the Middle Ages
Much of the Iberian peninsula had been occupied by the Moors after 711, although the northernmost portion was divided between several Christian states. In the 11th century, and again in the thirteenth, a coalition of Christian kings under the leadership of Castile drove the Muslims from central and most of southern Spain.
In Italy, independent city states grew affluent on the eastern trade. These were in particular the so-called Repubbliche Marinare - Pisa, Amalfi, Genoa and Venice.
High Middle Ages - Eastern Europe
The High Middle Ages saw the height and decline of the Slavic state of Kievan Rus' and the emergence of Poland. Later, the Mongol invasion in the 13th century had great impact on Eastern Europe, as many countries of that region were invaded, pillaged, conquered and vassalized.
It was during this period that the Byzantine Empire began its centuries-long decline after its pinnacle in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Eastern and Western churches had formally split in the 11th century, leaving the Empire isolated between a hostile west and various Muslim enemies in the east. The Empire suffered a string of decimating military defeats, beginning with the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. The Fourth Crusade all but destroyed the Byzantines, and their power was further reduced by the Ottoman Empire into the 15th century.
High Middle Ages - Climate and agriculture
The Medieval Warm Period, the period from 10th century to about the 14th century in Europe, was a relatively warm and gentle interval ended by the generally colder Little Ice Age. Farmers grew wheat well north into Scandinavia, and wine grapes in northern England, although the maximum expansion of vineyards appears to occur within the Little Ice Age period. This protection from famine allowed Europe's population to increase, despite the famine in 1315 that killed 1.5 million people. This increased population contributed to the founding of new towns and an increase in industrial and economic activity during the period. Food production also increased during this time as new ways of farming were introduced, including the use of a heavier plow, horses instead of oxen, and a three-field system that allowed the cultivation of a greater variety of crops than the earlier two-field system.
High Middle Ages - The Rise of Chivalry
Household heavy cavalry (knights) became common in the 11th century across Europe, and tournaments were invented. Although the heavy capital investment in horse and armor was a barrier to entry, knighthood became known as a way for serfs to earn their freedom. In the 12th century, the Cluny monks promoted ethical warfare and inspired the formation of orders of chivalry, such as the Templar Knights. Inherited titles of nobility were established during this period. In 13th-century Germany, knighthood became another inheritable title, although one of the less prestigious, and the trend spread to other countries.
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 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Historical events and politics", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
