The High Middle Ages is the name given to the first centuries of the so-called Middle Ages. It is considered that it begins after the fall of the Roman Empire of the West, in the year 476, and lasts until approximately the 11th century.
This consideration is not absolute, given that there are small temporal variations depending on the historiographic currents.
It was the Renaissance, long after the medieval era, who gave it that name.
It was a rather negative term, since they considered it a stage of darkness and ignorance between the Europe of Greco-Latin classicism and its own period of the Renaissance.
In spite of the fact that today this belief is considered very exaggerated, it is certain that the High Middle Ages (and, in general, the whole medieval period) was characterized by numerous wars and the arrival of Germanic peoples alien to previous traditions.
These new inhabitants, heirs of what the Romans called barbarians, ended up adapting many customs and habits of Rome.
Two great geopolitical blocks stand out during those centuries: the Carolingian Empire and the Byzantine (or Eastern Roman Empire).
Islam presents itself as a common threat to both. This religion appears at that time and has such a vertiginous expansion that in the 8th century it has reached Hispania.
Historical summary of the High Middle Ages
The Roman Empire, great ruler of Europe for centuries, had begun its decline many decades earlier.
The internal crises -economic and political-, and the pressure of the barbarian peoples from abroad, cause their power to diminish.
These tribes, which they called barbarians (a word that, contemptuously, means foreigner), had been arriving for several centuries.
Between battles and peace treaties, they had settled within the same Empire. Both the Visigoths, Vandals or Swabians, and the Huns totally destabilized Rome.
Finally, in the year 476, the Roman Empire of the West disappears under the command of the Emperor Augustulus.
Germanic kingdoms
From the fall of Rome to the eighth century, the invasions of these people continue to occur.
Few of them came to be established as states, since most had a more tribal concept of society.
Visigoths, Franks and Ostrogoths are among those few who do begin to constitute themselves as nations.
In fact, the throne of the Roman Empire is inherited by one of those barbarians, who try for some time to maintain the same structures.
The Byzantine Empire
While this was developing in the West, in Byzantium the so-called Eastern Roman Empire was consolidated.
They pretend to be the continuators of the legacy of Rome, but they have enough characteristics that the differences and, according to some authors, bring them closer to the oriental kingdoms.
Although they never helped Rome, they did increase their territory and influence.
Emperors like Justinian, expanded their borders to the Danube. It can be said that at one time they had three of the most important cities of their time: Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople
However, as with every great empire, his crisis also came. In this case it was later, already in the seventh century, by the war maintained against the Persians and the great territorial losses caused by the Arabs.
Carolingian empire
The other great power that appears during the High Middle Ages is the work of one of the barbarian peoples who had arrived centuries before. This is the so-called Carolingian Empire, a Frankish kingdom that will be consolidated from the eighth century.
He is especially known one of its leaders, Charlemagne, who was crowned emperor in Rome.
It was an attempt to resurrect the Roman Empire in some way and to unify Europe again.
Likewise, it recovers part of the classical culture and gives great importance to the relationship between the Christian religion and power.
The death of Charlemagne ended his dream of consolidating a great state and, shortly after, his empire was divided into two: the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Germanic Empire.
The 4 main characteristics of the High Middle Ages
As characteristics at a general level it can be pointed out that it was an extremely convulsive period, with many wars.
This caused great insecurity of all kinds in the population, which affected both the social organization and the economy.
1- Feudalism
Feudalism is one of the most important elements that appears during the Middle Ages and that affects both the economy and social organization.
Almost all the experts place their origin in the insecurity that was pointed out before. This causes that those with less possibility of defending themselves, like the peasants, go to the great lords to ask for their protection.
Even the peasants came to give up their land (or were taken away) in exchange for this security. A system was created based on the existence of a small powerful class owner of lands and armies, and of another more numerous dependent on the first.
The latter worked in the fields for the lords and were linked to the lands. In addition, they had to pay taxes and provide other services to the agents.
2- Social organization
The situation described above also serves to explain how the society of the time was organized.
It was an absolutely hierarchical class division, with a small group of favored and a large mass of injured.
At the top of the pyramid was the King. He was the one who granted land and titles, and his authority was based on a tacit agreement with his nobility. The phrase primus inter pares (the first among equals) defines the situation very well.
The nobility was the owner of the land and the owner of almost all the riches of each State.
One of its functions was to take charge of the so-called vassals, in the last step of the pyramid. These were, above all, the peasants tied to their lands, who lived in poverty or brushed it.
Among these classes was another that was placed among the privileged: the clergy. The influence of the Church was very great and, in addition, also had large land holdings.
3- Economy
As you can imagine after seeing how society was divided and the meaning of feudalism, the economy of these nations was almost totally rural. There could be some trade, but very limited both in distance and in products.
4- Church
Undoubtedly, it was even more powerful than the monarch himself. In fact, the kings needed their approval and sought alliances with it to stay longer in power.
As for the peasants, they were obligated to pay the tithe; that is, 10% of what they obtained.
Art and literature in the High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages is not considered the brightest period in artistic manifestations. During the so-called Late Middle Ages there was a recovery in this aspect, thanks to the appearance of Romanesque and various literary genres.
In any case, it can be noted that the theme was mostly religious. We must bear in mind that almost nobody knew how to read, so alternative means were needed for messages to reach the population.
Thus, there were frequent figures such as the minstrels, who told stories of all kinds, almost all with an origin in oral tradition. Likewise, some theater plays with a marked religious character could be represented.
In the architecture is the pre-Romanesque, divided according to the region in which it was developed. Like the theater, it was of a religious nature, and the built churches stood out.
Perhaps the exception is found in Carolingian art, which tried to recover certain themes and forms of classical antiquity. It is considered that it was fundamental for the later appearance of Romanesque and Gothic.
References
- Profe in History. Middle or Medieval Age, Obtained from profeenhistoria.com
- Wikipedia. Pre-Romanesque art. Retrieved from es.wikipedia.org
- Riu. Manuel. The High Middle Ages: from the 5th century to the 12th century. Recovered from books.google.es
- History Central. Overview of the High Middle Ages. Retrieved from historycentral.com
- History on the net. Medieval Life - Feudalism and the Feudal System. Retrieved from historyonthenet.com
- Lane, Lisa M. High Medieval Expansion - Church, Economy, Technology. Retrieved from brewminate.com
- Pace University. The Church and the Middle Ages. Retrieved from csis.pace.edu