What time period does the High Middle Ages cover?
The High Middle Ages covers the period of European history from around 1000 to approximately 1350. It was preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages.
Questions about High Middle Ages
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What caused the population boom during the High Middle Ages?
The Medieval Warm Period, which lasted from the 10th century to around the 14th century, enabled farmers to grow crops further north and yielded steadier harvests, reducing famine and driving population growth. Agricultural improvements, including the three-field crop rotation system, heavier plows, and the use of horses instead of oxen, also boosted food production significantly.
What were the first universities founded during the High Middle Ages?
The University of Bologna, the oldest university in continuous operation in the world, was founded in the 11th century in Italy. The University of Paris and the University of Oxford followed in the 12th century, with Cambridge established in 1209 and Salamanca in 1218.
What caused the East-West Schism during the High Middle Ages?
The East-West Schism of 1054 occurred when Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other. The main disagreements were over the filioque addition to the creed concerning the origin of the Holy Spirit, papal authority over the four Eastern patriarchs, the use of unleavened bread in the liturgy, and fasting rules.
Who were the Knights Templar and what happened to them?
The Knights Templar were a Christian military order founded after the First Crusade to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. They became deeply involved in banking. In 1307, Philip the Fair had the entire order arrested in France and dismantled on charges of alleged heresy.
What technological inventions emerged during the High Middle Ages?
Major inventions and innovations during the 12th and 13th centuries included windmills (first recorded in Yorkshire in 1185), the magnetic compass (reaching Europe in the late 12th century), eye glasses (invented in Italy in the late 1280s), and paper manufacture (beginning in Italy around 1270). Fibonacci introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to Europe in his 1202 book Liber Abaci.