Table Of ContentIntroduction to Medieval
Europe 300–1500
Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500 provides a comprehensive survey of this complex and varied
formative period of European history, covering themes as diverse as barbarian migrations, the impact
of Christianisation, the formation of nations and states, the emergence of an expansionist commercial
economy, the growth of cities, the Crusades, the effects of plague, and the intellectual and cultural life
of the Middle Ages. The book explores the driving forces behind the formation of medieval society
and the directions in which it developed and changed. In doing this, the authors cover a wide geo-
graphic expanse, including Western interactions with the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic World.
This third edition contains a wealth of new features within the book and on the free-to-access
companion website that help to bring this fascinating era to life, including:
In the book:
■■ A number of new maps and images to further understanding the period
■■ Clear signposting and extended discussions of key topics such as feudalism and gender
■■ Expanded geographic coverage into Eastern Europe and the Middle East
On the companion website:
■■ An updated, comparative and interactive timeline, highlighting surprising synchronicities in
medieval history, and annotated links to useful websites
■■ A list of movies, television series and novels related to the Middle Ages, accompanied by intro-
ductions and commentaries
■■ Assignable discussion questions and the maps, plates, figures and tables from the book available
to download and use in the classroom
Clear and stimulating, the third edition of Introduction to Medieval Europe is the ideal companion to
studying Europe in the Middle Ages at undergraduate level.
Wim Blockmans is Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at the University of Leiden.
Peter Hoppenbrouwers is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Leiden.
Praise for previous editions
‘Introduction to Medieval Europe provides an excellent over- of materials and an extended treatment of the period
view into the fascinating world of the Middle Ages. It along sensible thematic and chronological lines, this
covers issues such as mentalities of men and women as well work will continue to reign among the leading intro-
as giving an insight into the world of medieval politics. ductory surveys on the medieval world.’
Included is a thought-provoking chapter on continuities Kriston Rennie, University of Queensland, Australia
which provides a new framework for the understanding of
a world distant to us both in time and place.’ ‘In the crowded field of historical surveys of medieval
Thomas Småberg, Malmö University, Sweden Europe, Blockmans and Hoppenbrouwers have man-
aged to produce something distinctive and original.
‘This is an extraordinarily wide-ranging introduction, Their book gives a clear, well-written overview of the
covering Europe in its broadest sense from the British political, social, economic and artistic developments
Isles to Turkey. It not only explains the political, intel- in these important centuries with helpful explanations
lectual and religious developments that occurred of technical terms and good suggested further reading.
between the late Roman period and the Reformation Eastern Europe is given full weight and thoughtful illus-
but it also gives an insight into what life must have trations give valuable insights into a culture more visual
been like for most people. An essential first port of call than literate. But more than this the authors demon-
for anyone wishing to understand the Middle Ages.’ strate why medieval Europeans deserve to be studied,
Jonathan Harris, Royal Holloway University, UK their influence on later times and different places, how
many of our own preoccupations derive from theirs.
‘The particular strength of this new edition of Introduction Blockmans and Hoppenbrouwers make the European
to Medieval Europe 300–1550 is the authors’ ability to Middle Ages not just fascinating, but relevant as well.’
trace the development and transformation over time of Andrew Roach, University of Glasgow, UK
large scale social, economic, and religious structures and
mentalities. How did pagans become Christians? How ‘This is a work that helps its reader to grasp the defining
did slaves and peasants become serfs? How did armed contours of medieval history, without being subjected
horsemen become knights? Few if any other textbooks to a whirlwind of narrative detail. It is refreshing in its
at this level can offer students such a sure guide along pan-European scope, bringing Lithuania to stand along-
the path to understanding how the outlines of medieval side France, and in its effective location of key issues in
society took shape.’ broader frameworks of change and continuity. Most of
Sean Field, University of Vermont, USA all, it treats the alterity of the Middle Ages on its own
terms – and explains just what it is that makes under-
‘This commendably clear and concise overview of the standing that fundamentally different world quite so
medieval period should be essential reading for all stu- interesting and worthwhile.’
dents coming to the subject for the first time. The coverage Stephen Mossman, University of Manchester, UK
of social, economic and intellectual themes is particularly
strong. Readers will appreciate the profusion of maps, ‘Blockmans and Hoppenbrouwers’ Introduction to Medieval
diagrams and other illustrations which buttress the text. Europe has established itself as the classic survey in English
Simon Barton, University of Exeter, UK on the Latin West in the Middle Ages. The second edition
is even more commendable: the book’s unique European
‘In their new edition on the Middle Ages, Blockmans perspective has been improved by situating the Latin
and Hoppenbrouwers offer a rich, accessible, and West within neighbouring cultures and suggesting new
valuable resource for students and lecturers of medi- ways of integrating European historiography. This is an
eval history alike. With its expanded list of tables, indispensable starting point for students, scholars and,
figures, illustrations, color maps, primary source boxes, indeed, for any audience that wishes to familiarise itself
and annotated bibliographies, this revised text is a with the essential European dimension of the history of
must-have for anyone interested in the formation of the Latin West between 300 and 1500.’
pre-modern Europe. Through a careful re-organization Martial Staub, University of Sheffield, UK
Introduction to
Medieval Europe
300–1500
Third Edition
Wim Blockmans and
Peter Hoppenbrouwers
Third edition published 2018
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 Wim Blockmans and Peter Hoppenbrouwers
The right of Wim Blockmans and Peter Hoppenbrouwers to be identified
as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Prometheus in 2002 in the Dutch language as
Eeuwen des Onderscheids: Een geschiedenis van middeleeuws Europa
English translation, Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1550 first
published in 2007 by Routledge
Second edition published by Routledge 2014
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-21438-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-21439-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-10455-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Stone Serif
by Keystroke, Neville Lodge, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton
Visit the companion website at
www.routledge.com/cw/blockmans
Contents
List of illustrations ix The survival of the Roman Empire in
List of boxes xiii the East 43
Illustration acknowledgements xv Points to remember 48
Suggestions for further reading 49
Introduction 1
The Middle Ages as a period in 2 The establishment of two world
European history 1 religions: Christianity and Islam 50
From scarcity to hegemony 7 The Christian Church in the transition
Medievalism 9 from Antiquity to the Middle Ages 50
The book’s arrangement 11 The relationship between emperor
and pope 54
Material wealth, accumulation and
Part I: The early Middle Ages,
distribution 55
300–1000 13
Church organisation 57
1 The end of the Roman Empire Monasticism 62
in the West 15 Orthodoxy and heterodoxy 64
Governing an empire 17 Saints and miracles 69
Taxation and fiscal policy 21 Spreading the faith 71
The Roman army and the frontier 22 The Arab conquests and the
Economic structure and prosperity 23 establishment of Islam 80
The barbarian world of the North 24 Points to remember 86
The collapse of the Roman order in Suggestions for further reading 86
the West 28
The later Migration Period 33 3 The powerful and the poor:
Migrations and ethnogenesis 34 society and economy in the
The barbarian kingdoms in the West 35 Frankish kingdoms and beyond 88
Balance: the end of Roman Warlords and landlords 89
civilisation? 41 Trade and gift-exchange 99
v
CONTENTS
Early medieval politics: the Carolingian Points to remember 257
core 104 Suggestions for further reading 257
Dynamic peripheries 117
Points to remember 124 8 Thinking about man and the
Suggestions for further reading 125 world 259
The medieval view of the world and
mankind 259
Part II: The central Middle Ages,
The higher education programme of
1000–1300 127
Late Antiquity and its survival in the
4 Early kingdoms and early Middle Ages 269
principalities 129 The formation of universities 279
Charlemagne’s legacy 129 The humanism of the late Middle Ages 291
The making of England 147 Points to remember 297
Iberia 153 Suggestions for further reading 298
The institutionalisation of the state 157
Points to remember 163 9 Towns and the urbanisation of
Suggestions for further reading 163 medieval society 299
The phenomenon of the pre-industrial
5 Accelerated growth 164 town 299
Population growth 164 The beginnings of urban society 304
Volume and nature of agricultural Autonomy and liberty 306
production 165 Urban society and economy in the later
New types of local lordship 169 Middle Ages 319
Knights and peasants: image and reality 178 Points to remember 325
Points to remember 187 Suggestions for further reading 325
Suggestions for further reading 188
Part IV: The late Middle Ages,
6 Religious reform and renewal 189
1300–1500 327
Aspirations to reform 189
The papal monarchy 196 10 Between crisis and contraction:
Reformation and renewal in monastic population, economy and society 329
life 198 War, famine and pestilence 329
The faithful become visible 206 Demographic decline and economic
Points to remember 216 development 337
Suggestions for further reading 217 Characteristics of late medieval society 343
Social contrasts and social conflicts 348
Points to remember 357
Part III: Expansion and maturation,
Suggestions for further reading 357
1000–1500 219
7 The beginnings of European 11 The consolidation of states 359
expansion 221 From suzerainty to sovereignty 359
The West becomes more aggressive 221 The course of events 362
Clashes of civilisations: crusaders, Driving forces in the formation of
Muslims and Mongols 223 states 381
Take-off to a commercial revolution 237 State institutions and social order 385
vi
CONTENTS
Points to remember 398 Epilogue 423
Suggestions for further reading 398 Acceleration 424
The medieval roots of modern culture 427
12 Crisis in the Church and the
reorientation of the faithful 399
Timeline 432
Who leads Christendom? 399
Glossary 443
The popes in Avignon and the
Bibliography of secondary literature 450
bureaucratisation of the Curia 405
Index 475
The Great Schism and the conciliar
movement 406
Religious life 407
Points to remember 420
Suggestions for further reading 421
vii
Illustrations
Plates
6.3 St Francis supports the Church:
fresco by Giotto 204
0.1 The oldest known independent map 7.1 Depiction of the cruel habits of Tartars
of Europe, from around 1121 6 in a western chronicle 223
1.1 Statue of the tetrarchs, 300–315 ce 15 7.2 The fortress of Krak des Chevaliers,
1.2 Detail from the Peutinger Table 16 Syria 229
1.3 Seigneur Julius mosaic 22 7.3 Earthenware representing travellers
1.4 Arles arena, sixteenth century 42 on the Silk Road 243
2.1 Book of Kells 64 7.4 The drapery market at Bologna in the
2.2 Augustin, The Two Cities 66 fifteenth century 254
3.1 The symbolic sealing of a contract 8.1 Mappa mundi 260
between king and vassal 114 8.2 Title page of Margarita Philosophica 274
3.2 Viking burial ship 120 8.3 Astronomical clock 295
3.3 Moorish stronghold and city walls, 9.1 Ypres drapers’ hall and belfry 307
Obidos, Portugal 122 9.2 Good Government, City Hall, Siena 312
4.1 Silvester, bishop of Rome, baptises 9.3 Towers in San Gimignano, Tuscany 313
Emperor Constantine 139 9.4 Venice as the largest and wealthiest
4.2 Harold swears his oath as successor medieval metropolis 317
to Edward the Confessor, Bayeux 10.1 Mural painting depicting the danse
Tapestry 147 macabre 337
4.3 The murder of Thomas Becket 150 10.2 Rebel peasants 350
4.4 The castle of Montsó 155 10.3 Distribution of bread to the poor 355
5.1 Enamelled altar showing the parable 11.1 James I, count of Barcelona and king
of the vineyard 171 of Aragon, oversees justice 385
5.2 Girding on a knight’s sword 179 11.2 Ceremonial session of the two Houses
6.1 The abbey of Cluny 199 of Parliament in 1523 395
6.2 The forge at the abbey of Fontenay, 12.1 Statue of Pope Boniface VIII 400
Burgundy 201 12.2 Altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden 403
ix
