Power and Faith

Examining the developments in the political and religious landscape of Western Europe between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, Power and Faith explores the origins of dominant nation Sates and religious institutions in the West emerged out of the fractured and fragmented post-Carolingian world.
As a foundational text for those new to the period, the book offers a clear chronological framework for understanding and analysing the emerging polities of Western Europe and an examination of the influence of the Papacy and the Crusades across Christian life and culture. Mixed with careful consideration of major social and economic themes including urbanisation, rural revolution, and the role of women in politics, religion, and society, the book gives a uniquely comprehensive overview of political and religious developments in Western Europe during a neglected yet fundamentally significant period.
The book is divided into six parts, part one sets out the scope and aims of the book and discusses the sources used. Parts two and six provide overviews of the political and religious states of affairs in Europe at the start and end of the period respectively. Framed by these sections, the book is divided into three chronologically-ordered parts each containing three chapters, the first offers a brief account of the main historiography of the period concerned, the second provides a thorough account and analysis of the main political developments across Europe during it and the third explores the main religious changes.
Power and Faith is an essential introductory guide for students and researchers interested in politics, religion, and society in Western Europe during the middle ages.
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Richard Huscroft is Head of History at Westminster School, London. His interests are rooted in different aspects of European Medieval history, as is reflected in his publications including England's Jewish Solution (2006), Ruling England, 1042-1217 (2016) and Tales From the Long Twelfth Century (2017).

Part 1: Definitions and Problems 1. What was Medieval Europe? 2. How Do We Know? Sources and Interpretations Part 2: Europe in About 890 3. Power: Politics and Authority 4. Faith: Religion and Belief Part 3: The Tenth Century, c.890-c.1020 5. Reading and Explaining Tenth-Century History 6. Power: The Political Framework, c.890-c.1020 i. The East Frankish Kingdom and the Renewal of Empire ii. The West Frankish Kingdom and the Challenge of Survival iii. The Emergence of England iv. Frontier Europe: Christians and Pagans in the North, East and West v. Mediterranean Europe: The Multicultural Experience in Iberia and Southern Italy 7. Faith: The Church in Europe, c.890-c.1020 i. The Papacy: Too Corrupt to Matter? ii. Bishops and Monks: Local Power in Cathedrals and Cloisters iii. Priests and People: Popular Practice and Everyday Belief Part 4: The Eleventh Century, c.1020-c.1120 8. Reading and Explaining Eleventh-Century History 9. Power: The Political Framework, c.1020-c.1120 i. Germany: Royal Authority and Mighty Rebellion ii. France: Petty Kings and Potent Princes iii. England: Conquest and Continuity iv. Frontier Europe: Life on the Edge in the North, East and West v. Mediterranean Europe: Spanish Kings and Norman Knights in Iberia and Southern Italy 10. Faith: The Crusading Church in Europe, c.1020-c.1120 i. The Papacy: Revival and Reform ii. The New Monasticism iii. Popular Piety and Shades of Belief iv. Holy War or Colonial Coup? The Meaning of the Crusades v. Beginner's Luck? The First Crusade vi. The Establishment of the Crusader States Part 5: The Twelfth Century, c.1120-c.1220 11. Reading and Explaining Twelfth-Century History 12. Power: The Political Framework, c.1120-c.1220 i. Germany: Staufen, Welf and the Struggle for Imperium ii. France: A Real Kingdom at Last iii. England: From One Civil War to Another iv. Frontier Europe: Assimilation and Integration in the North, East and West v. Mediterranean Europe: Reconquista and State Building in Iberia and Southern Italy 13. Faith: The Triumphant Church in Europe, c.1120-c.1220 i. The Papacy: Schisms and Supremacy ii. Muslim Revival and the Crisis of Crusading iii. Fighting Monks and Saintly Friars: The Reinvention of Orthodoxy iv. Close to Home: Crusading in Europe and the Battle with Heresy Part 6: Europe in About 1220 14. Power: Politics and Authority 15. Faith: Religion and Belief