The Situation in Western Europe on the Eve of the Crusade
In Society:
• Society was organised by manorialism (land) and feudalism
• The idea of primogeniture was highly prevalent – the first-born son would receive their
family’s riches, and so the second would go to war to fight and gain land, resulting in a
violent society
• The papacy began trying to stop violence by introducing two key ideas:
o ‘Peace of God’ (989) – ordered for ecclesiastical protection of certain churchmen
o ‘Truce of God’ (1027) – stopped violence on certain days of the week
In Christendom:
• Before the call to crusade Christendom was losing influence, and becoming divided
• The Investiture Controversy of 1075
• The Great Schism – between the Orthodox (Eastern) Church based in Constantinople,
and the Roman Catholic (Latin) Church based in Rome – Christendom divided
• Their power is reduced in the East when Nicaea is lost, Jerusalem is lost
o People can no longer visit the hugely important pilgrimage site as an Abbasid is killing
many Christians
o No clear and safe access to Jerusalem
The Investiture Controversy, 1075:
• A conflict between the Church and the State in medieval Europe over the ability to
choose and instal bishops (investiture)
• Pope Gregory VII composed the Dictatus Papae, stating his Gregorian Reforms – it
declared papal power as supreme
• King Henry IV was still appointing bishops – he withdrew his imperial support of the
Pope in a letter – it called for an election for a new pope
• Gregory excommunicated Henry, and deposed him as German king
• In 1077, Henry travelled to Canossa to apologise to the Pope – he proved his support
(Walk to Canossa) and the excommunication was lifted
• In 1080, he excommunicated Henry again, and Henry declared Gregory illegitimate
• Henry named Guibert of Ravenna pope, known as Clement III (known by the Catholic
Church as Antipope)
• This caused intense fighting, and extreme instability until Urban II was elected
• This ultimately leads to the papacy becoming weak because they have no power
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anish24shah. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.20. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
