Power and Faith

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