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
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