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High Middle Ages—Study Aids

Saints and Heroes #5
High Middle Ages
begins with the Gregorian Reforms of the 11th century and covers the struggle between
Papacy and Empire, Mendicant orders, the Albigensian heresy, and Holy Women of the Middle Ages.
[1000 to 1350 A.D.]
These pages summarize much of the material needed to study for the High Middle Ages review questions. Most are derived from Leading Events in Church History, saint dictionaries, and other public domain sources.
Read Online | Printable |
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Papacy vs Empire |
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Investiture, Gregorian Reforms |
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Medieval Heresies, Inquisition |
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Mendicant Orders |
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Holy Women of Middle Ages |
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Printable Homework Questions |
The following histories from Seton and TAN books are popular with Catholic students but other Church histories cover most essentials topics. Reading assignments that correspond to the High Middle Ages are given below.
Church History by Fr. John Laux (TAN books)
This church history is written for a college prep high school audience
and assumes a basic knowledge of European history. Starting at the dawn of
the Roman Empire and proceeding in to the 20th century, Fr. Laux presents
the story of the Church is a masterful and readable manner appealing to
older students as well as adults. The period of interest for the High Middle Ages unit,
covers 1050-1300 A.D., and corresponds to 'Section II, Period Two'
of Laux's book, 'From Hildebrand to Scholaticism and Mysticism' .
Reading Assignment: Section II, Period II, chapters 1, 3-6, pp 297-310, 334-382
(1) Age of Hildebrand, pp 297-310, (3) War Between Popes and Hohenstaufens, pp 334-349,
(4) Medieval Heresies, pp 350-359, (5) Rise of Mendicant Orders, pp 360-371,
(6) Scholasticism and Mysticism, pp 372-381.
Witness to the Faith by Seton Press
This introductory church history is written at an eighth grade level so it is
accessible and covers most of the main topics of Christian history.
Chapters relating to the period 1000-1350 A.D., including the
East-West Schism, Cluniac and Gregorian Reforms, the
Investiture Controversy, Conflict between Empire and Papacy, Mendicant Orders,
Cathar Heresy, and Innocent III are as follows:
Reading Assignment: Chapters 9,12-14 pp 133-142,176-221
(9) The Great Schism, (12) Church Cleansed by Fountains of Holiness, (14) Age of Innocent III.
These Catholic histories and biographies are in the public domain and are available in electronic form.
CLICK ON COVER IMAGE to download an EPUB to your tablet or smart phone.
CLICK ON TITLE to read online (internet required).
Church History—Vol III : Late Middle Ages by Sisters of Notre Dame
Third of a five volume history of the Church, this book covers the late Middle Ages,
including the Crusades, the mendicant orders, heresies of the Middle Ages, the rise
of the Turks, the schism of the West, the fall of Constantinople, and the discovery of America.
Saints and Heroes: Vol I by George Hodges
An excellent introduction to the history of the church through portraits of twenty of the most
important saints and heroes of the faith from the third century A.D. to the time of the Reformation.
Chapters of special interest for the High Middle Ages Time period include
Hildebrand, Anselm, Bernard, Becket, Langton, Dominic, and Francis.