High Middle Ages: Art and Culture

The High Middle Ages are one of the defining periods in the history of mankind. In those distant and dark times, modern civilization was formed. The ancient foundations disappeared and new ones appeared. Significantly increased population. There was a cultural revolution. Tribes united in peoples, which then were destined to create modern European countries. Medieval art is still subject to research by historians.

Historical events

The high Middle Ages began with large-scale conquests. The states of the ancient world have sunk into oblivion, and many new ones have appeared in their place. In the eleventh century, the conquest of Britain began. Before that, it was controlled by various pagan tribes. The Normans first landed in England. Local Britons gave them fierce resistance. But primitive weapons could not defeat steel and iron. In a few years, England and almost all of Ireland were mastered. Then the conquerors subjugated themselves and Scotland.

In the north of Europe, there have also been serious changes. The ancient way of life of the Vikings was destroyed. The population adopted Christianity. The Scandinavian kingdoms were united into one state. Beginning of the Baltic. However, by the thirteenth century, a single power had broken up into several principalities. Similar processes occurred in the territory of modern Germany and France. The birth of dynasties began, which the next centuries were seated on the thrones of Western Europe.

Slavs

The high Middle Ages turned out to be a favorable period for the development of the ancient Russian state. At that time it was one of the largest in the world. Culture and craft were superior to European ones. This is due to the earlier ethnogenesis of the Eastern Slavs, who in the fifth century ceased to lead the tribal way of life and united in one Russian people. The same processes took place in the Balkans. However, the natural development prevented the invasion of the less developed nomadic tribes - the Mongols, not seen before. The weakening of the central power prevented the Russian princes from uniting and they all fell under the pressure of the horde. After that, the process of development of culture, architecture and craft was greatly slowed down.

The development of Christian culture

The high Middle Ages was characterized by the complete victory of Christianity in Europe. Even in an earlier period many influential countries became monotheistic. However, by the eleventh century, ancient pagan beliefs were still strong. In Britain and Scandinavia, the population moved very slowly into a new faith. This was facilitated by the isolation of these regions. The absence of land communication with the mainland made migration extremely problematic. However, this factor helped to avoid invasions of nomads who, because of their underdevelopment, could not build ships in sufficient numbers.

Nova belief had a decisive influence on culture. From now on, strict prohibitions and moral principles appeared, according to which it was necessary to live. Most of all, the life of Europeans was influenced by changes in the institution of the family. By the beginning of this historical period in many regions (especially in Scandinavia) persistent polygamous relations persisted. Christianity forbade this. The institution of marriage led to a change in the role of women in society. Solid patriarchal principles determined relations in the family. The very same family, consisting of a husband, wife and children, destroyed the family ties. Power structures in the form of a church had a high impact on the daily life of the population.

Cultural change: the development of a hierarchical system

The culture of the High Middle Ages predetermined the division of the people into classes and castes. Clearly distinguished castes of rulers, military, clergy, peasants, slaves. The poor and uneducated population had a culture of awareness and rethinking of personal freedom. In many countries, management systems are changing. In England and the Holy Roman Empire appeared their parliaments. Privileged class had its own traditions and rituals. But similar phenomena were in the early historical periods. The culture of the High Middle Ages was seriously affected by the influence of scholasticism. And its guardians were just a new class - the clergy.

Painting

In the fine arts, the greatest development was painting. From now on, there were clearly different directions and ways of writing pictures. The Romanesque period of the high Middle Ages was characterized by the poor development of painting. This kind of art was assigned the role of painting, that is, auxiliary processing of the walls of the temples. But by the beginning of the thirteenth century the attitude towards artists had changed. In France, the Order of Painters was created. They decorated the thrones in temples and created panels, murals, icons.

The artists began to systematize their skills. There were new techniques. For example, the notion of depth and perspective. The creation of objects of volume and reality became the most difficult task for medieval masters. They did not manage to fully master the depth skill. This contributed to the creation of a generally accepted style, which later will be called Gothic. Painting and icon painting gradually replaced the frescoes. This kind of art was extremely difficult and long. In addition, the creation of a small fresco required significant resources. And many, professing humility and life in poverty, the orders simply could not afford this.

Sculpture

The high Middle Ages in Western Europe were marked by cardinal changes in sculpture. If other forms of fine art developed relatively smoothly, then the sculpture got a real leap. The main motive was the biblical scenes. High concentration of sculptors was in the territory of modern Italy. Appearing in the Renaissance, the famous and today sculptures were direct successors of the Gothic style. Products of bronze and copper appeared in the Romanesque period. For example, the door to the Hildesheim Cathedral.

Methods

For the first time, new thread materials were used. In Germany, reworked woodcarving. However, due to the specific properties of wood, these works of art have hardly survived to the present day. Also, the Germanic people were famous for the production of large-scale triumphal arches. They were in the novelistic style, but with a strong gothic touch. In many cities of modern Germany, these works of art still attract tourists.

The concept of relief on the sarcophagi and tombs appeared only at the beginning of the twelfth century. In a short time this method of processing has become extremely popular in Western Europe. In all the works, the spirit of that era was especially sharply felt. Mysticism and dreaminess, awareness of impermanence and finitude of being. Of course, this is due to the fact that the period of the High Middle Ages was under the rule of scholastic philosophy.

Cultural revolution and early humanism

Early periods of the Middle Ages are usually called "dark." Religious persecutions, insane rulers, wild laws and so on left a lasting mark on the history of mankind. But by the thirteenth century the old way was completely rethought. The huge population growth allowed the emergence of large cities in each region. Aesthetic forms of entertainment were very popular in cities. One of these was the theater. By the beginning of the tenth century, small pantomimes were being performed at worship services. Then it grew into a separate art form. The theater began to affect everyday topics, thus departing from Gothic and scholasticism.

There were first works on the value of human life. Philosophers allowed in their reasoning to depart from the scholastic predetermination of being. More attention was paid to the role of human choice. These were the first rudiments of humanism. Urban culture was most exposed to such trends. Personality development replaced humility and obedience.

Architecture

The high Middle Ages in Western Europe were marked by a new Gothic style in architecture. At that time, the center of knowledge was the churches and churches. And any kind of art was inextricably linked with God-pleasing motives. After the end of the era of Romanism, new methods of processing stone, geometric solutions, construction tools were invented. In the economic life, the role of the urban sector is growing. There are workshops and communities of freemasons. European cathedrals of the High Middle Ages are the best symbols of the era.

Pomposity and scope of construction are surprising to modern researchers. The construction of the cathedral could last more than a hundred years. And near the construction sites appeared a unique cultural environment of workers' communes, which in fact regulated their social life.

Different styles

The classic difference between gothic architecture is the presence of two elongated towers. The bell towers could be located both inside them and between. The western facade was generously decorated. The entrance was supported by columns. After the development of the skeleton method, they were only an element of decoration. The classical Gothic style is considered to be the French model. The cathedrals of the High Middle Ages in Germany were distinguished by strict observance of proportions. Noticeable perfectionism was in the design of the facade.

In Central Europe , the so-called brick gothic style prevailed. Cathedrals made of bricks were similar to the architecture of the Romanic period. They were installed in the squares of large cities. The huge round towers were a hallmark. The Cathedral of St. Barbara and the Church of St. James are a classic example of Czech architecture. The Netherlands Gothic style was distinguished by the construction of temples with one high tower-spire. The arches were made of wood, which brought a romantic and even an earlier atmosphere.

Western European culture of the Middle Ages

For the first time, since the time of the Roman Empire, science began to influence the culture of Western Europe. The development of medicine, geometry, philosophy and other sciences led to the transformation into separate branches. The control of the church was too great, so the scientists were forced to obey the bulls of the Pope. But this ascetic worldview was called into question.

A new feudal culture has appeared in the people. There were huge farms with a closed cycle. The land was owned by the señor. As governors governed the feudal lords. The peasants were completely dependent on them. They did not take any part in the economic life and could not influence political decisions. Nevertheless, the development of trade relations has allowed "simple" people to beat out into an elite society. Institutions of courts have appeared in France, England and parts of Spain. Some pluralism was allowed in the circle of royal advisers.

Conclusion

The high Middle Ages in Europe had a unique culture and a way of life. The development of feudalism affected the social relations. Control of the church began to weaken. If the early High Middle Ages was characterized by a total lack of development of new trends in art, then by the thirteenth century more than a dozen such directions had appeared. Painting and, in particular, architecture had a decisive influence on the figures of the subsequent Renaissance. The growth of the population led to the penetration of culture into the poorest layers.