The Medieval Synthesis—and Its Cracks

1215–1340

Harmony, order, and unity were the ideals sought by people from all walks of life in the medieval West between 1215 and 1340. Guided by the papacy, the church drove these efforts as it worked to codify religious doctrine and reform the laity. The first document illuminates scholasticism, an important force underlying these efforts that strove to summarize and reconcile all knowledge. Responding in kind, many laypeople, especially women, sought greater involvement in their religion and a deeper relationship with Christ. The second document captures the voice of one of these women, Hadewijch of Brabant (?–1248). The third document reveals the dark side of this trend as anti-Jewish feelings grew across Europe. The search for meaning in a world looking for unity also found literary and political expression. As reflected in the fourth document, vernacular literature blossomed beneath the pen of Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), who harmonized heaven and earth through the language of poetry. At the same time, the fifth document set demonstrates how some monarchs instituted their own politics of control to broaden both the scope and basis of their power. Their success on this front brought them into conflict with other established authorities, notably the pope, who saw his influence severely weakened as a result.