Europe's Long Twelfth Century

An accessible introduction to medieval Europe during a pivotal era in the High Middle Ages. *** CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title *** John D. Cotts’s Europe’s Long Twelfth Century is an award-winning overview of a key phase in Europe’s medieval history. It reflects on how the region grappled with a variety of cultural possibilities that would ultimately transform the way people thought, lived and thought of themselves. Cotts convincingly contends that the 12th century was fundamentally a period of difficult decisions, adaptation and anxiety, rather than the glorious 'renaissance' mooted in earlier assessments of the era. The book presents a balanced appreciation of social, economic and religious developments at a time when Europeans were needing to re-imagine their place in the world. It reflects on the vital significance of the Crusades and offers an unparalleled gateway into 12th-century political and intellectual life. This new edition includes: - A revised final chapter which considers Europe in the context of a global Middle Ages - New and expanded sections on kingship, political life in the Latin West, environmental history, architecture/visual culture and the Bible’s role in intellectual life - Enhanced coverage of topics like family, sexuality, the medieval peasantry, and religious minorities/persecution - Historiographical updates throughout, a new map and illustrations