Provides coverage of such events as the Crusades, the building of Chartres Cathedral, the revision of the Catholic Church's power, the creation of key works of literature, and the disastrous events of the fourteenth century.

Originally published: London : Allen Lane, 2001.

pt. 1. Europe in the eleventh century (Christendom in the year 1000 ; Mediterranean Europe ; Northern Celts and Anglo-Saxons ; Francia/France ; Central Europe) -- pt. 2. The Renaissance of the twelfth century (The investiture controversy ; The First Crusade ; The world of learning ; Cultural innovations of the twelfth century: vernacular literature and architecture ; Political power and its context, I ; Political power and its context, II) -- pt. 3. The thirteenth century (Social structures ; The pontificate of Innocent III and the Fourth Lateran Council ; Learning ; The kingdoms of the north ; Baltic and central Europe ; The Gothic world ; Southern Europe) -- pt. 4. Christendom in the early fourteenth century (Famine and plague ; Political and social violence ; The Church in crisis) -- Epilogue.