The Latin West
Len Scales
Defining an entity so geographically, culturally and linguistically varied as the Latin west is difficult: despite spectacular achievements of Carolingians Ottonians, fragmentation plurality prevailed. Smaller political structures proved more durable, and, while English French realms gained sharper definition from twelfth thirteenth centuries on, western empire became a loose federation headed by secular princes, lesser nobles urban communities – all setting their own codes conduct. New polities emerged on Christendom’s margins, adopting some Carolingian Ottonian norms administrative practices. The church especially papacy century set tone, holding kings other rulers to account, universities were both agents clerical control breeding grounds dissent. But range participants in game was expanding, imposing limits royal power, bringing access additional resources offering potential counterweight papal power. This one west’s many paradoxes: strong elements unity alongside gravitational pull different centres.
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