Power Politics in Medieval Europe

Power Politics in Medieval Europe Order Description Background: The so-called "Investiture Controversy"(c.1070-1122) was a fundamentally political struggle. Two camps, each with a profoundly different version of the ideal Christian society, squared off against one another in a contest that would resonate for centuries. As the dispute wore on, each side mobilized a small army of polemicists and propagandists in order to persuade an increasingly broad audience of the rightness of their cause. While the issues debated may seem arcane, the Investiture Controversy shaped western politics in ways that are still recognizable today. Prompt: The Investiture Controversy has been characterized as a "struggle for the right order of the world". Select one of the two camps in this struggle: either the "royalist" position of Henry IV and his supporters or the "papalist" position of Gregory VII and his supporters. In 3-4 double-spaced pages, describe the version of "right order in the world" offered by the royalist camp or the papalist camp. Your essay should contain the following elements: - a title that catches the reader's attention - an introductory paragraph that offers brief contextual and background information on investiture, Gregory VII, Henry IV, and other potential matters of interest; - an identifiable thesis statement (typically at the end of your introductory paragraph) that concisely encapsulates either the royalist or the papalist vision of "right order;" - body paragraphs that further clarify this "vision" with specific examples and quotations from the texts; - a conclusion Notes: Outside research is not necessary. However, you would do well to consult relevant sections of Western Civilizations, Maureen C. Miller's introduction to Power and the Hole, and her commentaries on individual texts. For quotations of primary sources, please use in-text parenthetical citations like the following: (Power and the Holy, p.85). At the end of your paper, please include a bibliography. For example: - Maureen C. Miller, Power and the Holy in the Age of the Investiture Conflict: A Brief History with Documents, (New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005