The High Middle Ages were the first brilliant age in the civilization of the post-classical West. While the Dark Ages may be "dark" more from our ignorance of them than from anything inherent in them, it seems clear that a richer and more varied civilization appeared around the twelfth century. The great cathedrals were built, the Arthurian cycle established themes that have continued to preoccupy Western literature, St. Thomas Aquinas achieved a scope and subtlety in his philosophy that could stand comparison with the ancients.
The era was also one of rapid urbanization; after centuries of relative obscurity, the cities of the High Middle Ages became once again a dominate feature of the social landscape. One of the striking features of the medieval city was its freedom: Stadtluft macht Frei, said the German proverb, city air makes one free. According to Lewis Mumford,
In certain respects, the medieval town had
succeeded as no previous urban culture had done. For
the first time, the majority of the inhabitants of a
city were free men: except for special groups, like
the Jews, city dweller and citizen were now synonymous
This medieval freedom was, however, sharply limited in its scope. If the medieval city-dweller was far less likely to be a slave than had been the case in the ancient city, nor, in spite of his freedom in law, was he entirely free. The spirit of medieval civilization was highly structured and heirarchical; this was the feudal era, and the ideal was a place for every man, and every man in his place. Over all stood the universal structure and doctrine of the Catholic Church, defining the limits not only of social action but of thought. As Mumford says of medieval urban freedom and other developments that went with it, "these were great achievements, but the faith and dogma that had made them possible stood in the way of further developments that challenged its authority and its all...