Topic 1.6 Part 1 Essay Question

Prompt

Evaluate the extent to which religion shaped political and social structures in Europe from c. 1200 to c. 1450.

Context (not provided on the exam)

Between 1200 and 1450, Europe remained politically fragmented and socially hierarchical. The Catholic Church served as the most powerful unifying institution, influencing monarchs, education, and law. At the same time, feudalism and manorialism created localized systems of power that limited central authority. Interactions with Judaism and Islam, especially through al-Andalus and the Crusades, exposed Europeans to new ideas and technologies that challenged traditional structures. This period marked both the height of religious authority and the early stirrings of political and intellectual transformation.

Task

Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which religion shaped political and social structures in Europe from c. 1200 to c. 1450.

In your response, you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning.
• Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
• Support an argument using at least two specific pieces of historical evidence.
• Use historical reasoning (e.g., causation, comparison, or continuity and change over time) to structure or frame your argument.
• Demonstrate a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt.