Orders of European Middle Ages: The Mechanisms of Stability Reproduction

Abstract

The model of the co-evolution of the social, mental and functional orders is used for a sketchy explanation of the relative stability of the Western European Middle Ages (until the beginning of the 16th century). It is shown that the stability of the medieval order is based on finding the relevant supporting structures for the main objects of concern for rulers and elites: mobilizing military force, maintaining a decent level of their well-being and subordination of the lower exploited strata. Multiple conflicts between the emperor, kings, princes, knights, townspeople (bourgeois) and the peasantry did not undermine, but strengthened the established order, as far as rivals tried to occupy the best places in the same social structure.