The High Middle Ages (often shortened into HMA) is the 5th era in Forge of Empires. It is preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages.
This era includes seven large provinces to conquer: Canturia, Breturia, Veletrites, Frathia, Jaims, Mons Suiry, and Moravaria.
The High Middle Ages is the second of the three medieval periods lasting from the 11th century to the 13th century. Though the direct causes for the start of the High Middle Ages remain unclear, a likely factor was the end of Viking expansion with the Norman conquest of England in 1066, giving rise to feudalism. Another factor was the beginning of major religious upheaval between various monotheistic kingdoms starting with the Great Schism between the western Roman Catholic Church and eastern Greek Orthodox Church in 1054. This period ended mostly due to the Black Death pandemic.
The First Crusade also occurred during this time which took place along Europe and the Middle East. This is evident in the game through the introduction of military units such as Berserkers, Knights and Trebuchets which were widespread by this time. This age culminates with the sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the 4th Crusade by the Latin Empire and the mongol conquest of the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258 during the siege of Baghdad and Southern Song Dynasty in 1279 thereafter. The rise of the Mongol Empire and introduction of gunpowder into the Middle East from China would later redefine the global arena of the later ages as it brought science and technology from East to West by the 14th century through important trade routes such as the silk road.
The rapidly increasing population of Europe as a result of this trade brought about great technological, social, religious and political change compared to the preceding era, the Early Middle Ages and peaked during the Renaissance of the 12th century, which witnessed rural exodus and urbanization as well as the spread of Gothic architecture throughout western Europe. This can be seen in the game through great buildings such as Notre Dame and St. Mark's Basilica which contain relics plundered from Hagia Sophia during the 4th crusade as well as technologies such as Monotheism permitting the construction of smaller rural Churches, Trade Routes and Chemistry both allowing territorial expansion and alchemy which unlocks the ability to construct Alchemist Labs.