Here's why:
* Chivalry and its ideals: Chivalry was a code of conduct for knights, emphasizing ideals like loyalty, honor, bravery, and service to others. Courtly love, with its themes of idealized, unattainable love, perfectly fit within this framework.
* The emergence of a noble class: The feudal system led to the rise of a powerful noble class, creating a social structure where the ideals of chivalry and courtly love could flourish.
* The rise of the troubadours: These traveling musicians and poets played a crucial role in spreading the ideals of courtly love. They performed songs and poems about love and chivalry, often at the courts of noble patrons.
* A way to express romantic feelings: Courtly love provided a safe and acceptable way for people to express their romantic feelings, especially in a time when social restrictions were strict.
* The role of religion: The Church, with its emphasis on spiritual love and devotion, indirectly contributed to the popularity of courtly love by providing a framework for thinking about love in a spiritual context.
Overall, the rise of chivalry, the emergence of a noble class, the spread of troubadour culture, and the need for a safe way to express romantic feelings all contributed to the popularity of courtly love poetry in the Middle Ages.