Chapter 5: The Decline of Feudalism
Fill in the blanks to explain the spread of the bubonic plague
"The plague probably originated in Central Asia, traveled along a trade route to the black sea, was carried on a ship to Italy, and then spread north and west to the continent of Europe and to England.
What changes did Magna Carta bring about in the English government?
A monarch could no longer collect special taxes without the consent of nobles and Church officials. No "free man" could be jailed except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land. It also introduced the idea that not even a monarch was above the law.
Describe an event that you believe has changed the way you live, and explain how that event changed your life.
An event that I believe that has changed the way I live life is school shootings because we are always told that school is one of the safest places. But the truth is the schools are not the safest place as we have been told it was. Schools are being known as a not safe place because so many students and staff are being killed in these shootings. I believe that the school should pay for teachers to be armed in case of this type of emergency happens because it would be a good way of ensuring the students would be somewhat safe. These events have to lead me to be in caution at all times no matter where I am at. It has to lead me to be constantly worried about my own safety throughout the school. This has affected my life by constantly finding different ways to protect myself and classmates if we were in this situation. I have also had a thought process of different ways to escape from the school is there was a school shooting to go into effect.
What changes did Henry II make to the English legal system and how did these changes affect feudalism?
He insisted that a jury formally accuse a person of a serious crime. People were tried by royal judges and had to have a court trial. By strengthening royal courts, he weakened the power of feudal lords.
What was the Model Parliament, and why was it created?
It was an English governing body created by Edward I that included commoners, lower-ranking clergy, Church officials and nobles. It was intended to include more people in the government.
Political Events
Magna Carta limited the power of English monarchs and affirmed that monarchs should rule with the advice of the governed; Henry II's legal reforms strengthened common law, judges, and juries; and Edward I's Model Parliament gave a voice to some common people.
Bubonic Plague
Power shifted a bit from nobles to common people because, since so many workers had died, the few who remained could demand higher pay and more rights; serfs abandoned feudal manors and moved to towns and cities, seeking better opportunities; peasant revolts also occurred when nobles tried to return things to the way they had been.
In the Bubonic Plague box of your cause-and-effect diagram (above), list examples of how the outbreak of the bubonic plague in Europe contributed to the decline of feudalism and the rise of democratic thought.
Power shifted a bit from nobles to common people because, since so many workers had died, the few who remained could demand higher pay and more rights; serfs abandoned feudal manors and moved to towns and cities, seeking better opportunities; peasant revolts also occurred when nobles tried to return things to the way they had been.
Who was Joan of Arc? What did she do for the French during the Hundred Years' War?
She was a 17-year-old peasant girl who claimed she heard the voices of saints urging her to save France. She led a French army to victory in 1429 in the battle of Orléans. Her actions inspired many French people to feel more strongly about their King and nation.
Why were the English able to defeat the French in early battles, such as the one at Crécy?
The English army relied on archers armed with longbows. Arrows fired from longbows flew farther, faster, and more accurately than those fired from French crossbows.
How was the plague spread?
The bacteria that caused the plague were spread by fleas. The dirty conditions of the time significantly contributed to the spread of the disease.
Why was the plague called the "Black Death"? What were some of the common symptoms?
The term probably came from the black-and-blue spots, or buboes, that appeared on the skin of many victims. Symptoms included fever, vomiting, coughing and sneezing, and swelling.
How did the Hundred Years' War start?
The war began when the King of France challenged England's claim to French fiefs.
Hundred Years War
The war shifted power from lords to monarchs and common people; military technology used in the war made knights and castles less important; a new feeling of nationalism helped to shift power from lords and towards monarchs and commoners; peasants who survived the war were more in demand as soldiers and workers and therefore had greater power.
In the Hundred Years' War box of your cause-and-effect diagram, list examples of how the outbreak of war in Europe contributed to the decline of feudalism and the rise of democratic thought.
The war shifted power from lords to monarchs and common people; military technology used in the war made knights and castles less important; a new feeling of nationalism helped to shift power from lords and towards monarchs and commoners; peasants who survived the war were more in demand as soldiers and workers and therefore had greater power.