Unit 7: Middle Ages
Economic Effects of the Crusades
-Increased demand for Middle Eastern products -Stimulated production of goods to trade in Middle Eastern markets -Encouraged the use of credit and banking Improvisations in agriculture caused a surplus of food increasing and benefiting trade. Improvisations include the new three-field system and the switch from oxen to horsepower. Another change in the economy was the development of GUILDS. These were organizations of individuals in the same business or occupation working to improve the economic and social conditions of its members. Guilds set standards for quality of work, wages, and working conditions. After the Crusades the COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION took place. It was the expansion of agriculture, business, and trade. Trade fairs were held in towns and trade routes were expanded to places very far away. Enterprising merchants found ways to trade different types of currencies. Bills of exchange established exchange rates between different coinage systems, Letters of credit were created to Merchants wouldn't have to carry large amounts of cash with them. These changes made trade easier and Trading firms and associations formed to offer these services to their groups.
What happened to Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?
After the fall of the western part of the roman empire, there was chaos, violence, and danger. People began to leave towns and cities to band together in the countryside for protection. A new social, political, and economic system called FEUDALISM developed to create order and stability. When the western Roman empire fell in 476 CE, kings and emperors were too weak to maintain order. There was a power vacuum. A power vacuum is a condition that exists when someone has lost control and no one has replaced them. With the power vacuum in the western Roman empire, European tribes began fighting for domination. In addition to the fighting between European tribes, there were constant invasions by the Vikings, Muslims, and other groups. This was a time period of danger, violence, and instability. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe shifted into the DARK AGES. The land was broken up into Germanic Kingdoms. Germanic invaders overran lands! Europe passed through a time of turmoil and confusion, of ignorance and lawlessness. Repeated invasions and constant warfare caused a series of changes that altered the economy, government and culture. TRADE DISRUPTION: Trade was disrupted by invasions causing the economy to suffer and money to grow scarce. CITY TO COUNTRY: With the fall of the empire, cities were abandoned. Roman centers of trade and government collapsed so nobles retreated to the rural areas. Roman cities were left without strong leadership so others living in the city left for the country too. THE POPULATION OF WESTERN EUROPE BECAME MOSTLY RURAL. LEARNING DECLINES: Germanic invaders couldn't read or write. Learning sank sharply as more and more families left to the country. LANGUAGE ISSUES: Latin was no longer the common language so language barriers formed between people.
What is Charlemagne's legacy?
CHARLEMAGNE BEGAN THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE! Charlemagne was born in a kingdom run by a Germanic Tribe called The Franks in 761. He became the first Holy Roman Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire! (HRE) Through many cruel and ruthless conquests, Charlemagne greatly expanded his empire. In his conquests, he spread christianity forcefully. He lacked religious tolerance and killed those that didn't convert to christianity or practiced another religion. Charlemagne encouraged knowledge opening schools all over his empire. However, these schools did not teach any disciplines that opposed the Roman Christian scripture. Thus, these schools did not allow for the development in thought in science and math. He expanded the H.R.E. to France and Germany. He forced people he conquered to convert to Christianity. He was the first Holy Roman Emperor. He Promoted Education.
Identify the causes and impact of the Hundred Years War.
Cause: The Hundred Years War was caused by English and French disputes over french territory. English monarchs had long claimed lands in France. This was because earlier English kings had actually been feudal lords over these French fiefs. French kings now disputed these claims. When Philip VI of France declared that the French fiefs of England's King Edward III were part of Philip's own realm, war broke out in France. Impact: Shifting From Feudalism: The Hundred Years' War contributed to the decline of feudalism by helping to shift power from feudal lords to monarchs and to common people. During the struggle, monarchs on both sides had collected taxes and raised large professional armies. As a result, kings no longer relied as much on nobles to supply knights for the army. Advances in Technology: In addition, changes in military technology made the nobles' knights and castles less useful. The LONGBOW proved to be an effective weapon against mounted knights. Castles also became less important as armies learned to use gunpowder to shoot iron balls from cannons and blast holes in castle walls. Nationalism and Patriotism: The new feeling of nationalism also shifted power away from lords. Previously, many English and French peasants felt more loyalty to their local lords than to their monarch. The war created a new sense of national unity and patriotism on both sides. The Common People Rise: In both France and England, commoners and peasants bore the heaviest burden of the war. They were forced to fight and to pay higher and more frequent taxes. Those who survived the war, however, were needed as soldiers and workers. For this reason, the common people emerged from the conflict with greater influence and power.
What happened in Europe following Charlemagne's death?
Charlemagne died in 814 crowing his son Louis the Pious leader of the HRE. He was an ineffective ruler. His three sons then fought one another for control of the Empire and ended up dividing it into 3 kingdoms - THE TREATY OF VERDUN. As a result, kings lost power and central authority broke down. THE LACK OF STRONG RULERS LED TO A NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND LANDHOLDING CALLED FEUDALISM! In 835, Vikings invaded Western Europe. They were from Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, and Sweden) and referred to as Norsemen. THE VIKINGS WERE NOT CHRISTIAN. Vikings traveled by Longships which can go on rivers and travel into the Heart of Europe. Viking invasions case widespread disorder and suffering, which led Europeans to adopt stronger, more rigid feudal systems.
Why does feudalism develop in Europe? (What is its purpose?)
Feudalism developed in Europe to create a safer environment for the common people. With tribes fighting and invasions from vikings and muslims occurring all the time, the European people were concerned. Feudalism promised protection to the common people from invaders and a place to call home.
What is feudalism?
Feudalism was a system of government in which nobles were granted the use of land that legally belonged to the king. In return, the nobles agreed to give their loyalty and military services to the king. Feudalism was a decentralized system of government meaning that there wasn't an official central authority. (The king didn't directly control everyone) It was based off of land ownership, rights, and obligations.
Identify who Joan of Arc was and her impact on the war.
Joan of Arc was a 17 year old peasant girl who brought the French victory during the Hundred Years War. Joan claimed that she heard the voices of saints urging her to save France. Putting on a suit of armor, she went to fight. In 1429, Joan led a French army to victory in the Battle of Orléans (OR-lay-uhn). The next year, the "Maid of Orléans" was captured by English allies. The English pushed certain Church leaders to accuse Joan of being a witch and a heretic and to burn her at the stake. 500 years later she was made a Roman Catholic Saint. Joan of Arc's heroism changed the way many French men and women felt about their king and nation. She inspired a new sense of national identity and unity in her country. This new patriotism also started in England and it helped to further destroy feudalism.
What are the different roles in feudalism?
Kings (Monarchs): The king owned all the land and allowed the trusted nobles to govern a part of the land in return of other services. Nobility (Lords): Below the monarchs were powerful lords such as dukes and counts who held the largest fiefs. Each of these lords had vassals. Knights and Vassals: For medieval nobles, warfare was a way of life. Rival lords battled constantly for power. Many nobles began training in boyhood for a future occupation as a knight, or mounted warrior. In the later Middle Ages, knights adopted a code of conduct called chivalry. Serfs and Peasants: Most peasants on a manor were serfs, bound to the land. Serfs were not slaves who could be bought and sold. Still, they were not free. They could not leave the manor without the lord's permission. If the manor was granted to a new lord, the serfs went along with it.
What is lay investiture and why is this significant?
Lay investiture is a ceremony in which kings and nobles appointed church officials. It is significant because the monarch controlling lay investiture held the power to name bishops, who were very influential clergy. People of the church felt that kings should not have the power to choose bishops so the Pope Gregory V11 banned lay investiture. The King Henry IV was furious by this so he attempted to remove Gregory from his position as Pope. The Pope then excommunicated the King. The only way Henry could save his throne then was to try to win the Pope's forgiveness.
How was the manor system (manorialism) organized?
Manorialism was an economic system structured around the feudal manor, or the lord's estate. This estate included the lord's landholding, farming lands, and peasant villages. The manor was self-sufficient which meant that the peasants produced most of everything they needed including food, clothing, tools and furniture. They did not need to trade with others for their basic needs.
Describe the Church's power and influence.
Over the course of the early Middle Ages, the Catholic Church became more influential and powerful, to the point where the Church and the beliefs of its clergy [people who had high positions in the Church like priests and bishops] controlled secular [non-religious] life and secular government. Economic Power The Roman Catholic Church became the largest landowner in Europe. The Church had an enormous amount of wealth. The medieval Church added to its wealth by collecting a TITHE, or tax. Each person was expected to give one-tenth of his money, produce, or labor to help support the Church. Social Power People desires to go to heaven caused them to follow church's societal rules. Almost all are roman catholic in Western Europe. All was held in the church - mass, town meetings... Political Power The pope appoints the king. Church members could rise an army. Priests and Monks were literate - they could keep records. Church members were advisors. CANNON LAW Intellectual/ Spiritual Power Church provided education. During the Middle Ages, the Church provided education for some and it helped the poor and sick. It was a daily presence from birth to death... ...People looked to the Church to explain world events. Storms, disease, and famine were thought to be punishments sent by God. People hoped prayer and religious devotion would keep away such disasters. They were even more concerned about the fate of their souls after death. The Church taught that salvation, or the saving of a one's soul, would come to those who followed the Church's teachings.
Describe the impact the plague had on Europe (religion, society, economy)
Society: People don't trust one another. They are terrified and confused. They try to blame people or things for what is happening but can't. Economy: The Feudal system was completely destroyed. Because so many died during the Plague, those that lived were able to ask for more money. Serfs left Manors in search of better wages. Nobles hated peasants demands for higher wages so peasant revolts occurred in Europe. Communication was limited. Trade declined greatly due to the plague. Religion: The Church suffers a loss of prestige when its prayers failed to stop the onslaught of the bubonic plague and priests abandoned their duties.
Social Effects of the Crusades
The Crusades greatly increased communication between Christians and Muslims. The Crusades also brought a rebirth in learning. Before them, European education was concentrated in monasteries and controlled by the Church. The church discouraged scientific investigation and experimentation because they believed it opposed their teachings. There was a very low level of literacy. After the Crusades... Byzantine and Muslim libraries brought rebirth of learning. Cathedral schools developed into universities. In schools, math, sciences, arts, english, and languages were taught. Learning became more based off logic and science than the Christian church. Scholastics worked to bridge faith and logic lead by Thomas Aquinas.
Describe the goal of the Crusades (7.4)
The Crusades were holy wars fought between Christians in Europe and Muslims in the Middle East between 1095 and 1291. The Main Goal of the Crusades was for the Christians to take control of Jerusalem - The Holy Land - from the Muslims. The Crusades had economic, social, and political goals as well... Fighting in the Crusades would give you forgiveness for your sins. Through the Crusades, people could travel and make money. People fought in the Crusades to defend the Byzantine Empire from the Turks. Younger sons of European nobles had the opportunity to get new land in the Middle East. Another goal of the Crusades was to open new trade routes between Europe and the Middle East.
Magna Carta vs. US Constitution
The Magna Carta and the US Constitution preach a lot of the same values. They ensure that all have basic rights. Both documents state that in order to be punished one must have committed a crime and been proven guilty in a trial. They both allow for taxes and state that government officials can't take from the people without paying for what they've taken. BOTH DOCUMENTS ENSURE THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS!!
Identify how the plague spread to Europe.
The bubonic plague originated in China and then spread across trade routes both by land and sea. The disease was caused by fleas which were carried by black rats. In Europe, conditions were very unsanitary. People didn't shower or bathe much so all of them had fleas and lice. They throw their garbage into the streets of town so it is a perfect place for rats to spread the disease.
What makes feudalism an interdependent social hierarchy?
The classes of people in the Feudal Pyramid depended on each other The KING granted lords (nobles) fiefs (land) that legally belonged to him and in exchange LORDS gave the king loyalty and military services. LORDS divided these fiefs among the vassals and in exchange VASSALS (knights) promised loyalty and armies for their lands as the lords did the king. VASSALS would fight for their lords as well. LORDS give peasants protection and in exchange PEASANTS (serfs) give lord labor. THIS EXCHANGE OF PLEDGES IS CALLED THE FEUDAL CONTRACT! This was an interdependent relationship with mutual feudal obligations.
How was the structure of the Church like that of the feudal system?
The structure of the Church was like that of the feudal system because it too was social pyramid. Power was based on status. Feudal System King Nobles/ Lords Vassals/ Knights Serfs/ Peasants Church Pope Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Priests Laity - Common People (Non Clergy) Over time, Church leaders developed an organization that was modeled on the structure of the old Roman government. By the High Middle Ages, they had created a system in which all clergy members had a rank. The POPE, who was the bishop of Rome, was the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. He was assisted and counseled by high-ranking clergymen called CARDINALS. Cardinals were appointed by the pope and ranked just below him in the Church hierarchy. ARCHBISHOPS came next. They oversaw large or important areas called archdioceses. Below them were BISHOPS, who governed areas called dioceses from great cathedrals. Within each diocese, PRIESTS served local communities, called parishes. Each parish had its own church building.
Describe the relationship between politics and religion in the Middle Ages.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Church and various European leaders competed for power. If a leader wanted to remain in good relations with the people, that leader had to create an alliance with the church.
Describe the Magna Carta and its impact on England and beyond.
Under the reign of King John, England is faced with high taxes, a series of unsuccessful wars, and religious conflict with the Pope. Unhappy with the state of the country, a group of wealthy noblemen called barons rebel against the king. The king and barons battle throughout the first half of the year to determine who will gain the upper hand. Finally, in June 1215, after six months of fighting, the victorious nobles forced King John to sign an agreement that will eventually become known as the Magna Carta, or "Great Charter" in Latin. The new document addresses many complaints that the barons have with the king. Before this time, the king was thought to hold absolute power; however, the Magna Carta puts limits on royal power and lists the rights of the barons and of all free men. THE MAGNA CARTA PUT A LIMIT ON THE KINGS POWER AND GIVES RIGHTS TO THE COMMON PEOPLE!! It gave all the right to justice and a fair trial. The Magna Carta became an international symbol of liberty. It influenced the US Constitution and shared the King's power. Without it, we may not have many of the rights and privileges we have today.
Political Effects of the Crusades
• Weakened the Pope and nobles; strengthened monarchs • Stimulated trade throughout the Mediterranean area and the Middle East • Left a legacy of bitterness among Christians, Jews, and Muslims • Weakened the Byzantine Empire After the Crusades, the Feudal system went away. Centralized power began to flow back to a King again. The people and kings were once again prominent vs. lords and knights. Towns grew and flourished. People were no longer content with their feudal existence on manors in tiny villages. Serfs ran away from their lords' manors even though they were legally bound to them. They would travel to the towns to make better lives for themselves. At first, towns were controlled by feudal lords who used their authority to collect fees, taxes, and rents. However as trade expanded, BURGHERS fought against the lords for rights. They demanded privileges such as freedom from certain tolls and right to govern the town. Cities gained political advantages: money given to the burgher class. Power to the peasants with the usage of gold coins.