Decline of the Medieval Church

• The Medieval Church faced a decline due to corruption, the Great Schism, challenges from monarchs, and the rise of heresies.

Corruption & Criticism

• The Church faced criticism for corruption, including the sale of indulgences and political involvement.

The Great Schism (1378-1417)

• A period when multiple popes claimed authority, weakening the Church's influence.

Challenges from Monarchs

• Kings and rulers resisted Church control, as seen in England's Henry VIII breaking away to establish the Anglican Church.

Rise of Heresies

• Reformers like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus questioned Church doctrines, inspiring later movements like the Protestant Reformation.

Medieval Culture

• Medieval culture included the Feudal System, Manorialism, Chivalry, Gothic Architecture, The Crusades, and the Black Death.

Feudal System & Society

• Society was structured in rigid classes of lords, vassals, knights, and serfs, with landownership dictating power.

Manorialism

• The economic system where manors were self-sufficient agricultural communities.

Chivalry

• The knightly code of conduct, emphasizing bravery, honor, and respect for women.

Gothic Architecture

• Cathedrals featured stained glass, pointed arches, and flying buttresses.

The Crusades (1095–1291)

• Religious wars launched to reclaim the Holy Land, leading to increased trade and knowledge exchange between Europe and the Middle East.

Black Death (1347–1351)

• The bubonic plague killed a third of Europe's population, undermining feudalism and Church authority.

Italian Renaissance

• The Renaissance, meaning "rebirth," began in Italy.
• It was due to wealthy city-states like Florence, Venice, and Genoa, as well as trade prosperity.
• Humanism was a movement emphasizing individual potential, Greek/Roman culture, and secular achievements.

Renaissance Art

• Leonardo da Vinci created the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
• Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling and sculpted David.
• Petrarch, the Father of Humanism, wrote sonnets.
• Machiavelli's "The Prince" advocated that rulers should use any means necessary to maintain power.
• Renaissance ideas spread to Northern Europe.
• Writers like Erasmus (The Praise of Folly) and Thomas More (Utopia) adapted Renaissance ideas to their cultures.

Rise of Modern Nations

• The decline of feudalism and the rise of strong monarchies led to unified nations in England, France, Spain, and Portugal.
• Monarchs ruled with total power, often justified by divine right, known as absolutism.

Spain

• Ferdinand & Isabella unified Spain and established the Spanish Inquisition.
• Philip II expanded Spanish influence and strengthened Catholicism.

France

• Louis XIV (The Sun King) ruled for 72 years, built the Palace of Versailles, and expanded France's military.

England

• The Magna Carta (1215) limited the king's power and established Parliament's role.
• The Glorious Revolution (1688) overthrew James II, leading to the English Bill of Rights and creating a constitutional monarchy.

Feudal System and Medieval Culture

• Feudalism is a system of government and society where land was exchanged for loyalty and service.
• Society was organized into a hierarchy with lords, vassals, knights, and serfs.
• Lords were the rulers of the manor and castle, responsible for governing and maintaining order.
• Lords provided protection to those under their care and expected loyalty and services in return.
• Vassals were landowners who managed a portion of the lord's land, called a fief.
• Vassals acted as the lord's representative and offered military support when needed.
• Knights were skilled horsemen pledged to defend their lord's land and interests.
• Knights played a crucial role in providing security and enforcing the lord's authority.
• Serfs were workers tied to the land, cultivating crops and performing labor.
• Serfs had no freedom to leave and relied on the lord for protection and resources.
• Manors were self-sufficient units, functioning independently due to the absence of centralized governance.
• The collapse of the Roman Empire and subsequent invasions by Germanic tribes created a power vacuum, leading to the establishment of feudalism.
• Charlemagne, "Father of Europe," played a significant role in spreading Christianity and unifying territories. His empire's decline led to increased vulnerability, solidifying the need for feudal systems.

Protestant Reformation

• A major religious movement in 16th-century Europe challenged the authority and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Corruption in the Roman Catholic Church, including the selling of indulgences and excessive materialism, sparked widespread discontent.
• The Renaissance encouraged questioning of authority and access to religious texts in the vernacular.
• Martin Luther, a German monk, criticized Church practices through his 95 Theses, which spread rapidly thanks to the printing press.
• Erasmus translated the Bible into vernacular of the people (common language).
• John Calvin was also a key figure in the Protestant Reformation.