History of the Crusades and Black Death

The Crusades

• The Crusades were a series of military expeditions declared by the Pope, attempting to liberate the Holy Lands from Muslims and help Eastern Europe.
• The Crusaders believed they were superior to the Muslims, but they lost.
• They had a significant impact on trade and religion.

The Black Death

• The Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, decimated Europe’s population, weakening the power and authority of the Church.
• The Church had no answers for the plague.
• Priests died due to contact with the sick and dead.

Survivors of the Black Death

• Survivors of the plague benefited from those who died by inheriting their property and possessions.
• Trade increased, and workers' wages were high due to increased demand for their skills as the population was smaller.

The Renaissance

• The Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual rebirth, marking a shift away from medieval times.
• It saw a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman culture and philosophy.
• It was characterized by individualism, the exploration of human potential and achievements.

The Medici Family

• The Medici family were powerful and wealthy patrons of the arts during the Renaissance.
• Lorenzo de' Medici, known as "the Magnificent", was a prominent patron of the arts.

Notable Renaissance Artists:

• Michelangelo was a renowned sculptor and painter, known for works like Pieta and David.
• Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance man, recognized for his achievements in art, invention, science, writing, and politics. His most famous paintings are Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
• Rembrandt van Rijn was a Dutch painter who mastered the use of light and shadow to depict characters' inner lives in portraits.
• Albrecht Durer was a German painter and printmaker known for his detailed representations of the human body.
• Jan van Eyck was a Flemish painter known for his use of oil paints and considered the father of oil painting.

Johannes Gutenberg

• Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press in 1452, revolutionizing the printing process.

Sir Thomas More

• More, an influential writer, authored Utopia, a book about an ideal society based on Christian principles.

The Protestant Reformation

• Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation by challenging the Catholic Church.
• He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
• The Peace of Augsburg allowed local rulers to determine the religion of their territory.

Key Figures of the Reformation

• John Calvin established Calvinism, which emphasized predestination.
• John Knox carried Calvin's ideas to Scotland.
• Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church to create the Anglican Church.

The Counter-Reformation

• This was the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, aiming to reform the Church and regain lost followers.
• The council of Trent addressed issues raised during the Reformation by creating new policies and reaffirming principles from the Bible.

European Exploration and Colonization

• European explorers, motivated by "God, glory, and gold," led expeditions to the Americas.

Key Explorers:

• Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, sailed around the southern tip of Africa, opening trade routes.
• Christopher Columbus sailed west, believing he could reach Asia, but instead landed in the New World.
• John Cabot explored the coastline of the Americas for England.
• Amerigo Vespucci wrote descriptions of the Americas, leading to the use of the term "America".

The Columbian Exchange

• This was the global transfer of foods, plants, and animals between Europe and the Americas.

The Spanish Conquest of the Americas

• Cortez conquered the Aztec Empire.
• Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire.

Magellan's Voyages

• Ferdinand Magellan was the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe.

The Middle Passage

• The Middle Passage was the harsh and dangerous journey of enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas.

The Triangular Trade

• The Triangular Trade involved a network of trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• Key products exchanged included enslaved people, manufactured goods, and raw materials.

Impact of the Renaissance

• The Renaissance encouraged art, literature, and intellectual pursuits.
• It focused on individual achievements and human potential.
• Renaissance art, compared to medieval art, became more realistic, less religious, and focused on balance and perspective.

Impact of the Crusades

• The Crusades prompted the rediscovery of classical Greek culture that was preserved in the East.
• They spurred trade and cultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East.
• They sparked a decline in the power of the Church, a result of corruption and conflict.

European Transformation

• The medieval period saw a strong Church and feudal systems, but as power shifted into the hands of kings and trade increased, both began to break down.
• The Renaissance and the Reformation challenged ideas and religious practices, ushering in a new era of intellectual inquiry and societal change.