Middle Ages PDF

Europe in the Middle Ages (1000-1500) Important Dates First European Universities Appear: c. 1158 Black Death begins to devastate Europe: 1347 Joan of Arc is burned at the stake for being a witch: 1431 Hundred Years War ends: 1453 Peasants, Trade, and Cities Between 1000 and 130...

Europe in the Middle Ages (1000-1500) Important Dates First European Universities Appear: c. 1158 Black Death begins to devastate Europe: 1347 Joan of Arc is burned at the stake for being a witch: 1431 Hundred Years War ends: 1453 Peasants, Trade, and Cities Between 1000 and 1300 the population of Europe grew dramatically, the population grew from about 38 million to 74 million people. – Conditions were more peaceful and people felt more secure. – There was a warming trend in Europe’s climate. – There were vast improvement in agricultural technology which allowed them to grow more food.  Improvement in Agricultural Technology Windmills Water Wheels Iron tools Iron plow (could go down much deeper into the soil) Horse collar System of crop rotation The Three Field System The method of crop rotation, or the three field system, was developed during the middle ages. Originally half the land would be planted and the other half would be fallow (unplanted) Under the new system the land was divided into three fields. Two were planted and one would be left fallow. Crops which used different nutrients would be planted in the two fields and would rotate to let the soil rest. Crops In the three field system, one was planted with grains which were harvested in the summer. The second was planted in the spring with grains such as oats and barley and vegetables such as peas and beans. Which were harvested in the fall. The third field was left fallow, or unplanted. The Manorial System A Manor was a self-sufficient agricultural estate run by a lord and worked by peasants and serfs.  Many peasants at this time became serfs. A serf was a peasant who was bound to the land and didn’t really own any land of their own. – As the population of Europe increased during this time there was less land to go around. Many peasants lost their holdings and became serfs. – Serfs could not leave the manor, they had to work to pay rent, and had to pay fines and fees for various services on the manor. Serfs also could not marry without the Lord’s permission.   In exchange for their labor, the lords of the Manors did owe the serfs protection in the event of invasion. They also were able to keep a percentage of the crops they produced on the manor for their own families. Daily Life of Peasants Peasants lived a hard-working simple life. They lived in houses which had thatched roofs resting on timber framework with the spaces filled with mud and straw. There were few, if any windows. Many houses only had one to two rooms, there was little privacy. The hearth in the main room was used to both heat the house and cook the food. The smoke from the fire crept out through the roof. Hygiene It is a common misconception that people did not bathe during the Middle Ages. The public baths which were popular during the time of Rome fell out of favor, but people did continue to bathe. There is evidence of public baths in Medieval cities. Many of these public baths were shut down after the break out of the Black Death between 1347-1351. Baths were more common for the wealthy who could afford to bathe in tubs filled with hot water as well as scented oils and perfumes. The poor would bathe in wooden basins or barrels filled with cold water. Although they didn’t bathe as often as we do today, they did take a bath more than once a year. Soap was made of sheep fat with ashes and soda mixed in. Teeth could be cleaned by scraping them with a hazel twig and rubbing them with a woolen cloth. The Cycle of Labor For peasants, there were different jobs to be done throughout the year. The job depended on the growing season and what could be produced during the time. Different Seasons October was the beginning of the cycle of labor, during that time peasants prepared to plant the winter crops November was the time when they would slaughter extra livestock and preserve the meat by salting it so they could have meat during the winter. – During the winter people stayed at home repairing tools, mending clothes, spinning and maybe grinding grain into flour.  In February and March (early spring) peasants would plant spring crops, such as oats, barley, peas and beans. In early summer peasants would weed the fields and shear their sheep so they could cart the wool, spin it, and weave it into clothing. Feast Days Although it seems like it, peasants did not work all of the time. They did get some holidays. There were many feast days, or holidays, which were celebrated throughout the year. These holidays coincided with important events of the Catholic Church including the celebration of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and other feasts dedicated to saints or the Virgin Mary.There were about 50 such feast days a year. Feast days provided an opportunity for dancing, drinking, and informal sports such as wresting, archery, cockfighting, and even an early form of soccer. The Village Church The Village church was the center of all religious and most social activities. Village priests would teach peasants the basic beliefs of Christianity, although many local priests had very little education themselves. On festival days the village churchyard was used for dancing and drinking, much to the dismay of the priest. Peasant Diet The staple item of the peasant diet was bread. Women made the dough with contained many different types of grain, including wheat, rye, barley, millet, and oats. This was usually called “black bread” because of its dark color. Peasants would also eat cheese, which they made, nuts, berries, and whatever fruits were in season. They may also eat eggs from their chickens. Meat was a rare treat. Drink Water was usually not easy to find and was not very clean to drink, so peasants drank many beverages which were brewed and fermented because the alcohol killed bacteria. Peasants usually drank ale made from grain, water, and fermented with yeast. The difference between ale and beer is the addition of hops. The upper class usually drank wine which was fermented from grapes. The Revival of Trade Medieval Europe was a mostly agrarian society, but during the eleventh and twelfth centuries Europe experienced a growth in towns and cities. The increase in agricultural output allowed for the development of trade. By the end of the tenth century people emerged with skills and products for trade. Invasions were also diminishing during this time and the increased stability helped to foster trade.  Cities has been around since Roman times, and many of the old Roman cities began to reemerge as trade centers. There were also new trading centers. Some of these cities included: – Venice in Northern Italy was a center with ties to the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East. – Flanders in Northern France was famous for its wool industry. Trade also helped Europe culturally, the Crusades introduced Middle Eastern good into European markets. Europeans also learned about the cultivation of oranges, sugar, and rice as well as techniques for irrigation, papermaking and how to use a compass. Trade Fairs Fairs were large markets where merchants got together to exchange their goods. As trade increased, there was a demand for gold and silver instead of bartered goods. This led to the development of a money economy based on the exchange of coins for goods. This increase in trade led to commercial capitalism, an economic system in which people invest in trade and goods in order to make profits. The Growth of Cities Increased trade led to merchants settling in old Roman cities, they were later joined by craftspeople and artisans. This influx of people revitalized these old cities. There were also new cities founded by the same groups. Merchants would build near and castle or along a trade route where a lord offered them protection, if things went well a wall was built around the new city to offer protection. Bourgeoisie Residents of the cities were called burghers or bourgeoisie, from the German word burg, meaning a walled enclosure.  Medieval Cities Medieval cities were smaller than other ancient cities. They were limited by the wall which surrounded them. Medieval London had a population of around 40,000.  Residents of these cities would attempt to gain independence from the lords of the manor near them so they would have more control over their money and trade. Town‘s people began to buy or win rights from their local lords, a city could gain a charter, or a “charter of freedoms” from their local lord which would allow them to run their own affairs. City Government Medieval cities developed their own governmental systems. There would usually be a city council which would serve as judges and city officials and also passed laws. The Patrician, or upper, class tended to dominate the politics of the towns and cities. Daily Life in the Medieval City Medieval cities were surrounded by walls which made space a premium. Buildings were very close together and had narrow, winding streets. Cities were often dirty and smelled from animal and human waste. There was air pollution from coal and wood fires as well as water pollution from tanning and animal- slaughtering industries including blood, tannic acids, animal fat, animal hair, and all other waste. Most of this waste was dumped in rivers and so all “clean” water came from wells. Dangers Aside from poor sanitation, the crowded conditions of cities made fire a constant danger. Many structures were made of wood and the people used fire to both heat and light their homes. Public Baths There were public and private baths located in Medieval cities. Communal bathing made sense from the point of resources because preparing baths took a lot of effort and resources. The Church frowned upon the public nudity of the baths and attempted to have them closed down. The break out of the Bubonic Plague (black death) of the 14th century caused the baths to be closed down because they believed they helped to spread disease. Women In medieval cities women were expected to supervise the household and would occasionally work outside the home. Women could help a husband manage a business, but few women worked independently. The businesses were women did work were often the less lucrative and unpleasant ones such as preparing the dead for burial or spinning wool into yarn. Guilds Merchants in medieval cities formed guilds, or business associations. Guilds managed tanners, carpenters, bankers as well as merchants of silk, spices, wool and the banking industry.. Guilds regulated every aspect of a business. The set quality standards, specified methods of production, and fixed prices. In order to operate a business, one had to belong to a guild. Joining a Guild There was a process to becoming a member of a guild. The first step was to be an apprentice: A young boy, around the age of 10, would go and work for a craftsman without pay to help learn the craft. Later apprentices became journeymen, who worked for a wages for craftsmen. The Masterpiece For a journeyman to become a master craftsman, he had to complete a Masterpiece. This was their audition for the guild to determined if their work made the qualified enough to join the guild and start their own business. Then they could become a Master Craftsman and own their own business. Section 2: Christianity and Medieval Civilization Pope Gregory VII Pope Gregory VII, though unpopular, initiated many reforms for the church. These reforms became known as the Gregorian reforms. Pope Gregory Stated: The Church was founded by God Alone The pope alone can with right be called universal. The pope alone can depose or reinstate bishops The pope’s name alone can be spoken in churches The pope may depose of emperors The pope may be judged by no one The Roman Church has never erred; nor will it err to all eternity, the Scripture bearing witness. Papal States and Simony The Papal States were the territories surrounding Rome which were controlled by the Pope and the Church. As the Middle Ages went on the church became more involved in political affairs. The feudal government of the time complicated matters. Lords appointed these bishops and other church officials as their vassals, and they had to be loyal to their lords, bishops and abbots became more worldly and neglected their spiritual duties. A practice known as simony developed where lords would sell church offices. This became an important source of income for lords and nobles. The Church Supreme The attempts to make the church more powerful did not end with Gregory VII. During the 12th and 13th century the Popes continued to strengthen the papacy. Pope Innocent III declared the Act of Papal Supremacy. He stated that the Pope was, – “lower than God but higher than man... Judges all and is judged by no one.... Princes have power on earth, priests over the soul. As much as the soul is worthier than the body, so much worthier is the priesthood than the monarchy... NO king can reign rightly unless he devoutly serve Christ’s vicar.” “Weapons” of the Church The Church claimed that it held the power of salvation through the administration of the sacraments. The church could manipulate people and their leaders through the control of these sacraments. The church could excommunicate someone, this was where they cut off a single person from receiving the sacraments. The church could also place an interdict over an entire country. In this case no one in the entire country or region could receive the sacraments. The Inquisition The Church appointed a special court, usually headed by the Dominicans, to find and try heretics. If an accused heretic confessed, he or she was forced to perform public penance. Beginning in 1252, those that did not confess voluntarily were tortured until they did confess. – Many did not confess but were still considered guilty and turned to the state for execution. – If a heretic relapsed, they were also subject to execution. Christians of this time believed that the only path to salvation was through the Church, heresy was a crime against God and humanity, the church believed it was doing this to save peoples’ souls. Stained Glass The stained glass windows of churches were also used to teach stories from the Bible to a mostly illiterate population.  Section 3: The Culture of the High Middle Ages Dates: Architects begin to build in the Gothic Style: 1150 The Rise of Universities Medieval Universities got their start as educational guilds. The first Medieval University was in Bologna, Italy. The students at the school formed their own guild in 1158. Later came the University of Paris, and then the University at Oxford England. Areas of Study Students in medieval universities studied the following subjects – Grammar: The proper way to write – Rhetoric: Public speaking, learning how to make arguments (debate) – Logic: Using reason – Arithmetic: Basic Math – Geometry – Music – Astronomy Teaching Style Books were rare and expensive in the Middle Ages. The main method of teaching was by lecture. Teachers would read from books and students would take notes. There were no regular exams given, but when a student applied for a degree, they were given an exam. Degrees There were various types of degrees awarded by medieval universities – Theology: The study of religion and God – Law – Medicine Upon completion of 4-6 years of study they would earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. If they continued in school they could earn a doctor’s degree and would be able to teach. A doctor’s degree could take ten years of more. The Development of Scholasticism As people began to make more scientific discoveries there emerged a crisis-how to reconcile new scientific discoveries with the teachings of the Church. The field of Scholasticism attempted to do this. Scholasticism was an effort to reconcile faith and reason and show that what was accepted on faith was in harmony with what could be learned through reason and experience. Greek Influences The thinking of the Greek philosophers had a great influence on medieval (and Renaissance) thinking. Aristotle proposed that our view of the world is learned through the senses and through what we experience. – Aristotle taught that the universe was eternal which was in conflict with the Christian teaching of Creation. – Aristotle believed that God was an impersonal principle that made caused order in the universe, but was unmoved, Christianity believed that God was concerned with the deeds of people. St. Thomas Aquinas St. Thomas Aquinas made the most famous effort to reconcile the teachings of Aristotle with the teachings of the Church. His best known work is Summa Theologica. Teachings of Thomas Aquinas St. Thomas Aquinas believed that there were two types of truth Religious Truth: Things that are revealed by faith and cannot be proven by science. Scientific Truth: Things that can be proven by science. He believed that things related to faith did not need truth to be valid became they came from God who was infallible. Also, he believed knowledge was not the enemy of faith because it did not corrupt faith. Both faith and reason come from God and were not in competition with each other but supported each other. Vernacular Literature The universal language of medieval civilization was Latin. Latin was the language of Rome and was a common language which could be used in churches and at Universities. – A common language at universities allowed students from many different countries to be able to understand the teachings there. Vernacular The vernacular was the language of the common people. – This included Spanish, French, English, and German. People began to produce literature in their own languages. – The most popular form of vernacular literature in the 12th century was troubadour poetry, which was mostly love stories about life at court between knights and ladies of the court. Troubadours Troubadours were usually travelling poets and musicians who would go from court to court telling their stories of courtly love. Chanson de Geste Another popular type of vernacular literature was the Chanson de Geste. The Chanson de Geste was heroic epic poetry. A popular work of this type was the Song of Roland. – This work, in French, tells the story of a battle between a Muslim army and Charlemagne. Medieval Architecture During the 11th and 12th centuries there was a boom in architecture and building. Originally buildings were built in a Basilica style which consisted of a rectangular building with a flat wooden roof. Later, Romanesque architecture replaced this flat roof with a rounded arch. Romanesque Architecture Romanesque architecture developed to have some specific traits. – Rounded Arches – Thick walls with small windows with stone roofs. The dark environment of the church was meant to suggest the power and mystery of God. Gothic Architecture Later, changes were made to the Romanesque style which developed a new style known as Gothic Architecture. Gothic architecture developed some distinct characteristics of its own. – Vaulted Arches (Pointed) – Flying Buttresses – Thinner walls and stained glass windows The advancements allowed thinner walls and larger windows, which allowed for these new churches to have much more natural light. The Gothic style was much more serene and self- confident. Gargoyles A Gargoyle functioned as a grotesque. They were meant to scare away evil spirits, but often also acted as water spouts for the churches. Section 4: The Late Middle Ages Important Dates – The Black Death spreads throughout Europe: 1350 – The Great Schism (Avignon Papacy) begins: 1378 The Black Death During the 13th century the middle ages had reached a high point, the population had grown and there was an explosion of learning and culture. The 14th century would bring about many changes in medieval Europe. Europe had become overpopulated and people were beginning to feel the effects of that overpopulation. Prior to the plague, there was a famine from 1315 to 1322 which killed off about 10% of Europe’s population. What was the Black Death? The Black death was the most devastating disaster in European history. The Black Death, or bubonic plague, was a bacterial infection which killed 38 million people throughout Europe out of a pre-plague population of 75 million. In urban areas, the death rate was 50-60% of the population. Types of Plague The most common form of plague was bubonic plague, which was carried by fleas which lived on black rats. – There was also pneumonic plague, which was bubonic plague which settled in the lungs and was spread by coughing. – There was also septicemic plague which attacked the bloodstream and could be spread from one person to another. It is thought that the plague originated in Asia and was spread via trade routes to Europe.  The first area hit was Italy, ships which had been trading with Asia sailed into Italian ports with plague-infested rats. The ships were quarantined, but the rats got to shore. The poor sanitation of the time allowed for the quick spread of the disease. The plague spread more quickly in the crowded urban areas where people lived close together. Rural areas did not fare quite as badly. The plague travelled via trade route throughout Europe.  People could be infected with the plague and not show symptoms for weeks. When plague broke out in a town people would flee, not knowing they were infected, and start plague in another town. The plague would spread faster during the warm months and go dormant for most of the colder months. The plague was worst from 1347-1351, but broke out sporadically for many years afterward.  The Spread of the Black Death Impact of the Black Death Decline in population: 38 million people died from the black death. This caused a labor shortage throughout Europe. Where land had been scarce before, people could not gain access to it. Scarcity of Labor: The scarcity of labor caused by the plague actually helped improve working conditions for peasants in Europe. Many could demand wages for the first time.  Towns freed from feudal obligations: Many towns lost large numbers of the populations. Many of these towns asked for freedom for their lords or had lost their lords to the plague. The power of the church declined because people lost faith in a church which had been unable to save them from such as disaster. Disruption of Trade: The plague caused trade to break down. People feared travelers and “plague goods” which may carry the disease. Symptoms of the Plague The plague began with headache and fever, along with chills, nausea, vomiting, and stiffness. Within a day or two, the swellings appeared. They were hard, painful, burning lumps on his neck, under his arms, on his inner thighs. Soon they turned black, split open, and began to ooze pus and blood. They may have grown to the size of an orange.  After the lumps appeared he would start to bleed internally. There would be blood in his urine, blood in his stool, and blood pooling under his skin, resulting in black boils and spots all over his body (this is where the name “black death” comes from). The fluids coming out of the body would smell horrible and most people died within a week of the onset of symptoms. People died so quickly there was little or no time to bury the dead, so the bodies piled up or were buried in shallow graves. Social Symptoms The plague contributed to Anti-Semitism in Europe. – People blamed the Jews for the plague. In the city of Strasbourg a Christian mob murdered 2,000 Jews. – Similar massacres occurred throughout Europe. Economic Consequences The Plague was actually good for the European Economy. – There was enough farmland to go around. – People were able to afford and buy land. – Workers demanded wages for their labor. – Cities grew as peasants and serfs, now free of feudal obligations, flocked to cities. – Merchants explored new businesses. The Decline of Church Power During the 14th century the power of the church began to decline. European kings, who were gaining power, were no longer willing to accept the idea of Papal supremacy over them. One of these conflicts was between Pope Boniface VIII and King Philip IV of France.  King Philip IV believed he should be able to tax the clergy. Pope Boniface VIII said that he could not. Philip IV refused to accept the Pope’s authority and sent his troops to Italy to bring him to France to stand trial. The Pope escaped, but died shortly after leaving the office of Pope open for election... The Great Schism/Avignon Papacy During the conclave, Philip arranged for the election of a French Pope. The Papacy then moved to Avignon, France, where it remained from 1305-1377. A later Pope, Gregory XI, returned the Papacy to Rome, but died soon after the move.  The cardinals insisted on the election of an Italian Pope, Pope Urban VI. Five months later, the French cardinals declared the election of that Pope invalid and elected their own, Clement VII. Now Europe had TWO Popes. This created a lot of problems, the Pope was the head of the Church and people were uncertain as to which Pope they should follow. – The French and their allies supported the French Pope. – England and the Holy Roman Empire supported the Italian Pope. The two Pope excommunicated each other and there was chaos within the Church. The Council of Constance Church cardinals called a Church council at Pisa and tried electing a new Pope and then there were three! The Holy Roman Emperor finally called the Council of Constance to resolve the Great Schism. – The two Popes were deposed, the third resigned and a new Pope was elected. Attempts at Church Reform All of this corruption and chaos within the Church made some want to reform the Church. In England John Wycliffe made arguments that salvation came from faith and not from the Church itself. – He and his followers translated part of the Bible into English. – His reforms helped to lay the foundations for later change, but were unsuccessful at the time. Jan Hus Wycliffe's teachings may have influenced a Czech reformer by the name of Jan Hus. Hus acted upon the ideas of Church reform. He spoke out against corrupt church practices. He was invited to the Council of Constance where he had been told he would be safe, but was burned has a heretic. The Hundred Years War This war was a conflict between England and France. There were several factors which led to the war. – England had lands which it claimed in France – England and France were in competition for Flanders. – Edward had a claim to the French throne, but the French were outraged at the idea of having an English King. – Both sides welcomed war as a chance to assert their own agendas. The war officially stared when King Philip VI of France took English holdings and Edward III declared war on France. What occurred was a 116-year conflict that changed the two countries.  France vs. England The French and English had different fighting styles. – The French tended to use the crossbow. – The English used the longbow. At the battle of Crecy, the English had a sound victory over the French using their bowmen. After the battle King Henry V of England executed the French prisoners. At Agincourt, the English won another victory when the French cavalry became bogged down in the mud of the battlefield. Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) 1412-1431 Charles was the uncrowned king of France, the douphin. Joan of Arc was a young French peasant girl who claimed that she heard voices that told her it was her duty to save France. In 1429 she made it to Charles’ court and convinced him to let her lead his army in battle. Orleans At the battle of Orleans, Joan was able to lead the French troops to victory. Joan was, however, captured by the English in 1430 and was burned as a heretic. She became a martyr and symbol for the French in the war. Gunpowder The French were eventually able to win the war because of Gunpowder. The French developed cannons and were able to defeat the English. The French achieved victory in 1453. Political Recovery As the power of the Church declined New Monarchs were emerging in Europe who consolidated their power and made their kingdoms strong under their central authority. France The Hundred Years war benefitted France by providing it with a sense of national identity. Later King Louis XI (the spider) strengthened the power of the French Monarchy by instituting the taille, or tax, on the French Monarchs. Through deals and alliances, Louis managed to gain control over the nobles of France. England The Hundred Years War devastated England. – The country lost territory and the nobles lost confidence in the monarchy This led to a conflict called the War of the Roses between the houses of York and and Lancaster. Eventually the house of Lancaster won and Henry Tutor (Henry VII) became the first Tutor King.  Henry abolished all private armies so that the nobles would not be able to rebel against him. Henry set up an effective system of government administration. Spain Ferdinand and Isabella – In Spain King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella eliminated the power of the Nobles. – They took control of the national church. – They tried to make Iberia (Spain and Portugal) Homogeneous. Reconquista: Ferdinand and Isabella forced all non-Catholics to leave Spain or convert to Christianity. Central and Eastern Europe The Holy Roman Empire was different from France, England, and Spain in that it never consolidated power under a strong king. In 1438 The Hapsburg dynasty gained power over the office of Holy Roman Emperor. In Eastern Europe different religious groups came into conflict – Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians and Muslims began to fight each other. Russia In Russia the Mongols were ruling over the Russian Nobles. The Prince of Moscow Ivan III (Ivan the Great) threw off Mongol rule and established his own kingdom. The Kremlin Ivan the Great built the Kremlin, or fortress as a show of his strength. Czars Ivan saw himself as heir to the Byzantine Empire, he eliminated the power of the Boyers (Nobles) and centralized authority. The title Czar (Tsar) came from the Roman Caesar, as the emperor viewed himself the heir to Rome through the Byzantine Empire. Ivan married a Byzantine princess, thus increasing Byzantine influence in the new Empire. SALAMAT ASIN DIOS MABALOS!