Merriman Teacher Notes 3 Summer 2023 PDF

# The Rise of Monarchs and the Decline of Feudalism - King's ability to tax all subjects also undermined feudalism & independence of nobles. - Development of money economy (using coins) instead of bartery - King (minted coins) pulled power to steady of bartery (barterins) - King imposed obligations...

# The Rise of Monarchs and the Decline of Feudalism - King's ability to tax all subjects also undermined feudalism & independence of nobles. - Development of money economy (using coins) instead of bartery - King (minted coins) pulled power to steady of bartery (barterins) - King imposed obligations of loyalty & military service on vassals - Vassals agreed to fight for lord a certain # of days/year - Vassals would ransom lord if land captured - Vassals were judges in disputes between vassals - Vassals could join together & oppose a lord or king who failed to meet obligations - King could punish vassal who neglected obligation to king or lord - Kings, lords, vassals bound to one another in specific ceremonies of mutual obligation - a blessed by clergy. - As kings increased power in the 1300s, feudalism lost power and power of nobles to act as judges. - The ability of peasants to negotiate better terms with lords was influenced by the following events: - The Black Death helped end feudalism with the death of 1/3 of the population. - It was easier for monarchs to consolidate power. - Wages increased. - Peasants were able to negotiate better terms. - When lords tried to reimpose feudal obligations peasant revolts: - 1323-1328: Flanders - 1358: Jacquerie - 1381: Peasants Revolt aka Wat Tyler's Rebellion - Rulers also gained advantages with new taxes, for example hearth tax. ## A Rising Population - 1000-1300: European population doubled from 40 million to ~75 million - 1347: Black Death & Constantinople - The next 3 years, the Black Death spread across Europe. - The bubonic plague was brought by fleas on rats. - Some villages were abandoned. - Towns closed walls/gates to prevent travelers. - Christian travelers were blamed + massacred. ## The Impact of the Black Death - Births and deaths balanced for the next century (no population growth). - The population did not return to 1300 levels until 1550. - Other diseases killed off many Europeans as well: - Malaria - Influenza - Typhoid - Typhus - Smallpox - Families also had to deal with famine due to natural disasters that affected harvests. - Life expectancy (if lived past childhood) for peasants was about 40 years. - Women lived longer than men. - 1/5 of all babies died before their first birthday. - 7 out of 100 children were born, less than 2 lived to 15 years old. - In towns, death rates, and births balanced for the next century. - Abandonment of babies by poor families or unmarried women was relatively common. - English men married at 26-29 and English women married at 24-26. - A marriage partner was more economic than romantic. - It was often arranged by parents. - A dowry was an important consideration among nobles. - If someone had a skill or trade, they were more attractive in lower classes. - Wives were legally subservient to husbands and often worked together in a four-household system.