Download Late Middle Ages

The Late Medieval Period
European monarchies (kings) consolidated power and began nation-states in the late
medieval period. During this time period, power began shifting from the Church to the
Monarchs. The expansion of government in these areas allowed the monarchs to establish
and expand their territories.
England:
- In 886 A.D., Alfred the Great united the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
in England.
- William the Conqueror, from France, leader of the Norman
Conquest in 1066, united most of England. This blended the
customs of France and the Anglo-Saxons.
- Common law had its beginnings during the reign of Henry II.
Customs and laws in England were applied and enforced all over
England.
- King John signed the Magna Carta, limiting the King’s power. In
1215, a group of nobles forced King John of England to sign the
Magna Carta (Great Charter), which limited royal power. The king
was bound by law; the king could not collect taxes without consent
of the Great Council; and all freemen had the right to trial by jury.
- The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) between England and France helped define England
as a nation. In 1455, with England being weak because of The Hundred Years’ war, a thirty
year civil war broke out over the royal throne in England. The nation was ruled by the house
of Lancaster, which bore the emblem of a red rose. The Duke of York, whose family bore the
emblem of a white rose, saw the king's weakened state as an opportunity to seize power and
establish himself as king. In the end, the Duke of York was successful.
- Evolution of Parliament; Parliament evolved out of the Great Council. Parliament was the
law-making body that would eventually unify England.
France:
- In 911 A.D., the French King signed a treaty with the
Danes, a group of Viking raiders, who promised loyalty to the
French King in return for land in northwest France known as
Normandy.
- In 987, Hugh Capet established the French throne in Paris,
and his dynasty gradually expanded their control over most of
France.
- The Hundred Years’ War between England and France helped define
France as a nation. When England tried to conquer and control France,
war broke out. England won several early victories. Eventually,
France would unify and defeat England. This gave the French pride in
their country.
- Joan of Arc (right) was a unifying factor. During the 100 Years War,
Joan of Arc led armies against England. She told Charles the VII that
she was sent by God to save France. Eventually, she was captured and
killed, but it would unify France, leading to victory.
Spain:
- Ferdinand and Isabella (pictured right) unified the country
and expelled Jews and Moors. Moors are a culture of people
from the marriage of Arabs with Berbers in North Africa.
Before the Crusades, the Reconquista (re-conquest) of lands in
Spain that the Muslims had taken in the 700’s A.D.
- Spanish Empire in the Western Hemisphere expanded under
Charles V.
Russia:
- Since the 1200’s, the Mongols conquered and controlled the
Eastern Slavs. They demanded allegiance and military service, as
well as isolated the Slavs from Europe.
- From 1462 to 1505, Ivan The Great (pictured right) threw off the
rule of the Mongols, centralized power in Moscow, and the Russian
nation.
- Power was centralized in the hands of the tsar/czar. A tsar is an
emperor. It comes from the Roman word Caesar.
- The Orthodox Church influenced the unification.
The Mongols and Ottoman Turks
In the 1100’s, A.D., Mongols became the dominant
nomadic group in Central Asia. Originally led by
Genghis Khan, they came from Mongolia and created
the largest land empire in history. The empire stretched
from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe.
Mongol Armies:
- Invaded Russia (including Kiev), China and Muslim
(including Baghdad) states in Southwest
Asia, destroying cities and countryside.
- They created the largest land empire in
history.
- The invasions were fierce, but once the
conquests were complete, the Mongols did
not interfere. They did, however, require
the conquered lands to pay tributes.
- Trade increased because of the control
and protection of Mongolian armies.
The Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were Muslim nomadic invaders from Central Asia. In the 1200’s A.D.,
they settled in Asia Minor; present day Turkey. Ottoman Turks conquered the Byzantine
Empire.
The Fall of Constantinople:
- Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire. By doing
this, they were able to control trade
between Europe and Asia.
- It became the capital of the
Ottoman Empire. It was then dubbed
Istanbul. "Istanbul" came from the
Greek phrase "eis ten polin," which
meant "in the city."
The Crusades
Around the year 1000, Europeans fought a series of wars against
Muslims for control of the Holy Land, which included Jerusalem
and other places in Palestine that Christians considered sacred.
The wars were called the Crusades.
The Crusades were carried out the Christian political and
religious leaders to take control of the Holy Land from the
Muslims. There were numerous crusades that extended into the
1200’s. The word “Crusades” comes from the Latin word crux
(the cross).
Key Causes and Events of the Crusades:
- Seljuk Turks take over the Holy Land and most of Asia
Minor, blocking Christians from making pilgrimages there. A
pilgrim is an individual who goes on a religious journey.
- The Byzantine Emperor asks the Pope for help.
- Pope Urban’s speech; he urged Nobles and Christians to join
the Crusade.
- The capture of Jerusalem; Jews and Muslims were killed.
Fighting between Muslims and Christians continue for 200 years.
- Founding of Crusader States; the land that the Christians
conquered were divided up into 4 Crusader States.
- Crusaders lose Jerusalem to Muslims in 1187 under the
leadership of Saladin.
- In 1204, the sack (capture) of Constantinople by western
Crusaders; crusaders were convinced to capture Constantinople
because of economic rivalries.
- The last Christian city (Acre) in the Crusades fell by 1291.
Effects of the Crusades:
- Weakened the Pope and nobles while strengthening the
monarchs (kings).
- Stimulated trade throughout the Mediterranean area and the
Middle East.
- Left a legacy of bitterness among Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
- Weakened the Byzantine Empire. With the destruction of Constantinople, the Ottoman
Turks from Asia were able to capture Constantinople in 1453. Eventually, Constantinople
was renamed Istanbul.
The Black Death and Education in the Middle Ages
In the fourteenth century (1300’s), the Black Death (Bubonic plague)
decimated the population of much of Asia and then the population of much
of Europe.
In 1348, ships from China and/or Southeast Asia carried rats that had been
bitten by disease-carrying fleas. The diseased rats made their way to
Europe, from Asia.
"The first signs of the plague were lumps in the groin or armpits. After this, livid black
spots appeared on the arms and thighs and other parts of the body. Few recovered.
Almost all died within three days, usually without any fever."
Impact of the Black Death (Bubonic plague):
- Decline in population; about 1/3 of population in affected
areas died.
- Scarcity of labor.
- Towns freed from feudal obligations as lords died.
- Decline of church influence.
- Disruption of trade.
Education during the Middle Ages
Education was largely confined to the clergy during
the Middle Ages. The masses were uneducated,
while the nobility was concerned with feudal
obligations. Church scholars preserved ancient
literature in monasteries in the East and West.
Church Scholars:
- Were among the very few who could read and
write.
- Worked in monasteries. In monastery and
cathedral schools, monks and nuns provided basic
to children, trained them for monastery life or a
church position, and provided vocational instruction
for adults.
- Translated Greek and Arabic works into Latin.
Many of the works were placed into illuminated
manuscripts (pictured below). Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written books that
incorporate decorations with ornate and elaborate writing.
- Made new knowledge in philosophy, medicine, and science available in Europe.
- Laid the foundation for the rise of universities in Europe. By the end of the 1200’s,
universities were established in Europe. The earliest were the University of Bologna in Italy
and University of Paris.