Download The Decline of Medieval Europe

The Decline of Medieval
Europe
Starting in the 14th century, European society
began to decline due to the following:
1. Famines between 1314 & 1317
2. The Hundred Years War
3. The Black Death
Famine
• The Population
increased quickly
because of improved
agricultural techniques.
• Later poor harvests
(because of cooler,
wetter weather) caused
starvation.
The Hundred Years War (1338-1453)
• A series of conflicts
between France and
England resulting from
hostilities dating back to the
Norman Conquest (William
the Conqueror).
• Constant battle inhibited
development.
The Black Death (1347-1350)
• The Bubonic plague killed ¼ of Europe’s population.
• It was spread by rats carrying fleas infected with the
plague.
Effects:
1. Flourishing commerce & town growth collapsed
2. Fewer farmers/labourers = less food = shortages
= less people = fewer farmers/ labourers, etc. etc
The Renaissance
• A Great revival of classical (Greek & Roman)
art, literature, and learning in Europe.
• Renaissance means rebirth or revival.
Where?
• It Began in the Italian city-states.
• The city of Florence, which was under the
control of a powerful banking/trading family
(the Medici family) was at its heart.
• It spread to the rest of Europe through the
printing press. This allowed books and writing
to reach a mass audience quickly and cheaply.
Gutenberg
• He perfected the press
in 1453.
• The level of importance
of the printing press is
rivaled by few other
inventions
Who?
• Artists, writers, and scholars (at first in Italy)
who admired classical works, and strove to
recreate the work of their ancestors.
• Many became very well known (i.e. Da Vinci,
Michelangelo).
• Great patrons (the Medici family, the Roman
Catholics Church, governments, etc.)
commissioned their work.
Focus/Philosophy
• Humanism: focus on human concerns.
• Emphasis is placed on human ability.
• Scientific investigation focused on observation
of the natural world.
• Sought to improve humanity and society
through enlightened education and action.
• Renaissance man: a term to describe a person
well educated who excels in a wide variety of
subjects or fields.
The Reformation
• A religious movement in Europe that began
with Roman Catholic reforms and ended with
the establishment of Protestant churches.
Where?
• It began in Germany and spread throughout
Europe.
Causes:
1. The Roman Catholic church was weakened by the
Great Schism of the 14th century.
2. The sale of church positions by the pope to nobles
without religious training.
3. The sale of Indulgences (pardons that could be
bought to reduce time punished for sin.)
4. Resentment of expensive church construction, and
lavish spending.
5. Differences in belief about how the church should
be run.
The leader – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
• He was a German monk.
• He was outraged by the
sale of church
indulgences and other
matters of church
practice.
• He nailed the Ninety-Five
Theses on the door of a
church in protest.
• The statements were printed and circulated all
over Germany.
• Luther was excommunicated and convicted of
heresy by the pope.
• He was saved by a German prince.
• His work caused a split in Germany between
Lutherans and Roman Catholics.