Download Europe*s Transition from the Middle Ages to the

Europe’s Transition from the
Middle Ages to the
Renaissance
Europe Today
What were the Middle, or Dark Ages?
-A period of European history between
the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D.
and the Renaissance which began in the 1400s.
Periodization
Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000
High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250
Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500
Life in the Early Middle Ages
(500 – 1000)
The Roman Empire
• Rome was the most powerful empire the world
had ever seen.
• The Roman Empire no longer ruled, instead
Germanic kingdoms controlled the land.
• The Germanic people did not develop large
governments, did not focus on education, and
forgot about trade.
• This forced many people to move to the country
and make their living by farming.
Roman Empire at its height 117 C.E.
Invaders!
• The Vikings from Europe and
Genghis Khan from Asia
attacked Rome and led to its
downfall.
The Fall of Rome –
The Beginning of the Middle Ages
• The strong empires of Rome and Greece that
protected trade routes and encouraged science
and personal liberties were fading away.
• The Roman empire not only had to fight for
control of its borders but also invaders from
Europe and Asia.
• Although the fall of the Roman Empire did not
happen overnight, many consider it the
beginning of the Middle Ages or Dark Ages.
Manoralism (econ. system)
• For safety and for defense, people in the
Middle Ages formed small communities
around a central lord or master.
• Most people lived on a manor, which
consisted of the castle, the church, the
village, and the surrounding farm land.
• These manors were isolated, with occasional
visits from peddlers, pilgrims on their way to
the Crusades, or soldiers from other manors.
Feudalism (political system)
• The Kings had lots of land; he gave land to lords
in exchange for protection and money.
• Lords gave their land to knights in exchange for
protection and money.
• Knights let serfs work the land and he would
protect them.
• Serfs got food and shelter.
• Each person had rights and responsibilities
Life in the Middle Ages
Manoralism =
Economic System
Feudalism =
Political System
King
Lords
(Vassals)
Knights
(Vassals)
Peasants
(Serfs)
A Medieval Castle in
Carcassonne, France
The Medieval Manor
Life on the Medieval Manor
Serfs at work
Chivalry: A Code of Honor and Behavior
The Road to Knighthood
KNIGHT
SQUIRE
PAGE
Knighthood and Chivalry
• Knights were professional fighters.
• They were expected to live by a code of honor
known as chivalry:
− Strong religious faith
− Defend the Catholic Church
− Protect women and the weak
− Fight against injustice
− Show courage in every battle
Orders of Chivalry
• Some knights were very devoted to the Church.
• They formed religious organizations or orders.
The best-known order was the Knights of
Templar.
• Their main job was to fight the enemies of the
Church, including the Muslims.
Life in the High Middle Ages
(1000 - 1250)
Growth of Towns
• Town life began to return to Europe because the
strong lords gave the people safety.
• Towns were dirty, busy and full of people.
• Nobles still had a lot of control, but the Church
and the kings were also getting more power.
Medieval Guilds
Guild
Hall
Guilds (groups of people who do the same job) were
formed. They controlled what was made and how much
was made.
Controlled membership
apprentice  journeyman  master craftsman
The Role of the Church in the Middle Ages
• Only one Christian church…
The Catholic Church
+
• Church has own laws, land (1/3rd of all
land in Western Europe) , and taxes
(gave the power left from the
collapse of the classical world)
+
• People who disagreed with church
law, or complained about the church were
called heretics and were often burned at
the stake
=
• The Catholic Church is a very
powerful institution!
September from Tres
Riches Heures, early
1400s
The Church and Society
• There were struggles between the Church and
the King because both wanted to control
Europe.
• The Church led education and even developed
universities.
• The graduates from these schools were leaders in
the Church and government.
• Some people were very dedicated to the church
and wanted to separate from society to serve
God. They were called Monks (men) and Nuns
(women).
A Medieval Monastery: The Scriptorium
A Medieval Monk’s Day
Medieval Universities
Oxford University
Crusades
• The Crusades were a
series of battles
between Christians and
Muslims in the Middle
East.
• Christian knights
wanted to take the
Holy Land and give it
back to Christians
Why was Constantinople so important
geographically?
Crusades
• Thousands of knights
and “barbarian” soldiers
united under Christianity
attacked Muslims and
Jews in Turkey and
Jerusalem to get the land
for Christians.
When the Crusades arrived in Northern Turkey, the
killing began. The town of Lycea was captured and
looted. Reports told of babies cut to pieces. Old people
faced every kind of torture. Sadly, most of the people of
Lycea were actually Christians…
• The 1st and 2nd Crusades were fought for land.
• During the 3rd Crusade, the Muslim leader
Saladin and the Crusade leader Richard the LionHearted agreed to a truce. Jerusalem would be
controlled by Muslims, but Christians on
pilgrimages (journey to a holy place) would be
allowed to visit holy places in the city.
• The 4th Crusade broke the truce when Crusaders
agreed to attack the Byzantine empire to pay for
their transportation to the Middle East.
Impact of the Crusades
• Led to the
persecution of Jews
and Muslims
• Led to economic
development
through trade
• Kings and popes,
gained power
The Problems of the Late Middle Ages
(1250 – Approx. 1500)
The Black Death
Historians think that the plague arrived in
England during the summer of 1348.
The plague spread quickly during the winter of 13481349 to the north of England. It killed nearly 1/3
of England’s people.
At the end of 1350 nearly two and a half million
people were dead!
What were the symptoms of the plague?
What caused the plague?
The question that you are probably thinking is this;
Q: Who or what caused the Black
Death?
A: This is your answer!
The Oriental Rat Flea!
The Disease Cycle
Flea drinks rat blood
that carries the
bacteria.
Bacteria
multiply in
flea’s gut.
Human is infected!
Flea bites human and
regurgitates blood
into human wound.
Flea’s gut clogged
with bacteria.
The Symptoms
It made ugly __________
spots on people’s skin
How many people
died?
2.5 MILLION dead !!!
The Black Death
Why couldn’t people stop the spread of the Black Death?
• People didn’t know what caused the plague; they
blamed the stars, God’s anger, and the Jews
The Black Death
How did life in Europe change?
• Killed one third of the people
• Forced farmers to plant a variety of crops
• Peasants revolted and demanded more freedom
• Working class moved to cities to earn better pay
• Reduced the power of the feudal lords because so many people moved to the
cities
The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)
The Hundred Years War
How did the war contribute to the end of feudalism in
France?
• Series of wars fought between England and France
between 1337 and 1453.
• William of Normandy (France) claimed to be true king
of England and captured England in 1066 during the
Norman invasion.
• Became known as William the Conqueror and joined
England and France.
• People argued over who was the true leader of the area.
William of Normandy
The Hundred Years War
Who was Joan of Arc?
• Young French peasant woman who was
inspired by God to save France
• Convinced Charles VII to let her lead an
army against the English in 1429
• Helped push the English armies out of
central France in 1453 to end the war
• Was captured by the Burgundians, accused of
heresy, and burned at the stake in 1431
The Hundred Years War
How did fighting change?
• Longbows (Could pierce an inch of
wood or the armor of a knight from 200
yards away!)
• Cannons could be used to make holes in
castles
• Monarchs used armies made from
common people
1. Black Death killed
one third of
Europe's people
Peasants revolted and
demanded more freedom
3. Hundred Years War allowed
monarchs to build huge armies and
reduce power of lords
4. People moved to cities to earn better
wages
5. Status began to be determined by wealth
and ability, not birthright
2.
Evolution of England’s Political System
Magna Carta, 1215
 King John I forced to sign the
Magna Carta in 1215 to get
funding for wars.
 “Great Charter” stated:
• monarchs were not above the
law
• People were protected by the
law and trial by jury
• kings could not tax without
approval
The Beginnings of the British
Parliament
In 1264, English nobles removed King Henry III and
replaced him with a group of representatives – later
called Parliament.
By 1400, two groups or houses developed:
o House of Lords  nobles & clergy
o House of Commons  knights and burgesses
The Renaissance
• Under Feudalism many small kingdoms were found in
Europe.
• England and France developed as nations and grew
stronger.
• As they faced challenges like the plague and war cities
began to develop again.
• These cities began to grow and trade which brought them
new things and new ideas.
• Soon these ideas led people to develop new ways of
thinking and they began questioning their old beliefs.
• This was the beginning of the Renaissance!