The Reshaping of Medieval The Reshaping of Medieval EuropeEurope

Chapter 10Chapter 10

Mrs. Stephanie HollandMrs. Stephanie Holland

Trinity Christian SchoolTrinity Christian School

During the late medieval period, there During the late medieval period, there was a gradual breakdown of the church, was a gradual breakdown of the church, the manor system, and feudalism.the manor system, and feudalism.

Commerce and trade altered the Commerce and trade altered the economy and small towns and cities economy and small towns and cities sprouted up. A middle class formed out sprouted up. A middle class formed out of businessmen.of businessmen.

Kings who amassed large armies were Kings who amassed large armies were able to overpower popes and feudal able to overpower popes and feudal nobility altering the power status quo.nobility altering the power status quo.

Section 1: The Revival of Section 1: The Revival of TradeTrade

Trade routesTrade routes Southern Route – almost entirely on water. Southern Route – almost entirely on water.

Goods from China and India sailed across the Goods from China and India sailed across the Arabian Seat up the Read Sea and then taken Arabian Seat up the Read Sea and then taken by land to the Nile and then to the by land to the Nile and then to the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.

Central Route – Combined land and sea. Ships Central Route – Combined land and sea. Ships from the Far East carried goodds to the Persian from the Far East carried goodds to the Persian Gulf and caravans took them to Baghdad or Gulf and caravans took them to Baghdad or Damascus where they were taken to port cities Damascus where they were taken to port cities along the Mediterranean and Black Seasalong the Mediterranean and Black Seas

Northern Route – Silk Road – Overland across Northern Route – Silk Road – Overland across central Asia. It connected Beijing and central Asia. It connected Beijing and Caonstantinople.Caonstantinople.

Markets became primary trade centersMarkets became primary trade centers Once a week Once a week Church yards or town squaresChurch yards or town squares Craftsmen and surplus foodCraftsmen and surplus food Encouraged serfs to produce more so that Encouraged serfs to produce more so that

there was more surplus and they could there was more surplus and they could profit and maybe buy their freedomprofit and maybe buy their freedom..

Trade Fairs attracted merchants from all Trade Fairs attracted merchants from all over Europe.over Europe. Annually and could last several days or weeksAnnually and could last several days or weeks Most famous were in Champagne, northern Most famous were in Champagne, northern

FranceFrance Foreign traders brought silks, rugs, gems, Foreign traders brought silks, rugs, gems,

spices, linen, cotton, and dyes – luxury items. spices, linen, cotton, and dyes – luxury items. They traded for fish, timber, wool and grain.They traded for fish, timber, wool and grain.

Italy controlled Mediterranean TradeItaly controlled Mediterranean Trade Flanders ( Belgium, France and Flanders ( Belgium, France and

Holland ) – the Flemish controlled the Holland ) – the Flemish controlled the market in northern Europemarket in northern Europe

Usury – The practice of charging interest for Usury – The practice of charging interest for the use of lent money.the use of lent money.

Just price – a price that included the cost of Just price – a price that included the cost of materials, a fair return for labor and a materials, a fair return for labor and a reasonable profit. According to the church, reasonable profit. According to the church, it was wrong to sell an item for more than it was wrong to sell an item for more than it was worth or not to pay a fair price. If it was worth or not to pay a fair price. If any man received a profit greater than his any man received a profit greater than his needs, he was expected to give it to needs, he was expected to give it to charity.charity.

Moneychangers – men experienced in Moneychangers – men experienced in judging the approximate value of coins, judging the approximate value of coins, recognizing counterfeit currency and recognizing counterfeit currency and determining one currency’s value in determining one currency’s value in relation to another. They charged a fee to relation to another. They charged a fee to exchange one currency for another. exchange one currency for another.

Usury was considered a sin. The church Usury was considered a sin. The church believed that anyone who borrowed believed that anyone who borrowed money was in great need. To profit on a money was in great need. To profit on a loan made to someone in need was wrong. loan made to someone in need was wrong. Such a loan should be an act of kindness Such a loan should be an act of kindness and not a business investment.\and not a business investment.\

The revival would change this view. The revival would change this view. Business men would begin getting loans to Business men would begin getting loans to as a business investment, therefore it was as a business investment, therefore it was acceptable to make a profit on these loans acceptable to make a profit on these loans because you should be rewarded for because you should be rewarded for taking a risk when there was an equal taking a risk when there was an equal possibility of loss. possibility of loss.

During early medieval times, the church During early medieval times, the church held the following views on economic held the following views on economic activity:activity:

Restraints should be in place in order to Restraints should be in place in order to prevent greed and the hoarding of prevent greed and the hoarding of wealthwealth

Man was expected to work for the good Man was expected to work for the good of societyof society

Any profit beyond the needs of the Any profit beyond the needs of the seller should go to charity.seller should go to charity.

The revival of trade and changes in The revival of trade and changes in business methods brought business methods brought opportunity and economic incentive opportunity and economic incentive to the population. Economic to the population. Economic principles, rather than the view of principles, rather than the view of the church began to guide business.the church began to guide business.

Dignity of laborDignity of labor

Legitimacy of profitLegitimacy of profit

Freedom of exchangeFreedom of exchange

Individual NOT GROUP responsibility Individual NOT GROUP responsibility for economic matters.for economic matters.

Section II: Growth of TownsSection II: Growth of Towns Renewed trade stimulated the growth Renewed trade stimulated the growth

of towns. They provided the needed of towns. They provided the needed markets for the increase in agricultural markets for the increase in agricultural products brought on by improved products brought on by improved farming methods. The increased food farming methods. The increased food supply boosted the population.supply boosted the population.

The increased food supply also allowed The increased food supply also allowed for an increase in surplus to sell, thus for an increase in surplus to sell, thus allowing craftsmen and tradesmen allowing craftsmen and tradesmen could devote more time to their craft could devote more time to their craft and business than to growing crops. and business than to growing crops.

Some towns renewed within the old Some towns renewed within the old walls of Roman cities, but others walls of Roman cities, but others grew around locations important to grew around locations important to trade:trade:

Cross roads, bridges, fords, river mouths, Cross roads, bridges, fords, river mouths, harbors, castles, churches and harbors, castles, churches and monasteries. . monasteries. .

Merchants and craftsmen did not quite Merchants and craftsmen did not quite fit into the feudal system, yet they were fit into the feudal system, yet they were still considered to be subject to some still considered to be subject to some feudal lord.feudal lord.

Townsmen with similar interests Townsmen with similar interests banded together to gain freedom from banded together to gain freedom from feudal interference and secure self feudal interference and secure self government. government.

This freedom could be bought, or This freedom could be bought, or was sometimes given freely by a lord. was sometimes given freely by a lord. In this instance-towns revolted. In this instance-towns revolted.

A charter is a legal document that A charter is a legal document that contained the privileges granted a contained the privileges granted a town by its lord.town by its lord.

The more favorable the charter, the The more favorable the charter, the greater the number of people who greater the number of people who desired to settle in the town.desired to settle in the town.

Most townsmen had certain freedomsMost townsmen had certain freedoms Free Status – Anyone who lived in a town Free Status – Anyone who lived in a town

for 1 year and a day was considered for 1 year and a day was considered free, regardless of his previous statusfree, regardless of his previous status

Exemption from Manorial Obligations – Exemption from Manorial Obligations – Townsmen were exempt from labor Townsmen were exempt from labor obligations, they paid a cash payment obligations, they paid a cash payment instead.instead.

Town Justice – Townsmen were tried in Town Justice – Townsmen were tried in the town court and judged according to the town court and judged according to town customstown customs

Commercial privileges – Free from feudal Commercial privileges – Free from feudal interference to buy and sell freely in the interference to buy and sell freely in the town markettown market

Merchants and craftsmen formed guilds to regulate the business activity of a given town Also prided aid to members in need Established schools and cared for the

poor, widows and orphans Helped town obtain favorable charters

and played an important role in town government

Two types – merchant and craft

Merchant guilds – guarded trade interests, creating a monopoly of a towns trade. Restricted outsiders from doing business

without paying a heavy fee. Fixed prices

Later separated into specialized craft guilds (banks/butchers/bakers….)

Craftsmen guilds – regulated work hours, wages earned, and number of workers hired. Quality of the crafts was guaranteed. Those disobeying regulations were fined. Three classes of members: apprentice,

journeyman, master

Towns often formed associations to promote mutual commercial interests. The most famous of these was the Hanseatic League made up of over seventy German cities in North western Europe.

This league also became a political force negotiating treaties, maintaining a navy and waging war against other countries.

This league sought to organize and control trade in the Baltic region.

The growth of small towns created a new social class – the Middle Class.

This class shaped the new medieval society by:

Contributing to the decline of the feudal system

Threatening the position of the noblemen

Weakening he political authority of the noblemen

They desired the stable and uniform government of a national king rather than a feudal lord.

The Black Death Killed ¼ of Europe’s population during

the fourteenth century. Spread throughout Europe from Asia

by rats and fleas from merchant ships Often caused family members to turn

from each other – not assisting or helping from fear of death. Instead of being humbled by the disease,

many became bolder in their sin. “Eat, drink and be merry; for tomorrow we die.”

Most medieval towns were small and enclosed in protective walls. Houses were crowded together on narrow streets. Streets were dark, crooked and dirty. Townspeople often threw their garbage into open gutters lining the streets. Poor sanitation caused disease and epidemics to spread rapidly.

The smell of some towns could be detected for miles.

The primary centers of education in the middle ages were cathedrals and monasteries. It was divided into two groups of study

Trivium – grammar, rhetoric, and logic Quadrivium – arithmetic, geometry,

astronomy and music.

Early science was filled with magic and superstition.

Universities began to replace monasteries and cathedral schools. Students chose schools according to the teachers at the schools and would travel all over Europe to find the best instructor.

There was a renewed interest in theology and philosophy. This new movement was called Scholasticism. This movement relied on faith and

reason as their two sources of knowledge. They hoped to defend the Christian faith by using reason. They did not seek to discover new knowledge, but to support that which already existed.

Abelard – Sic et Non (yes and no) Aquinas – Summa Theologica Anselm – earliest scholastic thinker;

used logical arguments to prove God’s existence.

Bacon – English Scientist/advocated observation and experimentation

Dante – wrote about in imaginary journey through hell, purgatory and paradise.

Chaucer – wrote about pilgrims traveling to Becket’s shrine

The language for teaching was usually Latin. During the Middle Ages, they began writing in the common spoken or vernacular language. Vernacular literature first developed in the form of long narrative poems. (Beowulf)

Troubadours (wondering minstrels) popularized the vernacular in lyric poetry. They travelled singing songs of love and adventure.

Francis of Assissi and Bernard of Clairvaux are credited with writing medieval hymns.

Art of the Middle Ages was primarily religious. Since many were illiterate, they used

visual arts to tell stories. They used symbols to help the observer identify the figures.

Architecture: Romanesque – 1050 to 1150 – rectangular,

thick walls, stone vaults and ceilings, rounded arches, heavy columns and small doors and windows – dark and gloomy.

Gothic – beginning around thirteenth century – flying buttresses, high ceilings, thinner walls, larger windows and doors – light and delicate.

Nation states emerged as people became more aware of shared traditions and culture.

Fourteenth and fifteenth centuries – Hundred Years’ War between England and France.

The longbow greatly aided the English. They had greater range and accuracy than the crossbow. (Demonstrated at Agincourt, Pointers and Crecy)

Joan of Arc inspired a sense of nationalism which motivated the French to fight in the Hundred Years’ War.

One French consequence of the war was the taille – a royal land tax used to raise money for the army.

After fighting with the French, the English entered into a series of conflicts over the throne called the Wars of the Roses. The Lancaster’s won and Henry Tudor became Henry VII, King of England.

In the eleventh century, a small group of non-Muslim states in the north of the Iberian Peninsula began a combined effort to drive the Muslims out and reclaim the peninsula. This was called the Reconquista.

When Ferdinand and Isabella married, this combined Aragon and Castile to create Spain.

The Golden Bull was a written constitution that established the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire. It was the German equivalent of the English Parliament. This effectively kept the real power in

Germany in the hands of the nobility. The electors passes the imperial crown from one family to another in order to prevent one family from becoming too strong.

The German Hapsburg family build a strong base of power and took control of Austria and all of her possessions.

The fall of the Papacy began under Boniface VIII. He had attempted to control Europe much as

his predecessors. Times were changing and the kings, as well as the people, sought to end such rule.

Philip IV levied a tax on the clergy which Boniface renounced, issuing Unam Sanctum asserting that all were subject to the Roman pontiff. (Philip also had a bishop arrested and tried for criminal offenses.)

Philip was supported by the French people. He accused Boniface of heresy and sought to try him. He could not be arrested, but was humiliated. He died one month later.

Babylonian Captivity – Avignon Exile – during this time, the popes were heavily influenced by the French kings and the papacy continued to decline.

The Great Schism – Time period in which more that one pope claimed supremacy, dividing the allegiances of Europe

Council of Constance – Large gathering of church leaders deposed all papal claims except for Martin V. They healed the schism and restored the papacy to Rome. However, they were unable to initiate any other meaningful reforms.