Disasters of the Fourteenth Century

Section 2.5

Bring Out Your Dead

The Black Death

Causes According to Medieval People• sinister

alignment of the planets

• foul air created by recent earthquakes

• A Jewish conspiracy

• God’s punishment

Why did it spread so rapidlyWhy did it spread so rapidly• Lack of Lack of

sanitation/ sanitation/ hygiene hygiene

• Overcrowded Overcrowded citiescities

• Malnourished Malnourished populationpopulation

• New trade New trade routesroutes

Characteristics

Characteristics• Flu-like symptoms at

first• Egg-sized lumps on

neck& armpit• Hemorrhaging under the

skin(caused purple blotches)

• Infection of lungs allowed virus to spread through cough or sneeze

• Victims died in 1 to 6 days

• A disease of revulsion rather than sympathy

Results of the Black Death• 33% population wiped out• Food production

decreased• Breakdown of feudal

system– Serfs, lords died– Labor shortage– wages rose

• Catholic Church lost power

• Anti-Semitism arose

Ring Around

the RosieA Pocket

Full of PosiesAshes, AshesWe All

Fall Down

Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) Causes

Edward III (Philip the Fair’s grandson) claimed French crown

Had backing from French barons, Flemish wool merchants

Characteristics• Took place in France & Low

Countries• Glorified chivalry

• Chivalry disregarded at Crecy (1346)

• England controlled large parts of France by 1419

• Joan of Arc• Lifted siege at Orleans (1429)• Turning point of war

Results• Joan of Arc’s execution=patriotism• Parliamentary gov grew

– Commons (knights and burgesses) got right to approve tax increases

• French noble class diminished• Revolts

– Jacqueries (nickname for peasant) in 1358

• Lords tried to freeze wages• Peasants had rising

expectations– Wat Tyler’s rebellion (1381) Peasant ultimately better off

Babylonian Captivity (1309-1377)• Papacy a tool of French

• Great Schism (1378-1417)

– England/Germany recognize Urban VI

– France recognize Clement VII

• Papal prestige sank even lower

– How do I save my soul?

• People begin to question the Church

– John Wycliff and the Lollards

• Proposed that common man read Bible (In English!)

– Jan Huss

• Utilized Wycliff’s ideas for Bohemia

Conciliar Movement• Council of Constance (1414)

– Ends schism– Discourage heresy (Huss

executed) – Issue reforms– Pope Martin V made pope

• Others step aside• Martin dissolves Council

– Refuses reform– Church ruled by Pope not

council

Results of the Disasters• Mass Neurosis

• Church loses power

• Population decline

• Revolts break out

– Favorable position for peasants

• Fixed rents

• Property owning class emerges

• Renaissance begins!!!