Life in the Late Life in the Late Middle AgesMiddle Ages

Height of Medieval Height of Medieval CivilizationCivilization By the beginning of the 14By the beginning of the 14thth century, century,

European society had reached stability European society had reached stability and prosperity.and prosperity.

The economy (while still largely based on The economy (while still largely based on farming- manorialism) was growing, farming- manorialism) was growing, population ballooned, weather and population ballooned, weather and harvests were good, political (feudalism) harvests were good, political (feudalism) and religious life (Catholicism) were and religious life (Catholicism) were stable.stable.

This drastically changed in the middle This drastically changed in the middle 1414thth century. century.

The Black DeathThe Black Death

Black DeathBlack Death (1347): (1347): loss of 1/3 of European population loss of 1/3 of European population

(mostly in cities)(mostly in cities) Causes: bubonic plague carried by fleas Causes: bubonic plague carried by fleas

on Asian black rats; poor sanitation, on Asian black rats; poor sanitation, overcrowded homes, poor health, poor overcrowded homes, poor health, poor hygiene, poor housing, change in climate hygiene, poor housing, change in climate conditions (little ice age)conditions (little ice age)

The Black DeathThe Black Death Results: Severe impact on European Results: Severe impact on European

economy; in some areas workers enjoyed economy; in some areas workers enjoyed higher wages;higher wages;

Best of clergy died (staying behind to help Best of clergy died (staying behind to help the sick); Jews blamed; serfdom ended in the sick); Jews blamed; serfdom ended in many areas; first enclosure of fields in many areas; first enclosure of fields in BritainBritain

Population did not reach pre-plague level Population did not reach pre-plague level until the mid-16th century.until the mid-16th century.

Crisis in the Catholic Crisis in the Catholic ChurchChurch

Early Criticisms of the churchEarly Criticisms of the church Marsiglio de Padua: Marsiglio de Padua: Defender of PeaceDefender of Peace – –

Church should be subordinate to the state Church should be subordinate to the state Church should be governed by a council of laity Church should be governed by a council of laity and priests superior to pope.and priests superior to pope.

John WyclifJohn Wyclif (1320-1384): church should only (1320-1384): church should only follow Scripture; English translation of Bible; follow Scripture; English translation of Bible; his later followers were his later followers were LollardsLollards

John HussJohn Huss (1369-1415): ideas similar to (1369-1415): ideas similar to Wyclif; nationalist party in Czech (Bohemia)Wyclif; nationalist party in Czech (Bohemia)

Hussites: followers of Huss who staged large Hussites: followers of Huss who staged large rebellions in 14th century.rebellions in 14th century.

Crisis in the Catholic Crisis in the Catholic ChurchChurch

Babylonian CaptivityBabylonian Captivity (1305-1378): 7 (1305-1378): 7 successive popes resided at Avignon, successive popes resided at Avignon, France. Damaged papal prestige (esp. in France. Damaged papal prestige (esp. in England & Germany); Rome’s economy England & Germany); Rome’s economy damageddamaged

Great SchismGreat Schism (c. 1378-1417): Further (c. 1378-1417): Further conflict led to election of two popes—one conflict led to election of two popes—one in Rome, one in France; further hurt in Rome, one in France; further hurt prestige of church.prestige of church.

Crisis in the Catholic Crisis in the Catholic ChurchChurch

Conciliar MovementConciliar Movement (1409- (1409-1418): Council of Pisa and 1418): Council of Pisa and Council of Constance, ended Council of Constance, ended schism; failed as movement to schism; failed as movement to put power in a church council; put power in a church council; pope’s power still supremepope’s power still supreme

Hundred Years’ War Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) (1337-1453) Cause—English lays claim to large Cause—English lays claim to large

areas of French land.areas of French land. Three phasesThree phases:: Early English Victories: Crecy (1346) Early English Victories: Crecy (1346)

and Poitiers (1356)and Poitiers (1356) French reclaim territory and stalemateFrench reclaim territory and stalemate English victories: Agincourt (1415), English victories: Agincourt (1415),

French regain lands French regain lands

Hundred Years’ War Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) (1337-1453)

Joan of ArcJoan of Arc: led French army to : led French army to victory at Orleans during crucial victory at Orleans during crucial stage of the warstage of the war

Results: France kicks England Results: France kicks England out; creation of modern nation out; creation of modern nation states begin (“New states begin (“New Monarchs”). Innovations in Monarchs”). Innovations in war technology: longbow, war technology: longbow, cannon, infantry. Decimation cannon, infantry. Decimation of landed nobles.of landed nobles.

Peasant RevoltsPeasant Revolts Causes: taxation during Hundred Causes: taxation during Hundred

Years’ War, desire for higher wages Years’ War, desire for higher wages after Black Death, hostility toward after Black Death, hostility toward aristocracy, and higher expectations aristocracy, and higher expectations among peasantry.among peasantry.

English Peasant Revolt (1381)English Peasant Revolt (1381): : ~~JacquerieJacquerie in France (late 14th-early in France (late 14th-early

15th c.)15th c.) Results: revolts crushed; end of Results: revolts crushed; end of

serfdom in England c. 1550serfdom in England c. 1550

Life in Later Middle Ages Life in Later Middle Ages MarriageMarriage: avg. age for men = mid-20s; : avg. age for men = mid-20s;

women = 16-18 divorce was unheard of, women = 16-18 divorce was unheard of, economic reasons most important for economic reasons most important for marriage (love not until 18th-19th marriage (love not until 18th-19th centuries)centuries)

Work:Work: agricultural cycles and church agricultural cycles and church ritual closely linked, small % of men ritual closely linked, small % of men were artisans in towns; protected by were artisans in towns; protected by guilds. Serfdom reduced in many areas guilds. Serfdom reduced in many areas

Life in Later Middle Ages Life in Later Middle Ages RecreationRecreation: aristocracy – jousting : aristocracy – jousting

tournaments; common people—archery, tournaments; common people—archery, wrestling, bull-baiting, bear-baiting; wrestling, bull-baiting, bear-baiting; alcoholism rampantalcoholism rampant

Medieval philosophyMedieval philosophy: scholasticism: scholasticism ( (St. St. Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas))

Attempted to reconcile faith and reason by Attempted to reconcile faith and reason by using logic to support Christian doctrineusing logic to support Christian doctrine

Worked to reconcile Aristotle’s ideas with Worked to reconcile Aristotle’s ideas with Christianity.Christianity.

Results of the Great 14Results of the Great 14thth Century CrisisCentury Crisis

Feudalism in decline due to the Feudalism in decline due to the decimation of the nobility in the 100 yrs decimation of the nobility in the 100 yrs war.war.

Manorialism breaking down due to Manorialism breaking down due to increased peasant rights as a result of increased peasant rights as a result of population decline during the Black population decline during the Black Death.Death.

Catholicism’s supremacy in question due Catholicism’s supremacy in question due to the Great Schism.to the Great Schism.