The Late Middle AgesA Period of Crisis

The late Middle Ages experienced a series of crises that laid the foundation for the beginning of a renaissance across Europe.

Four major areas of crisis Food crisis- decline in agricultural production in some parts of Europe poor harvests/ famineCrisis in the Roman Catholic Church- The Church struggled to maintain its power and authority in Europe The Babylonian Captivity Health crisis - the spread of the bubonic plague- Black Death Political crisis - England and France fought over territory and political dominance on the continentThe Hundred Years War

Agricultural CrisisPeriods of severe weatherCrop damage and poor harvestsFamine in some areas of EuropeDisease and epidemics poor nutritionDepopulation in some regionsUnstable trade and economic development

The Black DeathArrived in Italy in 1347Quickly spread across Europe (followed the traditional trade routes)Disease was transmitted by fleas (living on rats)Over 1/3 of Europes population diedMany believed that the disease was caused by bad airSome thought it was the wrath of God Others blamed the Jews

The Plague Doctor

Religious radicals- the flagellantssought to appease an angry God through self sacrifice physical acts of penance

Macabre art reflected a profound pessimism and preoccupation with death

Impact of the Black DeathLabor shortages fewer workers Decline in production inflation- rise in prices New job opportunities for those who survived Feudalism began to decline as new social and economic opportunities arose Growing Anti-Semitism many blamed the Jews Pessimism and fatalism (macabre art)

The Hundred Years War 1337-1453Conflict between England and FranceStruggle over territory in France French confiscated the English holding of AquitaineDispute over who could lay claim to the French monarchy English king claimed to be the rightful king of FranceThe English had several early victories Agincourt

Joan of Arc led the French forces to victory and was later captured and accused of being a witch by the English- executed England eventually lost the war and any claim to territory on the continentThe war created tremendous debt and political turmoil in France and England Growth of nationalism

Joan of Arc

The Decline in the Power and Prestige of the Roman Catholic Church and Papacy The Babylonian Captivity (1309-1376)Papacy was moved to Avignon, France Came under the control of the French monarchyPapacy was restored to Rome in 1377 by the reforming Pope Urban VI

The papal court at Avignon, France

Pope Urban VI returned the papacy to Rome.

The Great Schism 1378-1417Conflicts in the Church continuedDisunity and divisions caused many to question Church authority Who was the rightful pope? The division served to highlight the growing decline in the power and prestige of the Church

The Conciliar Movement Some argued that the Church would be best served if the pope shared authority with a general council. representing the Christian community Some challenged the authority of the Church over the state declaring that the Church was subordinate to the state and political authority This policy was ultimately rejected after a long period of internal conflicts and divisions

Conciliar MovementDivisions also arose over who rightly held the papacyDisunity and infighting led to the election of three different popes- each claiming the title and each refusing to step downThe German Holy Roman Emperor finally resolved the issue by organizing the Council of Constance which elected a new popeThe Council condemned and executed the Bohemian political and religious reformer, John Hus

Council of Constance 1414-1418

Early Church Reformers John Wycliffe, in England, challenged the scriptural foundations of the popes temporal powerWycliffe also argued that everyone should read the Bible for himself/herselfVernacular translations of the Bible emerged First English translation of the scriptures

John Wycliffe 1330-1384- Early English reformer

Wyclif- first English translation of Scripture

John Hus Bohemian (Czech) political and religious reformer martyred in Prague.

The impact of the crises of the Late Middle Ages and the rise of the RenaissanceNew economic and social opportunities-decline of feudalismEconomic growth-expansion of trade and business- banking Growth of the middle classGrowing interest in expanding knowledge and learningGreater willingness to challenge and question the power and authority of the ChurchAnti-Semitism continued