1. The Opening of the Atlantic and the Pacific13
The Opening of the Atlantic
and the Pacific

2. European Visions The Atlantic
North Atlantic was home of raiders and sailors rather than traders (8th-12th centuries)
Vikings were the major actors
Were explorers and raiders
Settled new areas and established cities such as Dublin
Swedes (Vikings) moved eastward into Russia
Became more peaceful after 1000
No records of non-Viking activities

3. Decline of Trade in the Mediterranean
By 950, Mediterranean was “Muslim Lake” but consisted of different cultural zones
Mediterranean now a war zone
Trade continued but was affected by fluctuations in European economy
European merchants frustrated by lack of link from Mediterranean to Indian Ocean
Europeans seek alternative routes

4. Scandinavian and Arab Muslim, and East Slav invasions, 9th–10th centuries. Europe was subjected to repeated invasions that temporarily weakened the continent but then increased its power. The Vikings settled and developed Scandinavia, and their interaction with the Slavs gave shape to Russia. The Muslims brought with them an understanding of the culture of ancient Greece and Rome that Europeans had forgotten. (Adapted from The Times Atlas of World History, 5th edition. London. Times Books.)

5. Trade and Social Change in Europe
Guilds/City-States Confront Rural Aristocrats
Trade organized by guilds that controlled wages, prices, production, and job training
Most were local; exception was Hanseatic League of Germany
Controlled trade from London to Novgorod
Faded with rise of new states such as Netherlands, England, and Sweden

6. Trade and Social Change in Europe
Economic and Social Conflicts within the City
Textile manufacturers dominated some cities
Capitalist traders organized manufacture based on estimates of market demands
Production organized hierarchically with lower pay for tasks at bottom of production process
Women and children got even less pay
Class antagonism led to revolts

9. Trade and Social Change in Europe
Disasters of the 14th Century: Famine, Plague, and War
Italian prosperity brought population growth and strain on natural resources
Rural depopulation followed by mid-13th century
Plague reduced European population from 70 million (1300) to 45 million (1400)

10. Trade and Social Change in Europe
Social Unrest Follows the Plague
Depopulation benefited survivors with higher wages and ability to buy land
Ciompi (lowest class in Florence) demanded access to guilds, right to unionize, and participation in government
Successes were short-lived

11. Trade and Social Change in Europe
New Directions in Philosophy and Learning
Renaissance based on new urban wealth
Church renaissance from 11th century stressed intellectual dimension of faith
Anselm, Abelard, and Bernard of Clairvaux
New monastic orders sought ties to early church

12. Trade and Social Change in Europe
New Directions in Philosophy and Learning [cont.]
Intellectual opening to Arab world in 11th century
Links through Spain
Philosophers: Avicenna, Averroes, and Maimonides
University emerged and promoted practical knowledge such as medicine, law, and theology

13. Trade and Social Change in Europe
New Directions in Philosophy and Learning [cont.]
St. Thomas Aquinas ( ) paved way for Renaissance (accepted ideas of Aristotle)
Assemblage of bright minds promoted wide range of ideas, criticism of status quo and its leaders