Chapter 14

Peasants and Population 1200 most of the population was peasants Bound to the land in serfdom and using inefficient agricultural practices Women and men worked together on the farms

Thomas Aquinas “Both men and women were created in God’s image … “the image of God is found in man, and not in woman: for man is the beginning and end of woman; as God is the beginning and end of every creature”

One major technological advancement in Europe Three field system 2/3 grow crops and 1/3 is planted w/ OATS OATS – restore the soil and feed the horses But still a common practice was ½ to ½ plow to fallow

Population boom in 1200’s Why? / How? China has equal amount of people during this time Technology was behind Life expectancy is 30 to 35 Poverty or extreme hunger at least twice in life

Black Death The timing in the 1300’s Was it a bad time for Europe? Out of a negative will come a positive Life not forever - Impact Religion Technology Urban revival

Read Answer three basic questions Make note of any quotes by Aquinas

Urban Revival Once Again the primary focus will be on Ports Venice Flanders “city-states” – nobles were not in-charge so they were more flexible and able to adapt to change European cities will offer more opportunities and freedom along social mobility

Trade = Guilds Guilds regulated practices and access to trades especially to the Jewish population Women allowed to join guilds? Wife, widow, daughter, … very rare but were allowed to work in unskilled textiles and food/beverages How did women move up the social class? Page 359 – Canterbury Tales – a must to read!

So…. Did you read it Yet! Read it! Add Canterbury Tales to your list and _ _ _ _ _ _ !

Increase in Commerce leads to an increase … “Banks” or lenders that would give money to merchants, churches, princes, nobles, … SO… How do you loan to a church when they didn’t believe in the term usury?

Banking Medici of Florence – operated banks in Italy, Florence, and Flanders Checking accounts Share holding companies Fuggers of Ausburg – started as cloth merchants, trade (invested), loans, accounts

Where is Ausburg?

Christian banking So how do you loan to churches? The church would give a gift and not pay interest Example if they borrowed money no interest would be placed upon it but a timeline would be set

Competition of cities How beautiful we can become Gothic Cathedrals become the masterpiece of medieval architecture High buttresses, towers, arches, large interiors and lit by huge windows Masons and engineers learned through mistakes

Flying buttresses

No Dome but a Cone

The portal (or entrance) to a gothic cathedral is usually decorated with sculpture. Using the sculpture as a molding in successive arches as shown here creates what is called an archivolt. The semi-circular arch above the door is called a tympanum. As with stained glass, medieval sculpture was used to tell the biblical stories to illiterate villagers.

The force of the main wall is outwardly. The flying buttress directs the force of the wall out and down into the ground.