Middle Ages and Plague 700 CE – 1350 CE 600 CE – 1450 CE Part One

The Rise of Regional States Middle Ages occur after fall of W. Rome Loose confederation of states Tense relationships with the papacy prevents creation of powerful state Feudal gov’ts take place of Roman law King Nobles Knights Peasants and Serfs

Europe C.E.

European Economic Revival Growth of Agricultural Economy Three-field system (Crop rotation) New technology: Heavy Plow Population growth 800 CE—29 Million 1100 CE—44 Million 1300 CE—79 Million

European Economic Revival Revival of Towns and Trade Food surplus & population growth led to urbanization Urbanization brought increase in specialization of labor Guilds Specialization of labor caused increase in manufacturing Manufacturing focused on wool textiles Manufacturing led to increase in trade Brings Western Europe back into Afro-Eurasian trade network

Venetian and Genoese merchants established colonies in major trade ports of Alexandria, Constantinople, Cairo, Damascus, etc.

Crusades 1095 CE: Pope declares defense or “Holy Land” Over excess of Knights Matter economically and culturally Rediscover long distance trade Rediscover Hellenistic culture

Bubonic Plague “The Black Death” Began in Central Asia (Mongols) 1311 Spread to Europe Rats carrying fleas got on shore spreading disease 25 million people died in the next several years, 1/3 of the population of Europe Ports cities were hit first Close proximity, unsanitary conditions facilitated the spread into cities

The routes of the plague

Spread of the Black Death Victims “ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors in paradise” -Geovanni Boccaccio

Reactions to the Black Death Rampant Hysteria—Plague “God's Punishment” Fear—People locked themselves away; some fled their homes Carried fleas from town to town Scapegoats—Any kind of "ungodly" behavior could result in swift and harsh punishment Widows or strange old men might be singled out and stoned to death Foreigners, especially Jews, were persecuted, in some places burned at the stake in mass executions

Impact of the Black Death Profound impact on manorial economy Labor became scarce in some places Tenants, rent payers, made gains as feudal obligations were lowered Some serfs were freed to keep them from running away to better opportunities Wages rose in towns to keep workers happy Landlords and some towns continued to prosper

Byzantine Empire The Roman empire, divided in 293 CE Years of civil war and emperors being assassinated Power shifted to the east, as Germanic invaders weakened the western half By 330, the emperor Constantine, had built a new capital city in Constantinople on the site of the Greek city Byzantium Located between Asia and Europe Mixed culture between Greek Language, Roman Law, Christianity

Byzantium 650 CE

Political and Spiritual issues with Holy Roman Empire Political Issues Pope appoints Charlemagne Emperor (800) Pope is banished in 1054 CE Spiritual disagreements Use of image (icons) in Christian worship Language Geographical

Viking Expansion and Conversion Farmers and Herders Explorers and Pillagers Religion Die in battle to reach heaven Boats Give up raiding and begin trading

Viking Expansion

Vikings convert to Christianity in 9 th -10 th centuries Christianity supports trade Christianity promises heaven if trade instead of raiding Assimilate with Western Europe

The Crusades

Causes of the Crusades Byzantine emperor asked Pope for help in regaining territory lost to Seljuk Turks Religious zeal Pope Urban II calls for 1 st Crusade in 1095 Forgiveness of sin for those who die in battle Knights’ willingness to engage in church- sanctioned warfare Feudal wars in Europe were coming to an end

Economic Motives? Attraction of gaining spoils from rich Arab lands Italian merchants desired to gain control of trade routes in the Mediterranean from Muslims Italian merchants provide needed supplies to Crusaders

Impact of the Crusades The impact of the Crusades on the West is a source of debate among historians The Crusades “helped expose the West to new cultural and economic influences from the Middle East, a major spur to further change and to [increase] the West’s interaction with the larger world” –Peter Stearns “Italian merchants had begun to travel well beyond Egypt, Palestine, and Syria to avoid Muslim middlemen and deal directly with the ultimate producers of silks and spices in India, southeast Asia, and China” –Jerry Bentley, et. al.

Impact of the Crusades Brian Tierney presents an opposing view to causes and impact of the Crusades “But one cannot claim that without the crusades the Italian cities would not have not sought the markets of the East or that they could not have taught the peoples of Europe to like sugar and spices… Although some individuals undoubtedly went crusading in search of fiefs and plunder…it seems clear that the majority were moved by genuine religious enthusiasm and complete confidence that the crusade was the path to salvation”

The Calamitous 14 th Century The Burning of Joan of Arc

Hundred Years War ( ) From 1337 to 1453 England and France periodically engaged in a series of military campaigns Fought with new military technology Crossbows, longbows, pikes, firearms, and cannons Joan of Arc, martyred in 1431

Impact of Hundred Years War End of Feudalism? Monarchs centralized authority More stable permanent boundaries Kings began to levy direct taxes Weakened the authority of feudal lords Firearms led to the knight and castle being outdated Monarchs maintained permanent armies