The Middle Ages

Crusades Holy war Holy war –Had to be sanctioned by the pope –Conducted against enemies of Christianity – pilgrimage to Jerusalem (the Holy Land) Most single important series of events in the Middle Ages Most single important series of events in the Middle Ages

Events that lead to the Crusades Turks (who were also Muslim) Turks (who were also Muslim) –Conquered the Holy Lands  Jerusalem and surrounding territory –Mistreated Christians –Threatened the Byzantine Empire

Crusades Begin –Christians launch First Crusade –Emperor sought help from Pope  Pope Urban II incited Christian knights  “God wills it!” cry of the assembly –Christian knights captured Jerusalem

European Crusades European Crusades Mounted crusade against other Muslim Mounted crusade against other Muslim –Especially in North Africa –Muslim armies  Overran the crusader states  1291 captured last Christian outpost –Massacred defeated enemies – Christians

Spanish Reconquista Reconquista Reconquista –Campaign to drive Muslims out of Spain –1469 Isabella married Ferdinand  Combined forces  Pushed against Muslim’s stronghold in Granada –1492 Granda fell  Reconquista completed

Effects of European Crusades Left bitter legacy of religious hatred behind them Left bitter legacy of religious hatred behind them –Turned their religious fury against Jews –Failed to conquer Holy Land –War helped quicken changes –Increased trade –Encouraged growth of a money economy –Helped increase power of feudal monarchs

European Horizons Expanded Began to explore far off places Began to explore far off places – Marco Polo  Traveled to China  Called “prince of liars”

European Social Make-over Education Education –Began in churches  By 1100’s became universities –First universities in Italy –No permanent buildings –Women were not allowed to attend Literature Literature –Vernacular  Everyday language of ordinary people –Famous works  Dante’s Divine Comedy  Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

Architectural and Art Achievements Romanesque Romanesque –Solid stone –No windows Gothic Gothic –Stone supports stood outside the church –Higher walls –Stained-glass windows Illumination Illumination –Artistic decoration of books

Tragedy strikes Mid-1300’s Mid-1300’s –Crop failures  Brought famine and starvation –Plague (Black Death)  Bubonic plague (a disease spread by fleas and rats)  Spread from Asia to the Middle East  No way to stop the disease  Workers, employers died, production declined

Make-over in the 1400’s Europe recovered from the Black Death Europe recovered from the Black Death –Population expanded –Manufacturing grew  Increased trade Italian cities Italian cities –Became centers of shipping Goods exchange Goods exchange –Europe - cloth –Middle East – spices, sugar and cotton Set stage for further changes Set stage for further changes