Economic & Political Transformation in Western Europe ( )

Economic Transformation

Peasants & Manor Life Manor Serfs Received the lord’s protection Could even have several acres for themselves. Illiterate Few lived past the age of 35

An Agricultural Revolution By the 800s, farmers started using new inventions. –Iron plow, harness, & windmill Began to us the 3- field system to keep the soil fertile. –Grain, beans, fallow

Trade Revives During the High Middle Ages economy grows stronger Population grows People began to trade again War diminishes Growing demand for goods Merchants set up fairs Meeting places grew into the 1 st towns and cities.

Medieval Trade

Commercial Revolution New ways of doing business. Money Banks Partnerships Insurance Bills of exchange

Society Changes New middle class emerged that included traders, merchants, and artisans. The lords & clergy despised them. The church forbade Christians from lending money. (usury) As a result, many Jews became money-lenders & played an important role in the new economy.

Guilds Merchants and artisans formed associations known as guilds. Each guild represented workers in one occupation. They made rules to protect the quality of their work, set prices, & look after their members. Fewer people were serfs as times changed.

Guilds Guild Hall   Commercial Monopoly:  Controlled membership apprentice  journeyman  master craftsman  Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece].  Controlled prices

Jews in Europe Jewish communities existed across Europe. Muslim Spain became a center of Jewish culture. (Sephardic) Many rulers in N. Europe valued and protected Jewish Community In the late 1000s, Christian persecution of Jews began & worsened in bad economic times. Many Jews then migrated to E. Europe and thrived. Chaiya's Sephardic World, Jewish Prince in Moslem Spain: Selected Poems of Samuel ibn Nagrela,

Political Transformation

The Church Later missionaries spread Chr. throughout Europe In manor villages, the priest was the peoples’ contact w/ the church. –Celebrated mass and administered the sacraments…leading to salvation.. Christian rituals were part of the fabric of everyday life.

One of the oldest Medieval churches

Monks and Nuns Some Christians spent their lives serving God. About 530 B.C., a monk named Benedict organized the first monastery. (Convent) They took 3 vows: –O–Obedience to the abbot –P–Poverty –C–Chastity Cared for the sick and poor, and set up schools Some were missionaries …life of service

After the fall of Rome, the Church split into eastern & western churches CE). Western – Roman Catholic church, headed by the pope Church connected to government

The Height of Church Power During the 1200s, the Church was very powerful. Pope Gregory VII and Pope Innocent III believed the pope should have more power than any other ruler. Rulers who objected were excommunicated. After 1200s, the power of the pope declined. Pope Innocent III

The Age of 800 CE Charles the Great crowned by pope Emperor of the Romans Wanted capital to be like Rome Encouraged Latin Set up schools Spread Christianity Appointed powerful nobles missi dominici Charlemagne: 742 to 814

Charlemagne’s Empire

After Charlemagne His empire fell apart Grandsons split empire into 3 Legacy: He blended Germanic, Roman, and Christian ideas.

Growth of Royal Power in England and France Monarchs, Nobles & the Church Nobles & the church had as much – or more – power as feudal kings –T–The monarchs began centralizing their power. –T–They gave rights to townspeople & gained their loyalty.

The Magna Carta (England) contained 2 important ideas that stay w/ us today. –People have rights –The monarch must also obey the law. During the 1200s, Parliament also evolved. –Representatives of the “common people” joined w/ the lords. House of Commons House of Lords