1. The Middle Ages in Western Europe

3. Early Middle Ages ( )
Europe fragmented into various Germanic kingdoms after Rome’s collapse in 5th c.
Spain, S. Italy, and Sicily were all conquered by Muslims by 8th c.
Feudal system developed

5. High Middle Ages (1000-1300) The Crusades
Muslim Turks controlled Christian shrines in M. E. by 1000
Pope urged Christian knights to “liberate” the Holy Land
Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099

7. Saladin recaptured Jerusalem during 3rd Crusade
Muslims had recaptured all of the Holy Land by 1291

8. Impact of the Crusades
Benefited the European economy, especially N. Italy
Europeans gained new technologies from the Muslim world
Europe started to emerge from the isolation of the Middle Ages

9. The Late Middle Ages (1300-1450)
The Black Death
Killed 1/3 of Europe’s population
Impact:
-Decline of Feudalism
-Peasant Revolts
-Improved peasant conditions
post-Plague

10. The Great Western Schism
Resulted from the election of two competing popes
Europe took sides
Eventually resolved, but popes lost power to kings
Weakened the Church as an institution

11. The Hundred Years’ War Began with a dispute over French throne
England won important early victories (longbow, gunpowder)
English were expelled from most of France by 1453

14. Impacts? Nobility decimated Kings centralized power
Feudal decline accelerated
Growth of nationalism