The Late Middle Ages

1. The Late Middle Ages SS.A.2.4.6-7; SS.D.2.4.6; SS.B.2.4.5; SS.B.1.4.4; SS.B.2.4.2

2. Revival of European Trade • Medieval Europe=agricultural society • Trade had declined during chaos after Rome’s fall • By 900s, people relearned many skills/tools for trade • Italy takes the lead, especially City of Venice • Flanders, in N. Europe also begins trade in wool • 1100: much trade between Flanders and N. Italy • Trade fairs in Champagne, France • Money Economy emerges • Commercial Capitalism: economic system in which people invest in trade and good in order to make profits

3. Medieval Urban Growth • Early M.A.: Old Roman cities decrease in population after Rome’s fall, very few cities north of the Alps Mountains • As trade increases, merchants and artisans settle in old Roman cities • Cities begin to develop next to castles, located by trade routes, to benefit from lord’s protection • People known as burghers or bourgeoisie • London=40,000; Venice=80,000 were largest • Still tiny compared with Constantinople or the Arab cities

4. The Black Death • Most devastating natural disaster in European history, a deadly plague swept through cities • Bubonic plague=most common form • 1347: Brought from Caffa to Sicily by Italian traders • Spread by black rats’ fleas carrying bacterium • Black Death’s path mirrored trade routes • 1347: Southern Italy & France affected • 1348: France, Low Countries & Germany affected • 1349: Northern Europe & England affected • 1351: Eastern Europe & Russia affected • 1347-1351: 38 million dead

5. Consequences of Black Death • Many Europeans, especially in Germany, blame Jews for poisoning water wells • Many flee eastward to Poland, protected by king • Damaged trade and local economies • Labor prices increase, merchandise prices decrease • Result: peasants begin paying rent, rather than providing services, ending serfdom/freeing serfs

6. Declining Church Power • 1300: Kings tired of Papal claims of supremacy • King Philip IV of France wants to tax clergy • Pope Boniface VIII says not without his approval • King sends troops to arrest pope, bring to trial • Boniface dies, King Philip fixes the papal election • Clement V, a Frenchman, elected pope, lives in Avignon • Popes live in Avignon from 1305-1377 • 1377: Pope Gregory XI returns papacy to Rome

7. The Great Schism (1378-1417) • Gregory XI dies shortly after return to Rome • Cardinals chose an Italian pope, Urban VI, but French cardinals elect a French pope in Avignon • Now, two popes compete for power/leadership • King of France and allies support Avignon’s pope • King of England and allies support Rome’s pope • People loose faith in both popes and church • 1417: Council of Constance, new pope elected • John Hus: Czech reformer, convicted of heresy • Causes uprising in Bohemia until 1436 • 1400: Pope loses fight for supremacy over state

8. The Hundred Years’ War • 1300: England still owns small piece of land in France, Duchy of Gascony • English king (Edward III), as Duke of Gascony, was a vassal of the French king (Philip VI) • 1337: Philip invades Gascony to cede into realm • Edward declares war on France, lasts until 1453 • Peasant foot-soldiers outshine mounted knights • English use more foot-soldiers than French, and also equip soldiers with longbows • French use crossbows at first

9. Battles of Crécy & Agincourt • 1346: Battle of Crécy: French attack with no plan, slaughtered by English longbows • English not strong enough to conquer all of France • King Henry V of England keeps trying • 1415: Battle of Agincourt heavily armored French noblemen get stuck in muddy battle field—1,500 die—England controls N. France

10. King Charles V of France loses hope Young, religious woman named Joan convinces King Charles to let her follow army to Orléans Joan’s faith powers French to victory 1430: Captured by English, convicted of witchcraft Joan’s faith reenergized the French army, and they easily won battles in Aquitaine and Normandy; French win war in 1453 The invention of the cannon also responsible for eventual French victory Joan of Arc

11. Western Europe’s Recovery • Kings in England, France and Spain have trouble producing male heirs • Nobles fight to replace dying dynasties • New dynasties establish “new monarchies” • France’s kings use new national pride to gain power, expand taxes and control • War of the Roses b/w nobles and English king • Henry Tudor becomes new king (Henry VII) • Abolishes nobles’ private armies • Lessened taxes on subjects, people happy with rule

12. The Spanish Reconquista • 725: Muslims conquer Spain, Portugal • Spanish kingdoms arise, fight back for control • Aragon & Castile two most powerful kingdoms • Isabella of Castile marries Ferdinand of Aragon, work together to strengthen Spanish monarchy • Spanish religious conformity= Catholic nation • 1492: Jews kicked out of Spain • 1502: Muslims kicked out of Spain • Both Jews and Muslims who wish to stay in Spain must convert to Christianity (Catholicism)

13. Central & Eastern Europe • Holy Roman Empire fails to form strong gov. • 100s of nobles control small states • 1438: Hapsburg dynasty in Holy Roman Empire • House of Hapsburg becomes powerful in Europe • In Eastern Europe, religious differences b/w Catholics, Orthodox, Mongols and Muslims don’t allow for strong states • Polish nobles elect own kings • 1200s: Mongols rule Russia • Gradually, Russian princes of Moscow gain power • Ivan III creates a Russian state; 1480: defeats Mongols, gains freedom