Transcript The Middle Ages: The Resurgence of Europe Global Studies 9

The Middle Ages:
The Resurgence
of Europe
Global Studies 9
Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Bernier
The Agricultural Revolution
New technologies
used in farming made
fields more
productive, leading
to an increase in the
amount of food
farmers produced.
With more food
available, the
population grew.
New Farming Technologies
• Iron plow
• Harness to be
used with horses.
• Windmill
• Reclaim wasteland
for crops and
grazing animals.
• Three-field system
Revival of Trade
A surplus of
agricultural products
gave farmers
something to trade,and
as the population grew,
the demand for goods
not available on the
manor increased.
New Trade Routes
Goods Traded between Asia and Europe
• Silk from China
• Gold from the
Byzantine Empire
• Spices from Asia
• Honey and cloth
from Northern
Europe
Trade Fairs
Trade fairs took place each year near rivers or
where busy trade routes met. People from
surrounding areas, flocked to the fairs. As they ate
and drank, they were entertained by jugglers,
acrobats, and singers.
Medieval Towns and Cities
Centers of trade slowly
grew into the first
medieval towns and
cities. The richest cities
were in northern Italy
and Flanders.
Merchants would be
granted a charter by a
local lord or king to set
up a new town.
Commercial Revolution
As trade revived, money
re-appeared.
Merchants needed
capital, or money for
investment, to start
businesses and
buy goods. Banks were
set up, partnerships
were formed, and
insurance companies
were founded.
Merchant Guilds
In towns, merchants and
artisans formed
associations called guilds.
Merchant guilds appeared
first. These guilds grew in
power, passing laws, and
raising taxes. They spent
money to pave streets,
and build protective walls
and new town halls.
Craft Guilds
Artisans eventually formed craft guilds. Each guild
represented one occupation. Members
cooperated to protect their own economic
interests. They made rules to insure the quality of
their goods, regulate hours of labor, and set prices.
They also set up schools and hospitals and looked
after the needs of their members and families.
Medieval Cities
• A jumble of narrow streets
with tall houses.
• Large cities had a great
cathedral or beautiful
guild hall.
• By day street vendors sold
their wares.
• At night, streets were unlit
and deserted.
• No garbage collection or
sewer systems; people
threw waste in the streets.
• In general cities and towns
were filthy, smelly, noisy,
and crowded.
The Black Death
“Ring around
the rosy,
A pocketful of
posies.
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall
down.”
The Black Death
In the 1300s, the Black Death, or
Bubonic Plague, spread to Europe
from Asia. It was a disease that was
spread by fleas on rats. Rats
infested ships, towns, and homes.
Fleas jumped from rats to infest the
clothes and packs of traders
traveling to Europe. As a result the
disease spread quickly throughout
Europe, killing one in every three
people. The population of Europe
dropped from approximately 75
million to 50 million.
Effects of the Black Death
• People turned to magic and witchcraft for cures. Some
Christians whipped themselves, believing the plague was
God’s punishment for sins. Other Christians blamed Jews
and used them as scapegoats.
• The European economy fell apart. Workers and employers
died, production of goods declined, and the prices of other
goods rose. As inflation soared, revolts broke out across
Western Europe. It would take more than a hundred years
for Western Europe to recover.