Transcript Chapter 10, Lesson 5 The Late Middle Ages

Chapter 10, Lesson 5
The Late Middle Ages
It Matters Because:
During the Late Middle Ages, Europe
experienced serious economic, political,
and religious conflicts.
Famine in Europe
• Europe was prosperous during 1200s
• First time since Roman Empire population of Europe grew
• Cold winters and rainy summers led to poor farming
• Famine – time when food is extremely scarce
• Crops rotted and livestock died from disease
• Many people starved
• A plague followed the famine
• Spread to Europe from Asia
• Became known as the Black Death
The Black Death
• Disease arrived in Europe in 1346 from Asia
• First broke out in China in 1330s, killed 40-60 million people, half of China’s population
• Spread as Mongols used Silk Road to trade with merchants in Europe
• Plague also spread to India and Muslim world
• What is the Black Death?
• The bubonic plague spread by bacteria carried by fleas, carried by rats
• Infected rats brought to cities in trading caravans or on ships
• Causes fever, chills, swelling, sores, abdominal and chest pain, nausea, vomiting,
dehydration, death
• Death toll estimated 30-60% of Europe’s population
• 19-38 million people
Effects of the Plague
• Trade declined as millions died and survivors grew afraid
• Workers’ wages rose steeply as demand rose
• Demand for food decreased and prices fell
• Feudalism weakened as manors lost workers
• People did not know why the plague happened
• Some thought God was punishing them for their sins
• Others blamed the Jews and drove them out of cities
Religious Conflict
• The Great Schism divided Europe in the late 1300s and early
1400s
• Two (and even three) different bishops claimed to be the rightful Pope
and divided European Christians
• 1417, a council of bishops elected a Pope that reunified Europe
• Powerful Kings challenged Pope’s authority
• Many people criticized the church’s growing wealth and
corruption in the priesthood
• Reformers in Europe called on the church to make many changes
• Eventually led to the Reformation
The Hundred Years’ War
• England controlled areas of Northern France (Normandy)
into the 1400s
• French kings wanted to unite all French-speaking people
• England’s Edward III declared himself the King of France
and invaded France in 1346
• The start of The Hundred Years’ War
• English won early victories due to superior technology
• Longbow and early form of cannon
• Longbowmen shot arrows that could pierce armor from 300
yards
Each picture is a link.
Click to view the
corresponding clip on
YouTube
Longbowmen at Agincourt(5:00)
Longbow Demo
Longbowmen at Agincourt (7:24)
Longbow vs. Crossbow
Joan of Arc
• 1429, Joan, a farmer’s daughter, rode to Orleans with the French army
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Inspired by her faith and courage, the French won victory at Orleans
Joan was captured by English army and was accused of being a witch
She was burned at the stake for heresy
Became a French hero and Catholic Saint
• Joan’s courage rallied the French around King Charles VII
• By 1453, English were driven from France
• French loyalty to the king strengthened the monarchy
• English nobles were embarrassed by their defeat
• Fought a bloody civil war, known as the War of the Roses, to decide who should be king
• Henry Tudor (Henry VII) became King of England in 1485, beginning the Tudor dynasty
Iberian Jews and Muslims
• During Middle Ages, Muslims known as Moors controlled Iberian Peninsula
• Spain and Portugal today
• Christians fought to drive the Muslims out of Iberia – the “Reconquista”
• By 1250, there were 3 Christian kingdoms on the peninsula
• Portugal, Castile, and Aragon
• Granada was only Muslim kingdom
• 1469, Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile and united their
kingdoms into Spain
• Muslims and Jews were persecuted
• 1492, Spain conquered Granada and ordered Jews and Muslims to convert to
Christianity or leave Spain; most left