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Later Medieval Period By Brian Chamberlain Prelude to Disaster In the 14th century, countries in northern Europe experienced huge price inflation with dairy, grain, and livestock Harsh weather at this time also made conditions tough. Crops were ruined. These events led to a great famine between 1315-1322. Many people died as a result and it became a demographic disaster. During this time period many other horrible events took place such as torrential rain in 1310 and failed harvests in 1322 and 1329. Entire villages would be abandoned. The Black Death In the 1300’s sailors began to move around the world more often leading to diseases spreading more easily. Today scholars dispute the origins of the plague, but the most accepted is that it broke out in Southern Russia. It was then brought to Genoa, Italy in 1348. Urban conditions at the time were perfect for the disease to spread. At the time there was no cure for the plague. People would suffer while dying. Mortality rates for the black death cannot be specified because of poor documents at time but a significant amount of the population was wiped out. The black death brought on more European inflation as high mortality rates produced a fall in production which caused a rise in prices. The Hundred Year War The war was caused by a disagreement between England and France over the land of Aquitaine. Both governments were able to manipulate the public into supporting the war. The war presented the opportunity for wealth and advancement. It was fought mostly in France and the low countries. England started of the war with initial victories, but it would be France who would end up winning the war. This is because of Joan of Arc,a peasant girl,whose work revived the French army Joan at a young age heard voices telling her that the English had to be expelled from France so she went to King Charles and was able to persuade him to allow her control of the army. Thousands ended up being slaughtered during the war. The Decline of the Church Prestige Through all of the hardships that people had suffered they looked to religion for help.However the Christian church offered little solace. In fact, they added to the misery at times. From 1309 to 1376, the pope lived in Avignon in southern France. This was known as the Babylonian Captivity. There the church leaders lived in luxury. This angered a lot of people In 1377 the pope moved back to Rome. The citizens believed that the pope must live in Italy. Marriage In the Medieval Period Marriage was a big part of a person's life at the time. It was thought that marriage provided peace and satisfaction. Many young teens at the time had children because they were economically important. Most marriages were arranged. A family would pay a merchant to organize it. Most people,especially peasants, were illiterate at the time Peasant Revolt The nobles and clergy lived on the produce of peasant labor. Peasants lived in poor social and economical conditions which caused a great increase in peasant uprisings. Although there are few records of the revolts, they appeared to be very hostile. The biggest movement was the mass uprising in Flanders in 1320. These uprisings continued throughout Europe because of the increasing gap between the lower class, middle class, and upper class. Another example of an uprising was in 1358 when French taxation fell heavily on the poor - frustrating the lower class . Italian Renaissance Economic growth laid out the basis for the Italian Renaissance. The renaissance was a booming time. Scholars use the term renaissance to describe the cultural achievements. All self-governing cities had great expansion from 1050 to 1300. Italy was able to exploit its geological advantage of being in the middle of the east and west. They were able to do large volume trading with the Middle East and northern Europe The period was also known for its huge artistic and literary works which began in Florence. Famous Artists during the Renaissance Nanni Di Banco-(1384-1421) most known for being a marble sculptor in Florence Antonello Da Messina (1430-1479) was an oil painter in Sicily Verrocchio-(1435-1479) Florence, bronze tempera sculptor Leonardo Da Vinci- (1452-1520) very famous artist known for drawing, oil painting, and sculpting Italian Renaissance Art Renaissance artist were considered free intellectual workers Artis did not pictures for the general public they worked on commission for the wealthy Society at the time respected and rewarded these artists Artists at the time tried to express an appreciation of human nature.