Transcript File

Europe’s Transition to the
Modern World
From Medieval times to the Renaissance
The fall of Rome and the
Dark ages

Rome fell in 476 AD signifying the end of the
ancient world.

After Rome fell organized government collapsed
ushering in the Dark Ages.

1066 battle of Hastings signifies the reemergence of
organized government, beginning the Middle Ages.
Feudalism
How Feudalism Works in a
nutshell.
The Black Death
1346-1352

Bubonic Plague causes swelling in buboes, fever, and
death.

Started in Mongolia and moved West along Silk
Road .

The Bacteria was carried by fleas, which live on
black rats.

Italian merchant ships took on loads of trade goods,
which carried plague infested rats all across Europe.
Black Death
(cont.)

1347-First case of Bubonic Plague reported in the
port cities of Sicily and Venice.

Reached England in 1348.

Spread quickly due to lack of sanitation and not
knowing the cause.

Many people saw this as the wrath of God and the
end of the world, which caused the Jews to become
victims of false blame.
An Account of The Carnage

“Trenches were dug, very broad and deep, and into
these the bodies were thrown, and then covered with
little earth…with my own hands I buried five of my
children in a single trench…and no bells rang, and
nobody wept no matter what the loss, because almost
everyone expected death.” –Agnolo di Tura
The Impact of the Black
Death

Killed 1/3rd of Europe’s population

Fewer workers were available, allowing peasants to
demand more freedom

This cause massive peasant revolts.
Killed 1/3 of Europe’s
population
Peasants
revolted &
demanded more
freedom
The Black Plague
The Hundred Years War
1337-1429

Contributed to the decline of Feudalism because
Kings could rely on large armies of common people,
instead of expensive Knights.

Lasted 116 years, waged on and off (not constant
fighting).

3 million estimated killed during the war.
The Hundred Years War

French King Charles IV dies in 1328 with no male
heir. (No son to become King)

Two men attempted to claim the throne:

1. Edward III of England (Charles IV son-in-law)

2. Philip of Valois (Charles IV’s Nephew)

England then invades France after Philip refuses to
back down, begins the war
Rise of Joan of Arc

Fist part of the war England won important battles
(Battle of Agincourt) and humiliated the French

A young peasant woman hears voices from God and
inspired to save France.

Convinces Charles VII to let her lead an army against
the English in 1429. She won several decisive battle
including the Battle of Orleans, which pushed the
English out of France.

She was captured by the English and burned at the
stake as a witch in 1431.
Impact of the Hundred
Years War

People became more patriotic, more devoted to their
monarch (king) than their feudal lord.

Monarch (Kings) build huge armies with taxes they
collected, which reduced the power of nobles (feudal
lords).
Hundred Years’ War
Killed 1/3 of
Europe’s
population & price
of crops went
Peasants
revolted &
down
demanded more
freedom
HYW allowed
monarchs to
build huge
armies &
reduced
power of lords
Trade and Commerce
Change Town Life.

Towns were centers for trade and shipping

Luxury goods such as silk, spices, ivory, and
porcelain could be bought in towns

Guilds (trade groups) dominated social and civic life
of towns (basically they controlled everything in a
town)

Guilds reflected the importance of Christianity in
towns
Town Life
Town Life in Middle
Ages

Towns were small because
society was based on agriculture.

Nobles (Lords) had most of the
power A. Lords owned the land
the peasants farmed. B. Knights,
owned by Lords, protected
towns.

Status was determined by
Birthright
Town Life in
Renaissance

Towns grew because society began
to be based on commerce and
more people started living in cities
for jobs.

Middle class had most of the
power. A. limited the power of
feudal lords by forcing them to
grant charters (using their money
to get charters). B. Gained control
of money by organizing banks.

Status determined by wealth.
Trade and Commerce
Killed 1/3 of
Europe’s
population & price
of crops went
Peasants
revolted &
down
demanded more
freedom
HYW allowed
monarchs to
build huge
armies &
reduced
power of lords
People
moved to
cities to earn
better wages
Status
determined by
wealth & ability,
not birthright
Trade and Commerce
Middle class
merchants gained
control of great
sums of money by
organizing banks
Florence

Run by the powerful banking family the Medici’s

Maintained thieving industry in wool and silk trade.

Sold insurance to sea trades to protect their
investments

The Medici’s promoted trade, banking, the arts,
education, and civic pride
The Medici Family
The growth of Italian CityStates

Each city state specialized in one commercial activity

Milan: Metal goods and armor

Florence: Banking and Textiles (Cloths)

Venice: Asian goods (spices, silks, and porcelain)
Rise of City-state
Middle class
merchants gained
control of great
sums of money by
organizing banks
Italian cities,
tied to foreign
partners,
became rich &
powerful
•
Renaissance
•
• Italian city-states displayed their wealth by giving
financial support to artists who created works with
classical themes
What was the Renaissance and why did it begin in
Italy?

Renaissance is a French word meaning “rebirth;”
refers to revival in arts and learning

Period when scholars became interested in ancient
Greek and Roman Culture

Italian city-states displayed their wealth by giving
financial support to artists who created works with
classical themes.
The Crusades
The Crusades

Repeated attempts to recapture the Holy City of
Jerusalem by European Christians and Middle
Eastern Muslims.

Crusades made Europeans eager to learn about the
world.
The Spirit of the
Renaissance

A fascination with Greek and Roman culture
(Classical)

A belief in human potential, each person could
achieve great things. Called Humanism

Focused on earth rather than afterlife (heaven)

Focused on education, especially in studying Greek
and Roman culture.
Humanism
Spirit of Renaissance
Middle class
merchants gained
control of great
sums of money by
organizing banks
Italian cities,
tied to foreign
partners,
became rich &
powerful
Crusades made
Europeans
eager to learn
about the world
Medici family
used their
profits to
promote
education &
arts
Scholars &
artists looked to
art & writing
from Ancient
Greece and
Rome for
guidance