Transcript Document

th
14
Crises of the
Century
a.k.a.
The Late Middle Ages
(1300-1500)
Introduction
3 Crises define the period
Together, they destroyed the
Age of Faith
1. Hundred Years War
2. Church Corruption
3. Black Death
And paved way for (1)
European Renaissance,
then (2) Protestant
Reformation, then (3)
The Modern World
Each Event Worsened The Others
Hundred Years War
(1337-1453)
Black Death (1347-1352)
Church Corruption
Hundred Years War (1337-1453)
•War between Kings of France and England over
who should be the King of France
•Actually lasted 117 years
•Significant primary source is Jean Froissart’s
Chronicle.
Hundred Years War (1337-1453)—Causes
•Salic Law outlawed royal inheritance through
women (in France, not England)
•KOF Charles IV died in 1328
•No male heirCousin becomes king, Philip IV,
the Fair
•KOE Edward III believes he should be KOF
•Sent letter to Philip saying he will fight for throne
•Invaded France in 1337
Hundred Years War (1337-1453)—Course
•2 halves
•English Period (1337-1429)
•Final French victory (1429-1453)
•English Period
•Sluys (naval)
•Crecy (1346), Poitiers (1356), Agincourt (1415)
•Keys to victory: Paid mercenary armies, English
longbowmen
•French Period
•Jeanne d’Arc motivates French
•Charles VII defeats English at Orleans (1429)
•Momentum shifts until English driven from France
Hundred Years War (1337-1453)—Effects
•Mercenaries become essential part of European
warfare (question: what do unemployed
mercenaries do?)
•Gunpowder artillery signals end of castle and
knight warfaremedieval warfare
•Birth of nation-state (decline of local identity)
Philip III
(died 1285)
Charles
Count of Valois
(died 1325)
Philip IV
The Fair
(died 1314)
Philip V
(died 1322)
Charles IV
(died 1328)
Royal family tree of France
Note:
•Women can’t inherit throne
•Red=King of England
•Black=King of France
Isabella
(died 1358)
Edward II
(died 1327)
Edward III
(died 1377)
Philip VI
(died 1350)
100YW, when Edward III invaded France
100YW, after Black Death, Poitiers, Crecy
100YW, Just prior to Jeanne d’Arc
100YW, at end
From Froissart’s Chronicle. Picture of Battle of Crecy (1346)
From Froissart’s Chronicle. Picture of Battle of Poitiers (1356)
From Froissart’s Chronicle. English use of artillery
From http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/manuscrits/aman1.htm
From Froissart’s Chronicle. English use of artillery
Black Death—Basics
•Pandemic (worldwide epidemic)
•Bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis
•Spread through Europe between 1347-1352
•Returned periodically until 18th Century
Black Death—Origination
•Probably originated in East Asia
•Slowly moved westward by traders along the
Silk Road
•Merchants from Italian city of Genoa brought it
from Asia Minor to Italy in 1347
Black Death—Transmission
•Bacteria in the bloodstream
•Rats carried the fleas that lived among humans
(and on Genoese ships)
•Flea bites pass it between humans
Black Death--Cures
•Europeans didn’t understand health and
hygiene
•In Age of Faith, assumed cause was religious
•Blamed sinfulness of Humanity
•Also Jews, Muslimskilled them
•Remedies: garlic necklaces, dancing, self
flagellation
Black Death--Effects
•1/3 to 1/4 of Europe died
•Not consistent (some places spared, other
places completely destroyed)
•Labor shortagesWages and prices rise
•Feudalism and manorialism permanently
weakened
•Art and literaturepessimistic
Church Corruption—Causes
•Popes claimed supreme secular and spiritual
power growing (e.g., Pope Boniface VIII’s Unam
Sanctam)
•Theologians like Wycliffe and Hus begin
challenge the legitimacy of this authority
•Independent religious movements break out in
Europe (e.g., Hussites, Waldensians,
Albigensians)
•Only a matter of time before secular rulers
challenge Church’s authority
Church Corruption—Beginning of Avignon Papacy
•First major challenge from KOF
•KOF Philip IV decided to take a stand against Pope
and taxed French clergy
•Pope Boniface VIII responded by threatening interdict
•Philip ignored Boniface’s threat, not believing Pope’s
authority or credibility
•Philip sent knights to seize Boniface in Rome, died
within a month
•Fearing Philip’s wrath, cardinals selected a French
clergyman, Clement V, moved to Avignon in 1308
(southern French town)
Church Corruption—Avignon Papacy
•Papacy in Avignon from 1308 to 1378
•All French popes, under increasing control by
KOF
•Popes spent enormous amounts on papal
palace and lavish clothing
•Demanded taxes from bishops and abbeys
(who in turn demanded taxes from worshippers)
•Appointed relatives to church positions
•This behavior destroyed the credibility and
legitimacy of Pope for many
•Church Corruption—Great Schism
•In 1378, Pope Gregory XI returned Papacy to Rome, recognizing
damage done to authority and credibility
•Died soon afterwards
•Romans rioted, threatened papal electors to ensure a Roman
became next pope
•That was Pope Urban VIsuspicious, arrogant, violent temper
•French electors decided to elect their own insteadPope
Clement VII (called the anti-pope), and moved back to Avignon
•1378-14142 popes, one in Rome and one in Avignon (and at
one pope one in Pisa)
•In 1414, clergy realized damage this was doing to Church’s
credibility
•Council of Constance to bring an end to the schism
•Deposed all popes, elected compromise Pope Martin V
How did the Hundred Years’ War worsen . . .
The Black Death
•Destructiveness of war literally weakened
people’s ability resist the disease
•Kings focused on war not helping people
•Movement of armies helped spread disease
Church Corruption
•Church claimed authority over kings
•Tried to stop fighting
•Could not—looked powerless (no credibility) in
eyes of many
How did the Black Death worsen . . .
Hundred Years’ War
•Destructiveness of war literally weakened
people’s ability resist the disease
•Kings focused on war not helping people
•Movement of armies helped spread disease
Church Corruption
•People believed sinfulness caused Black Death
•Church failed to prevent sin
•Clergy more interested in money, power than in
helping those suffering from the Black Death
•Some clergymen fled rather than stay and help the
sick
How did Church Corruption worsen . . .
The Black Death
•People believed sinfulness caused Black Death
•Church failed to prevent sin
•Clergy more interested in money, power than in
helping those suffering from the Black Death
•Some clergymen fled rather than stay and help the
sick
Hundred Years’ War
•Church claimed authority over kings
•Tried to stop fighting
•Could not—looked powerless in eyes of many