Transcript Medieval Timeline Part III The Late Middle Ages

Medieval Timeline
Part III
The Late Middle Ages: 13001500
Rise of Strong Monarchy
Central Government
• England, an island, was the first to feel (and
act) like a nation.
• The English King became the most powerful
man in England:
1.
2.
The King overpowered the nobility. He was rich
and high-tech: His armies had longbows, pikes,
guns, and cannons.
The King allied himself with wealthy towns.
(Barons were from the country.)
1400—In England, Chaucer wrote The
Canterbury Tales
• It is a collection of stories. He describes life in
England and satirizes Church officials.
Rise of Nationalism
1337-1453—The Hundred Years War
• In 1337, England invaded France.
1. In 1415, the Battle of Agincourt, a modern
army (13,000 English) defeats a feudal army
(50,000 French).
2. The rise of nationalism.
3. The King is the most powerful person in the
nation. (Not the nobles. Not the Pope.)
Nationalism of FRANCE
1430—Joan of Arc
 During the 100 Years’ War (1337-1453)
England invaded France.
 Joan of Arc, a peasant girl claiming to
have had visions from God, led France to
victory.
 The British captured her and burned her
at the stake (for heresy).
 Joan of Arc came to symbolize France &
French nationalism.
Nationalism of ENGLAND
1470—The Ledgend of King Arthur
 King Arthur became a symbol of England, &
English nationalism.
 King Arthur was probably an actual person who
lived in England around 500 A.D. (Alfred the
Great)
 His story was not written until 1470.
• It tells about King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Sir
Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table.
• They live in Camelot and go in search of the Holy
Grail (Jesus’ cup at the Last Supper).
• The main theme is not chivalry; it is democracy &
justice.
• King Arthur and his men sit at a “round table.” They
are all equals.
The Church Loses Power
1095-1291—The Crusades
 The Christians did not recapture Jerusalem and
the Holy Land.
 The Pope and Crusaders had motives (political
power, material gain) other than religious ones.
1347-1350—The Black Death
 The Bubonic Plague killed 25% of Europe’s
population. One out of four people died!
 The Church was powerless to stop the plague.
 The Pope moved out of Rome (1309-1377) to
avoid the plague.
 The Church lost face among the people.
1492—The Reconquista
1492 was a big year:
 Ferdinand & Isabella became the King &
Queen of Spain.
 They defeated the Muslims. They
expelled the Jews.
 The Spanish Inquisition began.
 The Middle Ages Ended
 They financed Columbus’ voyages to the
New World.
 This was now the

Age of Exploration!