MIDDLE AGES Chapter 10

Peasants, Trade, and Cities Early Middle Ages- small population High Middle Ages- increased population (from 38 million to 78 million) 1300’s Why the increase of population? More land to farm More food More peace Changes in technology – iron was a big deal! Changes in harvesting – crop rotation

Crop Rotation * Shift from a two- field to a three field system One field was planted in the fall with grains (rye and wheat) and they harvested in the summer The second field was planted in the spring with grains (oats and barley) and vegetables (peas and beans) that they harvested in the fall. They allowed the third field to lie fallow. This kept the soil fertile, while allowing people to grow more crops.

The Manorial System Manor: an agricultural estate that a lord ran and peasants worked. Serfs: peasants legally bounded to the land. They had to provide labor, pay rents, and by subject to the Lord’s control. The Peasant Household- depended on marital status, rather small or larger cottage.

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Cycle of Labor Depended on the season- August and September were crucial for the harvest of grains for making bread in the winter months. Feasts Days Holidays of the Catholic Church Three most important days Christmas Easter Pentecost Other Feasts were dedicated to saints or the Virgin Mary. There were more than 50 feast days Other religious activities were also a crucial part of the manorial system. New cycle would start in October when peasants worked the ground for the planting of winter months. November- slaughter of excess livestock

Peasants, Trade and Cities The revival of trade Money economy: an economic system based on money, rather than barter. Commercial Capitalism- an economic system in which people invested in trade and goods to make profits. The growth of cities More resources led to more things to trade Trade routes were established and more townspeople moved in to trading locations. Townspeople wanted extra freedoms than serfs. They eventually branched off into towns and cities with their own governments.

Industry and Guilds Guilds: business associations Learning a trade: Apprentice: age of 10, no pay, 5-7 years Journeymen: worked for wages for other masters and worked on completing a masterpiece.

Medieval Christianity Popes had claimed supremacy over the affairs of the Church. Papal States: territories in central Italy that were under full control of the church. A lot of controversy among the church and church leaders New groups began to emerge Cistercians Franciscans – Saint Francis of Assisi Dominicans- Dominic de Guzman, Spanish priest. Heresy- the denial of basic Church doctrines The Inquisition: Holy Office

Religion in the Middle Ages The Church and the completion of the holy sacraments were very crucial to the people. Saints and Relics (bones of saints or objects connected with saints). Jesus Christs Apostles Virgin Mary Saint Nicolas (Italians)

Culture of the Middle Ages Architecture Gothic style churches Stained glass windows Flying buttresses Pointed arches Page 349 has more pictures

Universities in Middle Ages First University: Bologna, Italy Students, men only come from all over Europe Then came The University of Paris and this lead to Oxford University and 50 more Universities by 1500’s Studies: liberal arts- grammer, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Oral Examinations Theology- the study of religion and God Bachelors, Masters or Doctors degree (additional 10 years) Scholasticism: integrating philosophy and theology St. Thomas Aquinas

Vernacular Literature Latin was the Universal Language of Medieval civilizations Birth of Vernacular- the language of everyday speech in a particular region, such as Spanish, French, English and German. Troubadour poetry chanson de geste, heroic epic poems

The Black Death During the 13 th century the middle ages had reached a high point, the population had grown and there was an explosion of learning and culture. The 14 th century would bring about many changes in medieval Europe. Europe had become overpopulated and people were beginning to feel the effects of that overpopulation. Prior to the plague, there was a famine from 1315 to 1322 which killed off about 10% of Europe' population.

What was the black death? Description The Black death was the most devastating natural disaster in European history. The Black Death, or plague, was a bacterial infection which killed 38 million people throughout Europe out of a pre-plague population of 75 million. In urban areas, the death rate was % of the population. Types of Plagues The most common form of plague was bubonic plague, which was carried by fleas which lived on black rats. There was also pneumonic plague, which was bubonic plague which settled in the lungs and was spread by coughing. There was also septicemic plague which attacked the bloodstream and could be spread from one person to another. It is thought that the plague originated in Asia and was spread via trade routes to Europe.

PLAGUE CLIP

Impact of Black Death Decline in population: 38 million people died from the black death. This caused a labor shortage throughout Europe. Where land had been scarce before, people could now gain access to it. Scarcity of Labor: The scarcity of labor caused by the plague actually helped improve working conditions for peasants in Europe. Many could demand wages for the first time. Decline in trust of the church Decline in trade

Social Symptoms The plague contributed to Anti- Semitism in Europe. People blamed the Jews for the plague. In the city of Strasbourg a Christian mob murdered 2,000 Jews. Similar massacres occurred throughout Europe.

Economic Consequences The Plague was actually good for the European Economy. There was enough farmland to go around. People were able to afford and buy land. Workers demanded wages for their labor. Cities grew as peasants and serfs, now free of feudal obligations, flocked to cities. Merchants explored new businesses.