1300-1450 A period of crisis? 1000-1300 Growth in population of Europe, leading to overpopulation c. 1300 Weather in Europe gets colder and wetter 1315-17 Famine and epidemics in Europe

Bubonic plague - buboes Septicaemic plague Pneumonic plague

1347 Plague in Italy 1348 Plague in France 1349 Plague in England 1350 Plague throughout Europe. Further outbreaks follow

1400 Population of Europe has halved 1665 Last outbreak of plague in England 1720 Last outbreak of plague in France Replacement of black rats by brown rats

Map Link: Spread of the Black Death, 1346-53 (Animated): <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/ Blackdeath2.gif> Map Link: Spread of the Black Death, 1346-53 <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/ thumb/d/dc/Bubonic_plague_map.PNG/ 640px-Bubonic_plague_map.PNG>

1345 Faculty of Medicine at the University of Paris blames the plague on a planetary conjunction 1348 and 1349 massacres of Jews in Germany Oct 1349 Pope orders suppression of flagellants

Treatises on the “Art of Dying” Transitio/cadaver tombs Dance of Death/Danse Macabre

1370s Wages rising due to reduced workforce Sumptuary laws Attempts to limit wage increases 1323-28 Rebellion by peasants and urban workers in Flanders

French peasant revolt (Jacquerie), 1358: Additional causes: lack of protection of peasants from looters, taxes Origins at St Leu north of Paris, but spreads widely Bloodily suppressed

English peasants’ rebellion, 1381: Causes: Controls on wages and peasant mobility, poll tax Begins in Essex, spreads to Kent Peasants take Rochester Castle, Canterbury, march on London

King Richard II (r. 1377-99) decides to negotiate and agrees to end serfdom Rebels continue attacking royal officials Peasants demand that church property be divided among laity, abolition of feudal/manorial system, but in a scuffle Mayor Walworth kills Wat Tyler Rebels dispersed peacefully, but king revokes charters

Nationalist sentiment/formation of more clearly- defined states: England and France in wake of Hundred Years’ War - Henry V (r. 1413-22) Late 15th c. Formation of Russia based at Moscow - Ivan III the Great (r. 1462-1505) Union of Aragon and Castile in Spain in 1469, with destruction of Granada in 1492 Discussions of nature of states at Council of Constance (1415)

Early 14th c. Cannon first used in Europe End 15th c. Start of shift to units armed with handguns. Also move to use of lighter armour Mid-16th c. Longbows still in use in England

Alternate sources of troops: From c. 1300 Free companies (mercenaries), employed either temporarily or as permanent standing armies Attempts in France to employ peasants as archers, generally unsuccessful

Changes in court culture: Emphasis on lineage, landed wealth, service to king, education, instead of military prowess

Christine de Pizan (c. 1363-c. 1429) Italian, at court of Charles V of France (r. 1364-80) Managed to retain property after death of husband Made living by writing, incl. ballads, lyrics and on politics and morality

Taxation: Move to more regular taxes incl. sales taxes, poll taxes Issues of consent: cortes in Spain, Magna Carta in England

By reign of Edward III of England (r. 1327-77): Great Council of (theoretically) senior land-holders of realm Hereditary peerage Fewer clergy in parliament (eventually 21 bishops, 27 abbots/priors) Representatives from shires and towns

By reign of Edward III of England (r. 1327-77): House of Lords: Great Council, other land-holders, clergy House of Commons: representatives of shires and towns Commons as originator of legislation, within limits Power of parliament

Starting 1304: Meetings of Estates General (Nobles, clergy, townsfolk) in France Main (unsuccessful) efforts to build power of Estates General from townsfolk Problems of representation, lack of unity of purpose End 15th c. Estates General no longer meeting, kings of France becoming absolute monarchs

Johannes de Trokelowe Monk at Abbey of St Albans, England Contributor to Annales Monasterii Sancti Albani, abbey chronicle

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-75) Son of wealthy merchant from Certaldo or Florence Studied canon law but became writer Lived in Naples and Florence, then served as diplomat from 1350

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-75) Various works, incl. Decameron, completed 1358 Eventually retired, then mostly in Certaldo, where died

Jean Froissart (1330s-after 1404) Clergyman from Valenciennes in France Devoted to writing of literature, attracted patronage of nobility and royalty Chroniques

Anonimalle Chronicle Chronicle written at Abbey of St Mary, York French, covers 1307-81 in various manuscripts

Christine de Pizan (c. 1363-c. 1429) Book of the City of Ladies

Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc, 1412-31) Peasant girl from Domrémy, France Believes was instructed by saints to raise siege of Orleans, gains ear of dauphin Charles in 1429 Charles sends Joan to join garrison of Orleans. They defeat English, who are also driven from wider region

Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc, 1412-31) July 17th, 1429 Coronation of Charles (VII, r. 1422-61) 1430 Joan captured 1431 Joan is tried by English, found guilty of witchcraft and burned at the stake