The Late Middle Ages: Social and Political Breakdown
Hundred Years’ War 1337-1453 England and France England=victor until 1429 French eventually removed British
The Black Death 1347-1350 Plagues 1/3 of W. Europeans died Septicemic Pneumonic Bubonic 1/3 of W. Europeans died
The Black Death Cause? Curse from God Cures? Flagellation Bleeding
Challenges to RCC Avignon Papacy (1309-1377) Great Schism (1378-1417) Babylonian Captivity Great Schism (1378-1417) John Wycliffe English d. 1384 Jan Hus Czech d. 1415
Cultural Achievements In Early Middle Ages, culture regressed because of: Barbarian invasions Feudalism People’s concern for barest essentials of life
Cultural Achievements In High Middle Ages, culture progressed because: Church provided leadership and support Crusades spread knowledge of Byzantine and Moslem civilization Towns=centers of culture and learning
Cultural Achievements Architecture Romanesque (pre-1100s) Massive cathedrals Featured: Thick walls Few windows Rounded arches Strong columns
Cultural Achievements Architecture (cont’d) Gothic (1100s+) More graceful style Featured: Flying buttresses Pointed arches Thin walls Stained-glass windows
Pointed arches Ribbed vaults
Thrust
Notre Dame
Cultural Achievements Higher education Universities founded Except for religion, relied chiefly on Aristotle’s writings Students faced difficulties: Taught in Latin, not vernacular Lacked books and libraries
Cultural Achievements Science & invention Medieval scientists were quite unscientific Rarely experimented or questioned Mainly accepted: Popular superstitions Ideas of Aristotle
Cultural Achievements Philosophy & theology Scholasticism--method of using pure reason in defense of faith St. Thomas Aquinas Wrote Summa Theologica Denied conflict between reason and faith Influenced by Aristotle
Cultural Achievements Literature Few books written Epic poems Beowulf--Anglo-Saxon poem Song of Roland--French epic Song of Cid--Spanish story Lyrical poems Mostly about love By wandering musicians
Rise of nation-states 14th-17th centuries England/ France Spain/Portugal Russia/Poland/Ottoman Empire Germany/Italy
The Late Middle Ages: Social and Political Breakdown