AP EURO Unit #1 – Renaissance and Reformation Lesson #1 – Impact of the Middle Ages
The Power of the Church Power led to corruption Formed in 4th century before fall of Rome Combined Christian beliefs & Roman customs HIGHLY symbolic and impressive image Powerful influence on all lives: Controlled calendar of holidays Officiated most events Crusades Sale of INDULGENCES 4m – king vs. Rel. (Guelfs vs. Ghibellines) 4m doc Go up to 2:30 Power led to corruption Abuses of power; living well & immoral Simony (selling relics)
Early challenges to the Church John Wycliffe (English)(~1375) Issues: Papal infallibility Sale of Indulgences Transubstantiation Adding “truth” to scripture Followers: Lollards Encouraged clerical poverty Was discredited after a peasants revolt Luther would remember this Jan Huss (Czech)(~1405) Continued Wycliffe’s work in HRE Hussites Excommunicated 1410 Outlawed 1414 Executed 1415
AFTER ROMANS… They fought They farmed They died They prayed
Homes in the Middle Ages Um… what is that… a barn?!
Culture of the Middle Ages 90% of people lived like animals Life was short Married young Women had MANY pregnancies “Little Ice Age” (1300-1450) Rivers froze, crops never ripened Torrential rains ruined crops Poor harvest == mass starvation => poor birth rates 1315-1322 – “the Great Famine” – peasants forced to sell land to rich nobles Fiefs and Vassals Middle Ages society based on system of loyalty sold for protection Nobles walled in property (FIEFS) Knights swore allegiance to higher nobles (VASSALAGE) Created a hierarchy – king at pinnacle
Hundred Years War 116 years of off-and-on fighting in France England invaded 1337 when French king had no sons England won most battles using Longbow Joan of Arc – rallied French troops French finally pushed English back War was inconsistent 68 years of peace 34 years of fighting jousting tournaments Knight’s Tale trailer
Black Death Cause: 1347 – ship from Asia – crew mostly dead Disease spread across continent FAST Within 100 years, 40% of population was dead No known cause No known cure No known defense Church was expected to find answers – had none 4m doc Bring out your dead Results: Church prestige damaged Villages abandoned Value of peasants grew
Muslim Empire Islam appeared in 610 on Arabian peninsula Quickly spread throughout Middle East, then beyond the region Pushed into Europe Took over Spain Took over Balkans Stopped by heroic actions from Hungarians and French in 700s