The Middle Ages in Western Europe 500-1500
Early Middle Ages (500-1000) Europe fragmented into various Germanic kingdoms after Rome’s collapse in 5th c. Spain, S. Italy, and Sicily were all conquered by Muslims by 8th c. Feudal system developed
High Middle Ages (1000-1300) The Crusades Muslim Turks controlled Christian shrines in M. E. by 1000 Pope urged Christian knights to “liberate” the Holy Land Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099
Saladin recaptured Jerusalem during 3rd Crusade Muslims had recaptured all of the Holy Land by 1291
Impact of the Crusades Benefited the European economy, especially N. Italy Europeans gained new technologies from the Muslim world Europe started to emerge from the isolation of the Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages (1300-1450) The Black Death Killed 1/3 of Europe’s population Impact: -Decline of Feudalism -Peasant Revolts -Improved peasant conditions post-Plague
The Great Western Schism Resulted from the election of two competing popes Europe took sides Eventually resolved, but popes lost power to kings Weakened the Church as an institution
The Hundred Years’ War Began with a dispute over French throne England won important early victories (longbow, gunpowder) English were expelled from most of France by 1453
Impacts? Nobility decimated Kings centralized power Feudal decline accelerated Growth of nationalism