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
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 Science & invention (cont’d) Scientists: Alchemists Astrologers Roger Bacon Science requires: Experimentation Observation
Cultural Achievements Philosophy & theology Scholasticism--method of using pure reason in defense of faith Scholars Peter Abelard Famous medieval teacher Wrote Sic et Non Differing views of RCC leaders on various issues
Cultural Achievements Philosophy & theology (cont’d) Scholars (cont’d) 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
National Development England/France Spain/Portugal Russia/Ottoman Empire HRE/Italy
The Late Middle Ages: Social and Political Breakdown