The Middle Ages Wrap-Up Notes

Thomas Aquinas After the Crusades, Europeans started to move out of the Middle Ages. Construction began because of new styles of architecture, universities developed where Europeans would study law, medicine and theology. Theology is the study of religion and God. In the 1200s, an frair named Thomas Aquinas had a major work called Summa Theologica, or a summary of knowledge on theology. He wrote about God’s existence, as well as the government. Natural Law: Some laws have authority from human nature, Such laws do not have to be made by governments. Gives people certain basic rights. Right to live, to learn, to worship, and to marry.

Towns and Cities As Europe’s trade increased, towns grew larger. Venice became a major trading city. As trade grew, merchants demanded payment in gold and silver coins. People began using money to buy goods. Some merchants set up banks. This created a middle class in Europe. The middle class started to become more independent from the nobles, wanted less taxes and more rights. Crusades and the Plague helped with this.

Reconquista Towards the end of the Crusades, Christian armies drove out Muslims in a struggle called the Reconquista. Their goal was to take back all of Spain. They were successful. As the Reconquista ended, the Spanish king and queen began to persecute anyone not following the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Spanish Inquisition tried and tortured thousands of people who were accused of being disloyal to the Catholic Church in Spain.