MIDDLE AGES

 I. AGRICULTURE – Expanding civilization required increased food supply; climate became warmer between AD *Switch from Oxen to horses *Three Field System – separated fields into 3 instead of 2 ; rotated crops *Food Production increased *People Lived Longer

 II.TRADES: *Development of GUILDS *Made up of workers who did same job *Worked to improve economic/social conditions *Set Standards and Prices/Made Rules *Merchant Guild; Craft Guild

 III. FINANCE – COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION *Expansion of trade and banking; more workers were needed *borrowing money led to creation of banks by Catholic Church *Jews became chief sources of loans *Merchants’ wealth and power expanded

IV. Urban life renewal V. Revival of learning * Centers of learning established- Universities * Contact with Muslims during Crusades increased available knowledge

 Revival of trade, but trade sometimes carried more than goods.  Highly Contagious Disease  Spread by fleas that lived on rats  Called the black death because once bitten by flea, people developed swellings and black bruises  Quickly became epidemic – no cure

 Began in Asia – 1300’s – carried by Mongols along Silk Road; spread to Middle East and North Africa  1347 plague swept through Italy; brought by traders to Europe (Spain, France, Germany, England)  Spreads Quickly – in 4 years spreads all through Europe

 Population Loss – about 1/3 of European pop.  Trade Declined – prices rose, production fell  Feudalism Declined – peasant revolt  Church Suffered – questioned faith  Jews were Blamed – persecuted/killed