Social and Political Breakdown (1300-1453) CHAPTER 9 THE LATE MIDDLE AGES: Social and Political Breakdown (1300-1453)

Black Death, 1348–1350 precursor: overpopulation & malnutrition agricultural improvements increase food supply; European population doubles, 1000–1300, thereafter outstripping food production 1315–1317: crop failures produce worst famine of Middle Ages bubonic plague (“Black Death”) followed trade routes from Asia into Europe, probably via fleas on rates from Black Sea area popular remedies: relevant medical knowledge absent aromatic amulets temperance & moderation promiscuity & abandon flight & seclusion self-flagellation

Black Death (cont.) economic consequences: dramatic labor shortage, climbing wages for laborers & artisans falling agricultural, climbing luxury prices—noble landowners hardest hit attempts to freeze wages & force peasants to stay on land  peasant revolts cities (artisans) benefit from demand for luxury goods political/social consequences: artisan guilds win some political power kings take advantage of weakened nobility & church

The Culprits

Septicemic Form: almost 100% mortality rate. The Symptoms Bulbous Septicemic Form: almost 100% mortality rate.

The Disease Cycle Human is infected! Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria. Bacteria multiply in flea’s gut. Human is infected! Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound. Flea’s gut clogged with bacteria.

Attempts to Stop the Plague “Leeching” A Doctor’s Robe

Attempts to Stop the Plague Flagellanti: Self-inflicted “penance” for our sins!

Attempts to Stop the Plague Pograms against the Jews “Golden Circle” obligatory badge “Jew” hat

Medieval Art & the Plague An obsession with death.

The Mortality Rate 353099930% - 70% 25,000,000 dead !!!

Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) nominal cause: English king Edward III’s claim on French throne, thwarted by accession of first Valois king, Philip VI (r. 1328–1350) larger cause: English-French territorial, commercial, & cultural rivalry French weakness: larger & wealthier, but more internal discord

Causes of the 100 Years' War

1. Controversy Over Succession The French nobility selected Philip of Valois, a cousin of the last king through the male line. He founded a new French dynasty that ruled through the 16c. He was chosen in preference to King Edward III of England, whose mother was the daughter of the late king, Philip IV. In 1340, Edward claimed the title “King of France.”

2. Fr. Land Belonging to Br. Kings A longer standing issue was the status of lands within France that belonged to English kings. Edward was actually a vassal of Philip’s, holding sizable French territories as fiefs from the king of France [it went back to the Norman conquest].

3. Conflict Over Flanders The ‘dagger’ pointing at the ‘heart’ of England! Wool industry. Flanders wants its independence from French control. Asks England for help.

4. A Struggle for National Identity France was NOT a united country before the war began. The French king only controlled about half of the country.

Hundred Years’ War (cont.) First phase (under Edward III) Flanders allies with England, recognizing Edward as king of France, 1340 English seize Calais, 1346 English rout near Poitiers, 1356; French king John II taken captive 1360 treaty: John II ransomed, English claims in France recognized, Edward renounces claim to French throne Second phase (Treaty of Troyes) English war effort flags due to peasant revolts recommences with English victory at Agincourt, 1415 Duchy of Burgundy joins English Treaty of Troyes, 1420: named English Henry V successor to French Charles VI, but both soon die

Hundred Years’ War (cont.) Third phase (Joan of Arc) French teenage peasant Joan of Arc declares call from God to deliver besieged Orléans from English tired English repulsed, followed by string of French victories Joan captured 1430, tried & burned as heretic at English-held Rouen English forced back, conclude war with Calais as only French possession (1453) Summary: 68 years of peace, 44 of war; France devastated, but national feeling awakened; English & French peasants suffer most from taxes & services

The War Itself

Military Characteristics The War was a series of short raids and expeditions punctuated by a few major battles, marked off by truces or ineffective treaties. The relative strengths of each country dictated the sporadic nature of the struggle.

French Advantages Population of about 16,000,000. Far richer and more populous than England. At one point, the French fielded an army of over 50,000  at most, Britain mustered only 32,000.

British Advantages Weapons Technologies. In almost every engagement, the English were outnumbered. Britain’s most successful strategies: Avoid pitched battles. Engage in quick, profitable raids Steal what you can. Destroy everything else. Capture enemy knights to hold for ransom.

The Longbow as a Weapon The use of the English defensive position was the use of the longbow. Its arrows had more penetrating power than a bolt from a crossbow. Could pierce an inch of wood or the armor of a knight at 200 yards! A longbow could be fired more rapidly. 6 arrows per minute.

The British Longbow: The Battle of Poitiers, 1356

Early English Victories

Joan of Arc (1412-1432) The daughter of prosperous peasants from an area of Burgundy that had suffered under the English. Like many medieval mystics, she reported regular visions of divine revelation. Her “voices” told her to go to the king and assist him in driving out the English. She dressed like a man and was Charles’ most charismatic and feared military leader!

Cannons Used at Orleans

Joan Announces the Capture of Orleans to the King

Joan of Arc (1412-1432) She brought inspiration and a sense of national identity and self-confidence. With her aid, the king was crowned at Reims [ending the “disinheritance”]. She was captured during an attack on Paris and fell into English hands. Because of her “unnatural dress” and claim to divine guidance, she was condemned and burned as a heretic in 1432. She instantly became a symbol of French resistance.

Joan as a “Feminist” Symbol Today?

The End of the War Despite Joan’s capture, the French advance continued. By 1450 the English had lost all their major centers except Calais. In 1453 the French armies captured an English-held fortress. This was the last battle of the war. There was not treaty, only a cessation of hostilities.

France Becomes Unified! France in 1453 France in 1337

Late Medieval Church papal monarchy established by Pope Innocent III strengthened the church politically, but weakened it spiritually—undermined popular support Innocent’s successor’s: tightened & centralized church legal proceedings; elaborated clerical taxation; broadened papal powers of appointment demise of Hohenstaufens took away galvanizing enemy of church, made it vulnerable

Boniface VIII (r. 1294–1303) vs. Philip the Fair (r. 1285–1314) French & English kings raise taxes on clergy; Boniface decrees new taxes need papal consent French king Philip the Fair cuts off flow of money to Rome; Boniface concedes Boniface issues Unam Sanctam (1302), as confrontation with Philip ramps up, asserting subordination of temporal to spiritual power French army assault & molest Boniface, who later dies result: popes never again seriously threaten European rulers

Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) Pope Clement V moves papal court here to escape strife of Rome to get needed revenue, papal taxes go up, and sale of indulgences begins Pope John XXII (r. 1316–1334)—most powerful Avignon pope

John Wycliffe (d. 1384) and John Huss (d. 1415) Lollards: followers of Wycliffe, English spokesman for rights of royalty against popes; challenged indulgences, papal infallibility, transubstantiation—anticipates Protestantism Hussites: followers of Huss, rector of University of Prague—similar to Lollards

Great Schism (1378–1417) Urban VI and Clement VII—rival popes; England & allies support Urban, France & allies support Clement Conciliar Theory: idea that a representative council could regulate actions of pope Council of Pisa (1409–1410): deposed Urban & Clement (who refused to step down), elected Alexander V—three contending popes Council of Constance (1414–1417): provides for regular councils every few years Council of Basel (1431–1449): height of conciliar government of church; negotiated directly with heretics (Hussites) results of conciliar movement: greater religious responsibility to laity & secular governments

Mongol Rule in Russia (1243–1480) Mongols, or Tatars, sweep through China, Islamic world, & Russia, 13th c. Ghengis Khan (1155–1227) invades Russia, 1223 Russian cities become tribute-paying principalities of part of Mongol Empire known as the Golden Horde Russians impressed into Mongol military service, women taken as wives/concubines, some sold into slavery partial Islamization of Russian society 1380: beginning of Mongol decline in Russia; ends 1480 under Ivan the Great