Unit 1: Ancient Civ.-Middle Ages Late Middle Ages,
CULTURE Revival of education/learning Establishment of colleges Literacy begins to return as more than just clergy can read/write
TECHNOLOGY/ CONTRIBUTIONS Improvements in farming: iron plow harness crop rotation Results of this: increased food supply growth in population frees up people to pursue other careers
GOVERNMENT Birth of 1st nation-states (countries) ▫England ▫France ▫Spain Kings becoming more powerful than feudal lords Nations provide for citizens' welfare & protection
ECONOMY Revival of trade to more distant markets Towns/Cities begin to reappear Dev. of new social class (merchants, townspeople, or middle-class) Money, banks, business becoming impt.
RELIGION Catholic Church still most powerful entity in Europe during this time Church abusing this power in several ways
DECLINE Feudalism starting to break up and decline New capitalist economic system (based on ability & profit) replacing old feudal system(based on family status & land) Other Factors: The Crusades, the 100 Years War, the Black Death
BACK OF MATRIX: DECLINE OF FEUDALISM (CONT.) The Crusades ▫Series of Holy Wars btwn Christians (Europe) and Muslims (Middle East); approx AD ▫Introduced Europe to new trade goods/lost knowledge of Greeks & Romans The 100 Years War ▫Btwn France & England over English throne ▫Increased feeling of nationalism (love for one’s nation) ▫Led to death of many noblemen (reducing proportion of nobles to peasants)
The Black Death Plague that struck Europe around 1100s Wiped out 1/3 of population (mostly peasants), causing a labor shortage Gave peasants more power to demand better conditions from nobles Many left the manor and moved into the towns/cities that were reviving
Impt. Vocabulary Terms Clergy Crop rotation Nation-states Merchant class (townspeople) Capitalism The Crusades The 100 Years War The Black Death