Chapter 29, Section 3 and Chapter 30, Section 1 Western Europe in the Middle Ages and The Renaissance and Reformation

The Middle Ages lasted from the decline of Rome until about A series of invaders moved into Europe and displaced the Romans. Much of the ancient learning was lost. Many small Germanic kingdoms emerged. Trade slowed and towns declined. The money economy disappeared.

Charlemagne- reunited much of the Western Roman Empire in 800AD. He set up efficient government, and helped Christian missionaries work throughout Northern Europe. He encouraged a revival of arts and learning.

At the bottom were the common people (mostly peasants) who lived on land belonging to the lord. The owed him service in exchange for protection. Serfs were tied to the land and not free to leave. Feudalism: A system of rule by local lords bound to a king by ties of loyalty. It governed the social, political, and economic order.

Educated church officials were sought after for advice. The church had large landholdings. The head was the Pope in Rome. He exercised spiritual and political authority over all (including kings). Sometimes he clashed with leaders.

The Crusades- in 1095 Pope Urban II called for crusade to take Holy Land from the Muslims. For 200 years Christian armies fought for lands in the Middle East. The crusaders brought new knowledge and technologies back from the Muslim world. They also brought back disease, like the bubonic plague (the Black Death).

The Renaissance- people turned to ancient Rome and Greece for inspiration. Scholars rediscovered knowledge lost or forgotten during the Middle Ages. A middle class sprung up from the merchants trading throughout the Mediterranean Sea. They had time and money for education and the arts.

Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince (handbook for rulers). “It is much safer to be feared than to be loved, if one must choose”.

The Printing Press- the Chinese invented printing, Muslims spread the tech, and in the 1400’s Europeans (Johann Gutenberg) developed printing with movable type. The printing press helped spread learning.

In 1488, Bartholomeu Dias rounded southern tip of Africa. Vasco de Gama then sailed all the way to India using this route. In 1492 Columbus opened the way for Spain to colonize the Americas. People looked for water passage through the Americas to the Pacific. Ferdinand Magellan went around southern tip of South America

The Protestant Reformation-Martin Luther (German priest) was disturbed by selling indulgences (pardon of sins). People criticized the worldliness and increasing wealth of the Catholic Church. Popes built palaces and waged wars. Reformers wanted to end papal corruption..