Renewal and Vitality

Viking Longboats

Lindisfarne Monastery, 793

Eventually these marauding raiders ended their pillaging & settled down in many areas of Europe including Normandy, Sicily, Sardinia, southern Italy and Kiev (Russia) and merged with the people. As the dust settled on the chaos and disorder, Europe slowly began to emerge with a new spirit.

Feudalism and Manorialism

An Agricultural Revolution

Lords of the manors promoted expansion of cultivated land Higher agricultural production reduced the number of deaths caused by starvation and dietary disease… Grain surplus meant that some livestock could survive the winter increasing fresh meat, milk and manure… Population increased

Benefits for the common man Peasants drained swamps, cleared forests and established new settlements Expansion contributed to the decline of serfdom- lords promised freedom from personal services in return for rent -in France in % were serfs; by 1350 only 10% remained as serfs Surplus food and increased population freed people to work at non-farming occupations, making the expansion of trade possible.

Cottage industries – “the putting out” system

Early entrepreneurs: the humble peddler

Revival of trade End of Viking attacks Expanding agricultural production Increasing population Greater political stability

The Crusades ( )

The Crusades (1096 – 1291) 1095 Pope Urban II called for “a Holy War against the Infidels…” at the Council of Clermont

Europe’s response: Religious persons who believed “God Wills It” Christians desired papal forgiveness Nobles expected to gain new lands Merchants saw a chance to make profits Serfs sought to escape feudal oppression Adventurers who welcomed travel and excitement

The Crusaders States The 1st Crusade led by Godfrey of Bouillon

After 200 years, … the Crusaders failed to take control of the Holy land but the impact on Europe was life-changing: Broadened the European outlook Stimulated trade Strengthened the power of kings and weakened the nobility Weakened Serfdom Encouraged learning

A commercial revolution begins… Cities like Venice, Genoa and Pisa grew prosperous during the Crusades and after as increasing trade with Byzantine and Islamic worlds -silks, sugar, spices and dyes increased tremendously. Traveling International Fairs – Champagne Large-scale enterprises on the Atlantic Ocean- shared costs, reduced risks led to more profit- making opportunities Advances in business techniques- banking houses; credit; accounting books

Trade Fairs attracted buyers and sellers, merchants from distant places exchanged news, Entertainers and ordinary people

Rebirth of towns: Towns were a revolutionary force- The townsman was a new man-

The birth of the University system:

The End