1. Breakdown of Medieval Society

2. Famine and Warfare
By the 1300s Europe had enjoyed two centuries of economic growth
Great famine
it rained so much crops were ruined
Cattle died of diseases brought by on the wet weather
People died of starvation
The Hundred Year’s War ( )
Edward III of England claimed the throne of France
Rural areas suffered as roaming armies destroyed crops and brought starvation to peasant communities
The war increased the sense of patriotism that was developing in each kingdom

3. Lethal weapons
English won many early battles due to a new powerful weapon
Longbow
Soon both sides were using even deadlier new weapons: guns and cannons
Guns shot through armor, cannons blasted though even the strongest castle
The age of knights and castles was ending

4. The French defeated England after her death
Joan of Arc
France was losing the war by the early 1400s
Joan claimed that voices from heaven told her to dress in knight’s clothing and lead the French army to victory
Led French soldiers against the English and won important victories
Captured by the English and burned at the steak
The French defeated England after her death

5. The Black Death
Began ten years after the Hundred Year’s war began in 1347, ended in 1352
Called the “Great Dying” at the time
No one knew the cause
The Spread of the Disease
Began in Central Asia
Slowly spread along trade networks
Slowly tore apart European society
As the plague spread fear of contact drove many into isolation
The rich fled the towns

6. Effects of the Black Death
A culture of despair
The art of the time reveals an obsession with death and disease
Economic changes
With too few people to cultivate the land, farmland reverted to pasture
Manor lords were desperate for workers
Serfs demanded wages for their work and left manor to work where wages were highest
Effects on the Church
England lost 40% of its clergy
The Church was forced to hire men who were uneducated
Encouraged a movement to reform Church practices
Toward a new world
After the Black Death Western Europeans were less tied to a stable social and spiritual community
Serf defined manorial lords and criticized medieval traditions
The shock of the Black Death brought about the end of the Middle Ages and the arrival of the modern world