1. AP EURO Unit #1 – Renaissance and Reformation Lesson #1 – Impact of the Middle Ages

2. The Power of the Church Power led to corruption
Formed in 4th century before fall of Rome
Combined Christian beliefs & Roman customs
HIGHLY symbolic and impressive image
Powerful influence on all lives:
Controlled calendar of holidays
Officiated most events
Crusades
Sale of INDULGENCES
4m – king vs. Rel.
(Guelfs vs. Ghibellines)
4m doc
Go up to 2:30
Power led to corruption
Abuses of power; living well & immoral
Simony (selling relics)

3. Early challenges to the Church
John Wycliffe (English)(~1375)
Issues:
Papal infallibility
Sale of Indulgences
Transubstantiation
Adding “truth” to scripture
Followers:
Lollards
Encouraged clerical poverty
Was discredited after a peasants revolt
Luther would remember this
Jan Huss (Czech)(~1405)
Continued Wycliffe’s work in HRE
Hussites
Excommunicated 1410
Outlawed 1414
Executed 1415

4. AFTER ROMANS…
They fought
They farmed
They died
They prayed

5. Homes in the Middle Ages
Um… what is that…
a barn?!

6. Culture of the Middle Ages
90% of people lived like animals
Life was short
Married young
Women had MANY pregnancies
“Little Ice Age” ( )
Rivers froze, crops never ripened
Torrential rains ruined crops
Poor harvest == mass starvation => poor birth rates
– “the Great Famine” – peasants forced to sell land to rich nobles
Fiefs and Vassals
Middle Ages society based on system of loyalty sold for protection
Nobles walled in property (FIEFS)
Knights swore allegiance to higher nobles (VASSALAGE)
Created a hierarchy – king at pinnacle

7. Hundred Years War 116 years of off-and-on fighting in France
England invaded 1337 when French king had no sons
England won most battles using Longbow
Joan of Arc – rallied French troops
French finally pushed English back
War was inconsistent
68 years of peace
34 years of fighting
jousting tournaments
Knight’s Tale trailer

8. Black Death Cause: 1347 – ship from Asia – crew mostly dead
Disease spread across continent FAST
Within 100 years, 40% of population was dead
No known cause
No known cure
No known defense
Church was expected to find answers – had none
4m doc
Bring out your dead
Results:
Church prestige damaged
Villages abandoned
Value of peasants grew

9. Muslim Empire Islam appeared in 610 on Arabian peninsula
Quickly spread throughout Middle East, then beyond the region
Pushed into Europe
Took over Spain
Took over Balkans
Stopped by heroic actions from Hungarians and French in 700s