1. The End of the Middle Ages

2. Food Supply Begins to Expand
Climate began warming up around world
Opened new areas in north to farming
New ways to farm are created
Began using horses instead of oxen – faster
Invented a new collar harness for horse
Old one for oxen choked the horses
Began using the 3-field system
Split their fields into 3 areas vs. just 2
Allowed them to farm 2/3 of land vs. just 1/2
Increased farming led to more food
More food led to healthier people who lived longer
Living longer meant larger population
Larger pop. needs more food, more farms to grow
More Farms
More Food
Longer Life
More People

3. Trade and Finance Expand
Trade began expanding due to Crusades
Fairs- people from manors go to trade goods
Guilds- group of people doing the same job
Sort of like a union- helped to control wages
Towns grow with increased population
People begin specializing their work again
People need to borrow money for business
Had to buy products to be able to sell them
Christians not allowed to lend money
Usury- charging interest on loaned money
Jews able to- become the first lenders

4. The City is Reborn but Smaller
Populations of towns explodes quickly
Smaller than cities from past, but were full
People ran to towns to flee peasant/serf life
Considered free after a year and one day in town
Towns were crowded and unplanned
Streets were narrow, full of animals
No sewers, human waste dumped in streets
Town growth begins to ruin feudal system
Feudal lords still controlled lands
Rebellions were common against landlord
Do not like the high taxes when they are free

5. The Revival of Learning
Growth of farming, population and time leads to the revival of learning again
Universities are created
Was a group of people, not a building
People went to school to get better jobs
Went for 5-13 years; wanted government jobs
Scholars study ancient works at Muslim libraries
Translate works back to Latin
Writers begin using vernacular
Writing in the local dialect/language
Different because its not Latin
Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales (example)

6. The Formation of England
Around 800s Angles and Saxons settled on the island of Britain
Known as the “land of the Angles”
England becomes united in early 1000s
King dies in 1066 with no heir to throne
William the Conqueror claims it
Was the cousin of the dead king
Came from Normandy, France
Attack known as the Norman Conquest
William was not the only person to claim
Battle of Hastings- battle for England
William the Conqueror wins; takes all land

7. Leaders of England After William
William dies, Henry II takes over
Descendant of William the Conqueror
Marries Eleanor of Aquitaine (France)
Now held lands in France and England
She gave birth to 2 famous kings
Richard the Lion-Hearted and King John
Henry II institutes new system of law
Sent judges to handle cases, instituted the use of 12 man juries in England
Eventually created a body of laws
Became known as ‘common law’
The basis for law in countries around the world today

8. The Children of Henry II
Richard would go fight in the Crusades
Would later die, power goes to John
King John was a terrible leader
Losses the kingdoms land in France
Constantly trying to raise taxes
Nobles revolt against him because of it
Nobles force him to sign the Magna Carta (1215)
Document guaranteed certain political rights
Rights applied to all people, limits king’s power
No tax without representation, a jury trail, protection of law
These now considered people’s basic rights
Later a parliament will be created in England
Gave equal representation to all areas (1295)

9. The Hundred Years War War b/w England and France- 1337 - 1453
Fought while the plague is spreading
French king dies with no heir, England claims it
England wins 3 major early battles
Win b/c longbowmen better than knights
Longbowmen can attack faster and further away
Knights were slow and needed to be close
Would end the age of the knight
Joan of Arc – teenage girl, savior of France
France had signed treaty to give up lands soon
Has visions she is to save France, and saves France
Joan later captured – given to England
England gives her to Church who puts her on trial
Found to be a witch; was burned by the Church
French king never tries to save her

10. Impacts of the Hundred Years War
French win the war, keep their lands
French king gains power and prestige
Country of France seen as stronger
English embarrassed by their loss
Strengthens the powers of parliament
Both countries grow stronger feelings of nationalism for their country
Love/respect for one’s country
Considered the end of the Middle Ages
Also the end of chivalry and religious devotion
Considered the end of the Age of Faith as well