1. The Late Middle Ages (1200-1400) World History - Libertyville HS

2. Characteristics of Period Agriculture – Limits of agricultural land reached – “Mini Ice Age” caused famines, loss of crops due to poor growing seasons / long winters Politics – Wars common through period as political consolidation continued

3. Characteristics of Period Economic – Invention of double entry bookkeeping allowed for keeping track of debts and income at same time – Led to development of banking – Rise of Italian banking families Medici, of Florence Became patrons of the Renaissance

4. Characteristics of Period Hanseatic League (N. Holy Roman Empire) – Trading federation among Baltic Sea & inland HRE – Political, economic force in late Middle Ages (fish on Fridays) – Helped create larger, more varied European trading communities Luxury goods became more available for rich Iron tools became more common for poor

5. Characteristics of Period Religious – Real and perceived corruption of Church Simony, sale of indulgences – Rise of “heretics” (people who disagree with Catholic church) – Jon Hus – Czech philosopher who opposed simony, indulgences – Invited to debate church – Imprisoned, burned at stake – Important because he foreshadowed Protestant Reformation – Inquisition

6. Characteristics of Period Education – Rise of universities in 1100s, in Europe – “University” = community of scholars – Universities usually run by priests, monks – Purpose of learning was to understand God better – Universities surprisingly accepting of ideas from other cultures (zero, Arabic numbers for math)

7. Black Death (1347-1350) Estimated death toll = 50 million – Between 1/3 and ½ of population of Europe Death toll high, but not only b/c of plague – Trade stopped (no food) – Famines – Labor shortages, in fields – 100 Years War started in 1337

8. Black Death (Bubonic Plague) Bubonic plague carried by fleas Fleas carried by Rats Plague actually a virus Made its way to Europe from China – Probably brought from East by Italian merchants – Rats on ships brought infected fleas to Europe

9. Bubonic Plague Characteristics Fever, blotches all over body Huge swelling under armpits, around lymph nodes, called buboes If they burst, you were ok; if not, you were dead within hours Puncturing them with a knife did not help

10. Responses to the Plague Doctors thought it was transmitted through the air (herbs, incense) Religious leaders thought God was punishing man for sins – Flagellant cult: travelling groups who prayed for forgiveness & whipped themselves as a sign of repentance – Blamed Jews for plague (attacks)

11. Effects of Plague Peasant life improved – Population way down, but their service became valuable – Demanded wages, better working conditions from Lords – If life didn’t improve, peasants rebelled Nobility were less affected by plague – Less contact with virus carrying rats – 1 prince, relatively few nobles died – Affected more by economic, political changes