Formation of Western
Europe
The High Middle Ages
1100 A.D. – 1500 A.D.
Chapter 14
I. Church Reform and the Crusades
Catholic Church Reforms
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Pope & Monks at Cluny fight corruption
Religious schools built
Franciscan & Dominican Orders
Gothic Cathedrals & Art
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Evidence of Church’s wealth
The Crusades
4 to 8 Religious holy wars between
Christians and Muslims (1096 – 1492)
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Pope wants to reunite Christianity
Knights go for Gold, Glory, & God
Goal is to take Holy Land from Muslims
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Reconquista: Christian Kingdoms drive
Muslims out of Spain (1100 & 1492)
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Inquisition: Church in Spain persecutes
suspected Jews.
Effect of the Crusades
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Europe emerges from Dark Ages
1.
2.
3.
4.
Muslim science brought to Europe
Ancient Texts rediscovered by West
Italian Cities get rich from trade
European kings gain power
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Constantinople weakened (1204)
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Muslims embittered.
Europe, 1142
Siege of Antioch, First Crusade
II. Trade, Towns, and Financial Revolution
1.
Population Grows: Warmer weather,
horsepower, three-field system
2.
Trade & Finance Expand: Crusades encouraged
trade & travel
–
Guilds: Artisans form unions
–
Banking prospers (Jews)
3.
Towns & cities Grow
4.
Universities:
-Vernacular literature
-Thomas Aquinas fuses Aristotle w/ Christianity
III. England & France Develop
England Absorbs Invasions Vikings &
English blend, Normans conquer in 1066
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Feudalism introduced by William I
English Govt.: becomes more democratic
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Jury trials
Magna Carta (1215) limits the King
Parliament (becomes legislature later)
France: becomes more absolutist
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Capetian Dynasty unites France
Estates-General (becomes legislature later)
1300s – 1400s = Age of Crisis
A. The Great Schism – Catholic Church divided
in 1300’s, two popes, reunited under one
pope in 1417
B. The Black Plague, 25 million people dead
in Europe 1347 -1351
C. The Hundred Years’ War – England vs.
France (1337-1453), 1429 – Joan of Arc,
peasant girl helps France win war, Eng & Fra
become nations.
D. Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Turks
in 1453
Priest Blesses Victims of the Plague
Joan of Arc
Europe, 1328
Europe, 1430’s
Europe, 1470’s