DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2013
The Formation of Western Europe: The Church, Crusades, and Changes (14.1, 14.2) HIGHT MIDDLE AGES (1050-1450)
OBJECTIVES:
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We will be able to explain the spiritual revival and Church reforms that began in the 11th century.
We will be able to summarize the causes of the Crusades and analyze the effects of the Crusades.
We will be able to analyze the impact of advances in agriculture.
We will be able to trace the growth of trade, finance, learning and the development of medieval towns.
An Age of Faith
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o Between 500-1000 Europe was a dark age
o Around the 900s, a new spirit invaded the church and brought about a spiritual revival in the clergy
Problems in the Church
o Village priests were married and had families --against Church rulings
o Bishops sold positions in the Church, this was called simony
o Kings used lay investiture
REFORM MOVEMENTS
o I. Cluniac Reform
 In the 900s, abbot Berno of Cluny, revived the Benedictine Rule
 1073, Pope Gregory VII, extended the reform to the entire Church
 Outlawed marriage (Clergy)
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Prohibited Simony (Selling of Church positions)
 Church used taxes to pay for the sick and poor- most hospitals in
Europe
o Friars: reform led to monks who did not live in isolated monasteries but
travel around Europe’s growing towns preaching to the poor (teach by
example)
Cathedrals: Cities of God
o New spirit and more money fueled buildings of churches
 Gothic Style in the 1100s and continues today
 A key feature of this style was the Flying Buttresses, or
stone supports that stood outside the church leaving room for
huge Stained Glass windows.
 Cities all over Europe competed to build grander, taller
cathedrals to Glorify GOD
 Stain glass depicted the life of Jesus, and Biblical events
which served as a religious education for the people.
Result: The Age of Faith helped push the Church closer to an empire rather than being
simply a religious order. Wars of conquest were inspired which would give way to the
violent holy wars known as the Crusades.
THE CRUSADES***Main Idea: The Crusades stimulated economic and political change
in Europe and broadened Europeans view of the world.
The Crusades ("Holy War")......History’s Most Successful FAILURE
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The Byzantine emperor urgently asked Pope Urban II to help him fight the Turks. Although rivals, Urban agreed.
At the Council of Clermont 1095, Urban incited bishops and nobles to action.
MOTIVES:
o “GOD Wills It!” by 1096, thousands of knights were on their way to the Holy Land.
o Many knights hoped for adventure, or to win wealth and Land
o Pope Urban also hoped to increase his power and perhaps heal the Schism or split between the Roman and
Byzantine Churches
o Opportunity to get rid of knights that caused problems
o Merchants made money by loaning to finance
The First Crusade
o Pope called on Christians to fight and recover the Holy Land (Jerusalem)
 persecuted Jews, as they were blamed for killing Jesus
o Pope promised glory, riches, titles, and forgiveness of sins if people fought (ie. ticket to heaven)
o Only the First Crusade (1097-1099) came close to achieving its goal.
 In 1099, Christian Knights captured Jerusalem
DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2013
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The Crusades...All Together (2-8)
o The Crusades continued, off and on, for over 200 years (8 Total)
o The Third Crusade led by Kings (Particularly Richard the Lion-Hearted of England) Europe against Muslim
leader Saladin
 Truce or agreement after battles that unarmed Christians could visit holy land
o During the Fourth Crusade, the crusaders were diverted from fighting Muslims to fighting Christians because
Venetian merchants and crusaders in 1204 – captured and looted Constantinople, the Byzantine capital.
o By 1291, Muslim armies captured the last Christian outpost, the victors massacred their defeated enemies, this time
they were Christians
Effects of the Crusades
o Example of Church power
o Trade was expanded between Europe and Southwest Asia
o Failure of later crusades lessened the power of the pope
o The Crusades weakened the power of the feudal nobility
 Increased power of kings
o Thousands of knights and other participants lost their lives
o Began a legacy of bitterness and hatred of Christians for the Muslims
o Persecution of Jews
o Those who survived brought back culture to Europe
Reconquista (1100-1492) (The Reconquest of Spain)
o Christians sought to take over Muslim held lands (Starting in 1100)
o In 1469, Isabella of Castile married Ferdinand of Aragon, both made a final push against the Muslim strong hold of
Granada, and in 1492, the Reconquista was complete.
o The religious Toleration ended with Isabella.
o With support from the Inquisition-- A Church court set up to try people accused of heresy: Isabella launched a
brutal crusade against Jews and Muslims.
o Achieves religious unity but 150k left Spain
Economic Expansion****Main Idea: during the middle ages, Europe's economy grew, cities and towns expanded, and a middle
class arose****
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Growing Food Supply By 1000
o Warmer Climate
o Use of horses (2x as much work as Ox) and Iron plows
o Three-field System-Two fields planted and the other lay fallow (resting)--Food Production increased
o Swamps drained and woods cut for more land to farm on manors
o Agricultural Revolution-- More Food More People / Population
o Trade Revives – growing population the demand for goods not available on the manor increased.
DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2013
I. New business Practices
 With the changing economy, many merchants looked for new ways of doing business. Many joined together in an
organization, to provide less individual risk, called a Partnership
Bill of Exchange: adopted from the Middle Eastern merchants, where merchants deposit money with a banker at home
and then can exchange the bill for cash in a distant city.
II. Social changes
 By 1300, most peasants in Western Europe were either Tenant Farmers who paid rent for their land, or hired farm
laborers.
 By around 1000, a new class including merchants, traders, and artisans made up the Middle Class that stood between the
nobles and peasants.
 Usury: lending money at interest.
Town and City Life – Medieval towns and cities were a jumble of narrow streets lined with tall houses. Even the wealthiest
of cities were filthy, smelly, noisy, and overflowing their high – protective walls that surrounded them.
The Revival of Learning
 Received translations of Greek philosophy
o Crusaders brought back Muslim technology in ships, navigation, and weapons
 Universities form around 1100
o Student life offered few comforts and a program of study covered seven liberal arts: Arithmetic, Geography
Astronomy, Music, Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic
 Poets began using Vernacular (everyday language)
o This allowed for great epics like The Canterbury TalesStories of common man or feudal warriors
Europeans Acquire “New” Learning
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Newly translated works of Aristotle and other Greek thinkers had set off a revolution in the world of learning.
These ancient Greek writing posed a challenge to Christian scholars, who were attempting to resolve the conflict between
Faith and Reason.
These Christian scholars known as Scholastics, used reason to support Christian beliefs –(1200s) Thomas Aquinas: Faith
and reason exist in harmony – God over all.
DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2013