Europe on the Eve of
Colonization
The Later Middle Ages
Renaissance
New Monarchs
The Later Middle Ages
Major Theme- A series of Crises in the Later
Middle Ages transformed European
Society
 The Black Death (1347)
 The Hundred Years War (1309-1377)
 Great Schism in the Catholic Church
(1377-1415)
I.
The Black Death (1347)
A. Causes
1. Bubonic plague was carried by
fleas on Asian black rats and brought to
Europe on ships returning from Asia
2. Overcrowding in cities and
homes facilitated the spread of the
disease
3. Poor sanitation in cities
4. Widespread malnutricion prior to
the plague led to poor health
5. Poor hygiene
I.
The Black Death
B. The Results
1. Loss of 1/3 of European
population
2. Economy in towns suffered
significantly
3. In some areas workers enjoyed
higher wages as the supply of workers
was depleted
4. Impact on peasantry
5. Best of the Clergy died
I.
The Black Death
B. The Results
6. Jews were often blamed for the
plague and thus persecuted
7. Literature and Art reflected
pessimism
8. Population did not reach preplague level until the mid 16th century
II. Hundred Years War
A. Cause: English crown lay claim to the
duchy of Aquitaine
B. The War
1. Most of the War was fought
intermittently in France and the Low
Countries
2. By 1415, the major battles had been
won by England and Paris itself was
threatened
II. Hundred Years War
B. The War
3. Joan of Arc
C. Results
1. France permanently removed England from
France
2. The struggles of war began the
modernization of state building in France and
England
3. Peasant Revolts
a. end of serfdom in England (1550)
III. Crisis in the Catholic Church
A. Background
1. Western and European society was
dominated by the catholic church since the
fall of the Roman Empire
2. The Middle Ages were characterized
by religious unity under the Catholic Church
B. Great Schism
1. Conflict occurred in 1377 with the
election of two popes- one in Rome and
one in France- neither of whom recognized
each other.
Renaissance
I.
Background
A. The Renaissance is considered the
beginning of modern European History
B. Renaissance (1300-1600)
1. Occurred first in Italy and lasted
until the mid 16th century
2. Renaissance spread to Northern
Europe around 1450
3. In England, the Renaissance did
not begin until the 16th century
I.
Background
C. Stood in contrast to the Middle Ages
D. Renaissance culture applied almost
exclusively to the upper class
I. “New” Monarchs: c.1460-1520
A. Consolidated power and created the
foundation for Europe’s first modern nationstates in France, England and Spain.
1. This evolution had begun in the Middle
Ages. Meanwhile, monarchies had grown
weaker in eastern Europe during the Middle
Ages.
2. However, New Monarchies never
achieved absolute power; absolutism did not
emerge effectively until the 17th century (e.g.
Louis XIV in France).
I. “New” Monarchs: c.1460-1520
3. New Monarchies also were not
nation-states (in the modern sense) since
populations did not necessarily feel that
they belonged to a “nation”
a. Identity tended to be much
more local or regional.
b. The modern notion of
nationalism did not emerge until the late
18th and early 19th centuries.
I. “New” Monarchs: c.1460-1520
B. Characteristics of New Monarchies
1. Reduced the power of the nobility through
taxation, confiscation of lands (from
uncooperative nobles), and the hiring of
mercenary armies or the creation of standing
armies
a. The advent of gunpowder (that
resulted in the production of muskets and
cannon) increased the vulnerability of noble
armies and their knights
b. However, many nobles in return for
their support of the king gained titles and offices
and served in the royal court or as royal officials
I. “New” Monarchs: c.1460-1520
2. Reduced the political power of the clergy
a. The medieval notion of the Church being
supreme to the state was replaced in belief and
practice
3. Created more efficient bureaucracies
a. Enabled the “New Monarchs” to begin
centralizing control of their realms
4. Increased the political influence of the
bourgeoisie (at the expense of the nobility)
a. In return, the bourgeoisie brought in much
needed revenues to the Crown.
b. This was more so in France than in Spain.
5. Increased the public (national) debt by taking
out loans from merchant-bankers.
I. “New” Monarchs: c.1460-1520
C. Opposition to monarchial power
1. Nobles resented the decline of
political influence
2. Clergy members saw the pope as
their leader, not the monarch
3. Independent towns resisted more
centralized monarchial control
II. Commerce
A. Economic changes
1. Many people were moving from the
country to the city where they found more
opportunities to make a living
2. Capitalism
3. Uniform printed documents
4. Mercantilism- an economic system
that sought to increase national wealth
through a strictly regulated economy and a
favorable balance of trade
III. Technological Factors
A. The increase in trade opportunities in
Europe and the discovery of the New
World prompted better navigational
tools.
1. Compass
2. Cross staff
3. Chip Board
4. Hourglass
IV. Rise of Nation-States
A. Portugal
B. Spain
C. England
D. France
1. France would not become a
nation state until much later around
1600.