The High Middle Ages (ca. 1050-1450)
1. From Country to Towns: The late Middle Ages witnessed the spread of agriculture and the rise of towns as people
left the feudal manors. This was made possible by the advances made in farming technology and techniques.
Three agricultural advances:
1.
2.
3.
As a consequence of these agricultural advances, in addition to folks moving off of the manors,
1.
2.
3.
For protection, towns were surrounded by walls. Meanwhile they became quite crowded leading to:
Two major problems in crowded towns
2.
1.
One example of the potential disasters that could occur was the Black Death/Plague, which hit in the mid 1300s. It
wiped out nearly one out of every three Europeans. It would have massive impact upon western European society.
Then
Now
Note: The city-dwellers formed a new middle class that despised the feudal system and preferred to have a strong king. They will supply the king
with money with which he can raise an army and not depend on his vassals for armed service. This will help the king grow more powerful than the
nobles.
2. Money and Guilds: The feudal manors were generally self-_________________ and so did little trading outside the
manor itself. However, with the rise of towns and trade after the Crusades, they needed a different way of exchanging
products and services than bartering. They started to use _______________ because it was lightweight, convenient, and
did not spoil. Money would help destroy feudalism. Here is how:
The Money Economy altered the old arrangements of feudalism
1.
2.
Meanwhile, merchants and craftsmen, especially in the towns started to form guilds, or associations of people who all had
the same occupation. These served four major purposes:
Major functions of Medieval Guilds
1.
2.
3.
4.
3. Education and Literature: As civilization revived in the High Middle Ages, universities flourished and literature
reached new heights. Some of the big names in each follow. Identify them or their works.
Education
1.
2.
Ancient Greek philosopher who came back into style in 1200s
Greatest Catholic theologian of all time, master of scholasticism
Literature
1.
2.
Wrote the Divine Comedy in the early 1300s
Wrote Canterbury Tales, an epic poem in 1386
4. Origins of strong monarchs and nation-states: That will eventually challenge the power of: 1.
and 2.
The High Middle Ages (ca. 1050-1450)
1. From Country to Towns: The late Middle Ages witnessed the spread of agriculture and the rise of towns as people
left the feudal manors. This was made possible by the advances made in farming technology and techniques along with a
couple of hundred years of relatively good weather.
Three agricultural advances:
2. Plow
1. 3 Field System
3. Horsepower
As a consequence of these agricultural advances, in addition to folks moving off of the manors,
1. Population increased 2. Europe became deforested 3. Towns arose (1000-1100s)
For protection, towns were surrounded by walls. Meanwhile they became quite crowded leading to:
Two major problems in crowded towns
1. Fires
2. Lack of sanitation→Disease→Epidemics
One example of the potential disasters that could occur was the Black Death/Plague, which hit in the mid 1300s. It
wiped out nearly one out of every three Europeans. It would have massive impact upon western European society.
Then
Now
Bad air
Bubonic Plague
Jews, bad Christians poisoned wells
Anthrax
Divine wrath
Some sort of virus
Bring out Yer Dead
Flaggelants
Note: The city-dwellers formed a new middle class that despised the feudal system and preferred to have a strong king. They will supply the king
with money with which he can raise an army and not depend on his vassals for armed service. This will help the king grow more powerful than the
nobles.
2. Money and Guilds: The feudal manors were generally self-sufficient and so did little trading outside the manor itself.
However, with the rise of towns and trade after the Crusades, they needed a different way of exchanging products and
services than bartering. They started to use money because it was lightweight, convenient, and did not spoil. Money
would help destroy feudalism. Here is how:
The Money Economy altered the old arrangements of feudalism
1. Serfs buy freedom
2. Kings pay armies and grow stronger than nobles
Meanwhile, merchants and craftsmen, especially in the towns started to form guilds, or associations of people who all had
the same occupation. These served four major purposes:
Major functions of Medieval Guilds
1. Maintain monopoly
2. Apprenticeship system
3. Medical care, unemployment relief
4. Sponsored banquets, plays, religious processions
3. Education and Literature: As civilization revived in the High Middle Ages, universities flourished and literature
reached new heights. Some of the big names in each follow. Identify them or their works.
Education
1. Aristotle
2. St. Thomas Aquinas
Literature
1. Dante
2. Chaucer
Ancient Greek philosopher who came back into style in 1200s
Greatest Catholic theologian of all time, master of scholasticism
Wrote the Divine Comedy in the early 1300s
Wrote Canterbury Tales, an epic poem in 1386
4. Origins of strong monarchs and nation-states: That will eventually challenge the power of: 1. the Nobles and 2.
the Church. 100 Years’ War = England vs. France (1337-1453) makes strong monarchs.