AP Euro: Unit 1

Standard town in the Middle Ages

●Life depended on class and role

●Peasants were the lowest class but made up the majority of the population

●Concentrated around a Lord’s MANOR

●SERFS owed fealty to the lord. Legally bound to the land -- could not move away

●Lord was usually away fighting wars

●Farmed cereal crops like wheat, barley & rye

●Woodland on the outskirts but only a privileged few could hunt

●Kept communal cows for dairy but meat was rare

●RELIGION: Highly religious. Went to church daily & priests highly regarded

●Time governed by church: bells & holidays

●Bayliff supervised agricultural work

●Trade workers: blacksmiths, etc.

●Villages were largely self-sufficient unlike urban areas

●After BLACK DEATH, peasants saw their worth as labor was scarce → demanded higher wages and revolts broke out (very uncleanly)

Feudalism

the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.

Bubonic Plague (black death)

• Poor medical knowledge, poor public health, bad harvests which weakened people’s immune systems & global trade.

• Medieval doctors thought it could be the movement of the planets, a punishment from God, bad smells, poisoned wells, etc.

• Started in China in the 1330s & reached Europe through Sicily in 1347 and reached England by 1348. Died out by 1350 but returned 5x by 1405, mainly killing children who had no immunity

• Wide range of ineffective cures: Blood-letting, balancing humours by changing your diet, etc. Many were cynical of the doctors. All sorts of crazy “treatments” - rubbing onions on the boils, flagellants, herbs, etc. Bursting patients’ buboes did help

• Killed around half the population of Europe. Changed the way people thought about life: some lived wild, immoral lives and others were angry and bitter at the church. Poor began demanding changes. Shortage of workers led to increased wages

• Flea drinks rat blood that carries bacteria, bacteria multiplies in flea’s gut, flea’s gut clogged with bacteria, flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound, human is infected

Flagellants

These religious followers would travel from town to town whipping themselves, believing that by punishing themselves they would invite God to show mercy toward them. Ironically, they actually helped spread the Plague. In 1349, Pope Clement VI excommunicated them.

Hundred Years’ War

War fought between England and France due to tensions over rights to land (Aquitaine), who would rule the French throne, and economic disputes. England started out strong, but lost the war to France.

Pope Innocent III

Called the 4th Crusade & 4th Lateran Council (supported doctrine of transubstantiation & reforms of the clergy). Raised the power and prestige of the papacy. Saw the pope as a secular as well as spiritual leader. He was active in politics in Italy, Germany, France & England.

Crusades

Grew Eastern culture and knowledge, created religious bitterness (Muslim, Jew, Christian), and spread Italian business.

Secular

Non-religious power (Kings, Queens, etc.)

Philip the Fair

• King of France

• Dispute between Pope Boniface and King Philip (bitter)

• Philip urged the new pope, Clement V, to move the papacy to Avignon

Pope Boniface VIII

• Boniface and Philip the Fair had a conflict

• Secular rulers and popes commonly had conflict

The Avignon Papacy

Philip IV of France secured the election of Clement V (French) which was unpopular in Rome. Clement moved the papacy to Avignon in France. Earned a poor reputation, criticized by people like Petrarch. Gregory XI moved the papacy back to Rome but conflict ensued and 2 popes were elected in what was called “The Great Schism”

Clement V

Petrarch

Gregory XI

Babylonian Captivity

• Period where popes lived in Avignon rather than Rome

• Phrase refers to 70 year time period when the Hebrews were held captive in Babylon

• Babylonian Captivity damaged papal prestige

• The 7 popes at Avignon focused on bureaucratic and financial matters to the exclusion of spiritual objectives

• Atmosphere of papacy was luxurious and extravagant

The Great Schism

Dispute over background of the popes. There was now a French pope, Clement V, and because Catholicism developed in Italy, some argued that the pope needs to be an Italian. This caused an Italian pope to be elected, meaning there was no two popes. This caused a divide because nobody knew who to follow.

Conciliarists

“Heretics”

The Lollards were followers on John Wycliffe (English). Ideas anticipated the Protestant Reformation. Denied transubstantiation & emphasized the primacy of Scripture -- wanted the Bible translated into the Vernacular. Some think his ideas influenced the peasant revolt of 1381. Twelve Conclusions criticized many church practices

Heretic= a person believing in or practicing religious heresy/a person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted.

Lollards

• Followers of Wycliffe

• believed….

John Wycliffe

Scripture and Twelve Conclussions

Bohemia

Jan Hus

Council at Pisa

Council at Constance

Martin V

Laypeople

The imitation of Christ

Thomas a Kempis

Jacquerie

Divine Comedy/Dante

Canterbury Tales/Chaucer

Vernacular

Florin

Condottieri

Medici

Savonarola

Aquitaine

After Treaty of Paris (1204), the King of England received Aquitaine but held them as a vassal of France. One King bowing to another. Aquitaine was almost as profitable as all of England. ”Tensions rose between Edward III of England & Philip of France. Philip confiscated the Duchy of Aquitaine to try to reassert control

1340

Edward III claimed the throne of France for himself. Charles IV of France died childless & Edward was a potential heir through his mother’s side. A French Assembly chose Philip of Valois

Charles IV of France

• Died childless

• Son of Philip the Fair

Capetian Dynasty

It is among the largest and oldest royal houses in Europe and the world

Philip of Valois

The French crown was passed to Philip. He was the nephew of Philip the Fair. Because Charles died childless, there was no heir to the throne, other than King Edward III of England.

Attack on France

Edward III worked to gain allies among French nobles. Led several armed raids on French land (chevauchees) French & British armies usually kept their distance but there were a couple important battles where England won victories: Crecy (1346) & Poitiers (1356). They also captured the Valois French King John

Treaty of Bretigny

signed in 1360 after more invasions. in return for dropping his claim on the throne. Edward won control over Aquitaine (independent of France), other land and a substantial sum of money.

1369

Debt led Britain to squeeze Aquitaine, whose nobles turned to France, which confiscated Aquitaine again. war erupted. Charles V (France) reconquered land but stalemate was reached again

Charles V

1380

both sides were growing tired of the conflict, and there were only sporadic raids interspersed by truces.

Battle of Agincourt

1415 new English King Henry V  led his outnumbered troops to victory. Little effect on his plans to conquer France but boosted his reputation. Allowed him to raise more funds femur war and become a legendary figure. Tried to attack and hold land. Soon had Normandy under control.

Treaty of Troyes

Struggles between factions (Burgundy & Orleans) led to an agreement in which Henry V of England would marry the daughter of the Valois King & help fight against the Orleans faction

Joan of Arc

Peasant girl claimed she heard mystic voices and was on a holy mission to free France from England. She revitalized the resistance, broke a siege around Orleans & defeated the English several times. They were able to crown the Dauphin in Reims Cathedral

Charles VII of France

The voices that spoke to Joan said that Charles should be king. He was crowned king at Reims. Didn’t ransom Joan of Arc.

Orleans

English surrounded Orleans which was the only major Northern French city that was not under English control.

1453

The war was finally over but no real treaty was signed

Climate change

Famine

Crop surpluses were minimal & no one could keep enough grain to outlast a famine. population had grown so much that adequate amounts of food could only be grown under the best of conditions. cold and wet springs and summers of 1315-17 decimated crops and all classes of society suffered. People resorted to killing their animals and eating seed grain for food. Dogs and cats disappeared there were rumors of cannibalism. Bakers would fill bread loaves with fillers other than grain. The elderly often voluntarily stopped eating so younger members of the family could survive.

Peasant revolts

Increased taxes & Richard II’s war against France was going poorly. Since the Black Death, peasants were upset they were still serfs. Inspired by the preaching of radical priest John Ball, they were demanding that all men should be free and equal; for less harsh laws; and a fairer distribution of wealth. They marched in London, where they destroyed the houses of government ministers. Richard II, met the rebels' leader Wat Tyler but then he was attacked and killed. Before the rebel army could retaliate, Richard stepped forward and promised to abolish serfdom. Led to a more democratic society

Richard II of France

Wat Tyler

Decline of Feudalism is due to…

Magna Carta

Angry nobles forced a meeting with King John and force him to put his seal on the Magna Carta. This agreement concurred that the king could continue to rule as long as he promised to consult nobles/church officials before imposing special taxes, as well as agreeing to give a trial before imprisoning someone and protecting the rights and privileges of nobles. Created parliament and established rights/liberties of all people.

Francesco Petrach

Dark Ages

Humanism

Virtu

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

“Fortuna”

Christian Humanism

Thomas More

Utopia

Desiderius Erasmus

The Praise of Folly

Johann Gutenburg

“Quattrocento”

“Cinquecento”

Charles VII of France (later)

Louis XI of France

War of the Roses

Henry VII of the Welsh house of Tudor

Isabella of Castille

Ferdinand of Aragon

Granada

Reconquista

Inquisition

Chiaroscuro

3-D shading in art

Characteristics of Classical art

Purpose: show importance of ordinary people, civic leaders, and gods and goddesses

• figures nude/in togas

• figures were lifelike but always more perfect than real life

• body active and in motion

• face is calm and without expression

Characteristics of Medieval art

Purpose: to teach religion to those who could not read or right (this meant they couldn’t read the bible)

• Highlights Jesus/religious figures and appear larger than others to show significance

• Figures are fully dressed in stiff clothes

• Faces are serious/little expression

• Bright paint colors

• Solid background colors (often blue or gold)

Characteristics of Rennaissance art

Purpose: show importance of people and nature (not just religious ideas)

• Lifelike 3-d figures

• Displayed accurate knowledge of human anatomy

• Religious and non-religious scenes

• Figures shown in motion

• Nude or clothed

• Colors reflect light accurately

• Faces expressed what people were feeling

• Showed ordinary people doing everyday tasks

• Linear perspective

• Symmetry

Patronage and Sponsors

Private citizens sponsored artists to show off their wealth. This would pay for the artists education, and because many artists were sponsored, art flourished.

Guilds

Why did the Rennaissance begin in Italy?

• Revival of trade, commerce and towns

• Italy was the gateway between East and West Europe

• Fall of Constantinople

• Classical manuscripts were rescued after the fall

• Strong presence of antiquity

• Strong banking family (Medici family)

Antiquity

Comparison of Medieval and Rennaissance Europe

Medieval:

○Fragmented, feudal society

○Agricultural economy

○Church-dominated thought, culture

○Scholasticism

Renaissance:

○Political centralization, national feelings

○Urban, commercial-capitalist economy

○Growing lay/secular control of thought & culture

○Humanism - emphasizes the potential and value of man and his ability to reason and use his intellect

Scholasticism

theology based on following church dogmas and based in Aristotle's teachings

Political Fragmentation

•While many countries experienced a rise in centralization & national consciousness, Italy remained politically fragmented

•Balance of power between Italian city-states: Milan, Florence, Venice, Papal States & Naples (all had same wealth(balance of power) so nobody tried to take over each other)—prosperous urban centers of trade & commerce

•Merchant guilds in Northern Italian cities formed communes

•Limitations on “citizenship” favored elites and disenfranchised the popolo (the common people)

•Maintained a façade of Republican government (pretended to be democratic but really it was controlled by the favored elites)

The cost of fragmentation

• Feuding city-states more susceptible to attack by more unified countries: French invasion of 1494 begins Habsburg-Valois Wars (family war)

• Henry II of France (Valois) succeeded Francis I & declared war against Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (Habsburg) with the intent of recapturing Italy

• Machiavelli’s The Prince advocates for a strong, sometimes merciless ruler.

• Rome sacked in 1527 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V

Humanism

• The study of Greek & Latin classics in hopes of reviving worthy ancient values

• Civic humanism

• Positive view on mankind/individualism

• Liberal arts study (grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, politics, philosophy)—to celebrate the dignity of humankind & prepare for life of virtuous action

• Secular: Focus on life on Earth vs. afterlife

• Petrarch is considered the “father of humanism”

Civic Humanism

doing what is best for the state and society

Civic virtue

Realizing a person’s full potential both for their own good and for the good of the society in which they live

Printing Press

Made by Gutenberg. Helped spread humanist ideas from their origins in Italy to the north of Europe as well as lower classes. Because things could be mass produced, the products became more affordable. Because lower classes could now afford literature, more people became educated and literate.