HWHIS CH 13 SG

Serfs

Serfs

Serfs though they were not able to be bought or sold were tied to the land, destined to remain in their station from birth to death. Absence for a year could sever this bond. Obligated to provide labor and yield a portion of their crops to their lord, they received safety and protection in exchange.

Guilds

Guilds, akin to modern college degrees, comprised groups of tradespeople and merchants sharing common trades and goods. They paid churches for chapels honoring their patron saint and regulated prices and working hours, controlling guild membership. Members engaged in regulated businesses, progressing from apprentices to masters, analogous to students advancing from beginners to journeymen. Guild shops, often near universities, faced financial losses during student boycotts, affecting their revenue streams.

Universities

Universities emerged in the 1100s in Paris and Bologna, specializing in the teaching of subjects like the Justinian Code and law respectively, with Salerno being renowned for medicine. Often housed in rented spaces, students, primarily males from wealthy families, shared or rented textbooks. Latin was the language of instruction, and exams were administered annually from the third to fifth year. Successful completion allowed progression to higher studies, leading to eventual teaching privileges after successful completion of the 5th year exam. The curriculum comprised the trivium and quadrivium, forming the foundation of liberal arts, with further pursuits in fields like medicine and law available to advanced scholars.

Trivium

1. Dialectic - Study of Logic

2. Grammer

3. Rhetoric - The Art of Speaking

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Quadrium

1. Arithmetic

2. Astronomy

3. Geometry

4. Music Theory

Cistercian (incomplete)

In response to the lax discipline in Cluny, the Cistercian Order emerged in 1098, emphasizing a return to Saint Benedict's original rules. Unlike Cluniac monasteries, each Cistercian establishment had its own abbot, ensuring adherence to unified regulations. No one was admitted until they were over 15 and had served a full year as a novice. Cistercians adopted austere lifestyles, donning plain undyed wool garments, consuming only vegetarian fare, and constructing unadorned churches. This reform movement gained widespread popularity, with approximately half of Cistercian monasteries dedicated to women. However, due to societal norms restricting female labor, nunneries often relied on male assistance for sustenance, rendering them financially vulnerable.

The Crusades

The Crusades, catalyzed by Pope Urban II's call in 1095 to reclaim Jerusalem, garnered a response from 50,000 individuals, though only 10,000 ultimately reached the Holy Land. Those who participated were promised plenary indulgences, driving them to self-finance their journey. Upon their successful siege in 1099, Jerusalem was captured, resulting in the slaughter of tens of thousands of Muslims within the city. Subsequently, four Crusader states were established, fortified with castles and towns Jerusalem, Edessa, Tripoli and Antioch. Despite initial triumphs, challenges arose, as seen in the attempted Egyptian Muslim recapture in 1101, repelled by Crusader forces. The Templars, entrusted with safeguarding Crusaders' finances, played a crucial role in the financial logistics of the campaign. Jerusalem remained under Crusader rule for 88 years until Saladin's recapture in 1187. The Third Crusade, led by prominent figures like Frederick Barbarossa, Philip Augustus, and Richard the Lionheart, aimed to reclaim lost territories and captured the port cities but fell short of retaking Jerusalem. The Fourth Crusade, diverted to Constantinople in 1202 due to political machinations, resulted in the city's plunder and the establishment of a new emperor. The ill-fated Children's Crusade of 1212, comprised of 30,000 children, ended with uncertain outcomes, with rumors suggesting their enslavement. King Louis IX's Seventh Crusade, marked by his capture and subsequent death, showcased the enduring complexity and risks of Crusading endeavors. In Europe, the Teutonic Knights pursued a crusade against Balkan pagans, leading to widespread violence and the deaths of thousands of Jews who refused to convert. Pope Innocent III's 1208 crusade against the Cathars resulted in widespread slaughter, prompting the establishment of the Inquisition to combat heresy through education and individual punishment. The Pope would hear charges against people, and Dominican friars, known for their exceptional education, led the Inquisition, relying heavily on anonymous tips and employing harsh interrogation methods and torture to extract confessions. Between 1308 and 1323, over 600 people were sentenced by these courts, which operated outside the norms of regular legal proceedings, allowing the use of force during interrogations. In 1212, the Pope approved a crusade against non-Christians in Spain and Portugal, furthering the religious conflicts of the time. Additionally, the Cathars, viewed as heretics, believed in two opposing gods, leading to their persecution and the justification for the Inquisition's actions.

The Black Death

The Black Death, a variant of the Justinian Plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis, ravaged Europe from 1346 to 1353. Originating in China, it spread via trade routes, infecting rats that reached the port city of Kaffa in 1346 before entering Italy in 1348 and France and Germany a year later. Characterized by buboes—large swellings—its forms included pneumonic, spread by air, and bubonic, spread by rats. Waves of the plague, each weaker than the last, caused as much as 50% of Europe's population to perish, with some cities like Avignon losing two-thirds of their inhabitants. Interestingly when the plague came back to Avignon 33 years later only 1/20 of them caught the plague and almost all of them survived. Despite attempts at cures ranging from ringing bells and firing cannonballs to vibrate the virus out of the air. to letters and number cryptograms and magic to get the plague away , including scapegoating Jews and minimal aid from the Church, the devastation was profound, with London losing 60% of its population and Florence up to 50,000 people.

The Great Famine

The Great Famine of 1315-1317, triggered by incessant rain throughout the spring of 1315, devastated crops and led to a nuclear winter caused by volcanic ash from Indonesia. This catastrophic event doubled food prices, resulting in widespread scarcity and forcing people to consume their seed stock, diminishing prospects for the following year's harvest. Additionally, diseases decimated draft animals, reducing the population by a significant margin. The absence of salt hampered meat preservation, exacerbating food shortages. The famine, coupled with increased crime and disease, led to mass death, with mortality rates rising and lifespans decreasing. In 1276 the average lifespan was 35.28 years, by 1325 the lifespan dropped to 29.84 years. Desperate measures such as infanticide and cannibalism were reported. The return to normal weather conditions in 1317 marked the end of the famine, but its effects lingered, with 10-25% of the population perishing and a significant reduction in livestock and seed stocks. The famine's aftermath catalyzed societal changes, contributing to the erosion of feudalism.

The 100 years war

The Hundred Years' War, a protracted conflict between France and England from 1337 to 1453, stemmed from complex dynastic entanglements dating back to William the Conqueror. As Duke of Normandy, William owed allegiance to the French king, a tradition upheld by subsequent English monarchs. The death of Charles IV of France without direct male heirs ignited Edward III's claim to the French throne, sparking hostilities aggravated by the Salic Law's prohibition on female inheritance. Edward's mother, a sister of Charles IV, was disregarded by the French, who instead chose Philip VI as king. In 1337, Philip attempted to reclaim Normandy, inciting war. Early English victories, notably at Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, were attributed to their skilled longbowmen, highlighting the disparity in military tactics. Despite these triumphs and the English advance to Paris under Henry V, the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, agreeing to Henry's eventual succession to the French throne, faltered upon his premature death. The conflict saw the emergence of gunpowder warfare in its final years, culminating in the French victory in 1453. Despite the war's toll, both kingdoms emerged with strengthened monarchies, while the intricacies of succession and territorial claims remained unresolved, echoing the enduring complexities of medieval European politics and power dynamics.

Long Bows

The English longbows, towering at 6 feet, possessed remarkable accuracy, capable of striking targets from distances of 180 to 249 yards and deadly up to 400 yards. A skilled archer could unleash six arrows per minute, a rate unmatched by their French counterparts. The intense training required for proficiency resulted in bowmen developing notably muscular left forearms and spinal curvature. In contrast, the French, lacking the same expertise, resorted to mutilating captured English bowmen by cutting off two fingers, rendering them unable to wield a bow again. Consequently, victorious English soldiers taunted the French by displaying their intact fingers as a defiant gesture of contempt.

Joan of Arc (Essay)

Born in 1412 in the village of Domrémy, Champagne, Joan of Arc, daughter of Arc, experienced divine visions at 12, hearing messages from saints Michael, Catherine, and Margaret, instructing her to crown the Dauphin and expel the English. In 1428, at 16, she boldly approached French leaders, met initially with skepticism and ridicule. However, her accurate battlefield prophecies earned her a chance to lead, donning knight's attire and demonstrating remarkable courage. Leading French assaults, Joan became a co-commander, contributing to Charles VII's coronation in July 1429, a significant morale boost for the French cause. Nevertheless, her fortunes shifted in 1430 when she was captured by Burgundians, later sold to the English. Despite pleas for ransom, Charles VII refused, leading to her trial for heresy. Found guilty, she was executed by burning at the stake in 1431. Yet, her legacy endured. In 1436, Charles VII initiated a retrial, ultimately posthumously exonerating her in 1456 and recognizing her as a martyr. Over the centuries, Joan's memory remained vibrant in French culture. Napoleon, in 1803, celebrated her as a national symbol, and in 1920, she was canonized as Saint Joan of Arc, a testament to her enduring impact on France and its people.

Primogeniture

A system of inheritance where the eldest son inherits the entirety or the largest portion of the family's wealth and titles

Latin

The classical language of the ancient Romans, used extensively in literature, law, religion, and academia throughout the Middle Ages and beyond

Dialectic

 Study of logic

Fibonacci

• introduced arabic numerals in his textbook which revolutionized mathematics. invented a famous sequence

Thomas Aquinas

A medieval theologian and philosopher whose works, such as the Summa Theologica, synthesized Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy and significantly influenced Western thought

Summa Theologica

A comprehensive work by Thomas Aquinas, summarizing Christian theology and addressing philosophical questions, serving as a fundamental text of Scholasticism

Secular Clergy

Clergy members who serve the church outside a monastary such as parish priests and bishops, as opposed to those living under monastic vows

Regular Clergy

Clergy members who live according to a monastic rule, residing in a monastery or convent, and typically bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

Henry III

• The ruler of Germany, who intervened in a dispute when someone decided to buy the position of pope. As a response to this he named Leo IX pope. 

Leo IX

Named pope by Henry III. Launched a reform campaign with the main goals of ending simony and enforcing celibacy.

Cluny

A Benedictine monastery in France, founded in 910, known for its role in medieval monastic reform and its influence on religious life in Europe

Cistercian

A monastic order founded in 1098, known for its strict observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, emphasis on manual labor, and living austurly

St. Francis

Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/1182–1226), ran away from his family and became an Italian friar and preacher, founder of the Franciscan Order, known for his devotion to poverty, humility, and love of nature

St. Dominic

Saint Dominic (1170–1221), a Spanish priest and founder of the Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans, who emphasized preaching and education

Urban II

Pope Urban II, born Odo of Châtillon, served as Pope from 1088 to 1099, best known for initiating the First Crusade with his call to arms at the Council of Clermont in 1095

Saladin

Was a Muslim ruler who founded the Ayyubid dynast and defeated the crusaders and took Jerusalem back.

Innocent III

Pope Innocent III, born Lotario dei Conti di Segni, served as Pope from 1198 to 1216, launched crusade against cathars.

Cathars

Members of a Christian dualistic sect that emerged in the Languedoc region of France in the 12th century, considered heretical by the Catholic Church and targeted during the Albigensian Crusade

Reconquista

A period in medieval Spanish history, lasting from the 8th to the 15th century, marked by Christian efforts to reconquer the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule

Edward III

King Edward III of England (1312–1377), ruled from 1327 until his death, known for his military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War, was denied the french throne.

Henry V

King Henry V of England (1386–1422), ruled from 1413 until his death, famous for his victory at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War and his conquest of Normandy. Was supposed to get france as his kingdom

Philip IV

King Philip IV of France (1268–1314), known as Philip the Fair, ruled from 1285 until his death, notable for his conflicts with the papacy, including the suppression of the Knights Templar. Disputed with edward the 3rd for the throne

Charles VII

King Charles VII of France (1403–1461), ruled from 1422 until his death, known for his role in the Hundred Years' War, particularly his support of Joan of Arc and the reconquest of French territories from England. Notable for leaving joan of arc to die.

Cerealization

Collective term for many agricultural practices that allowed Europeans between 1000 and 1300 to cultivate most of the land in Europe

Guilds

Associations formed by members of the same trade or merchant group that regulated prices and working hours

Feudalism

A term that came into use after 1600 as a legal concept and refers to the legal and social system in Europe from 1000 to 1400, in which serfs worked the land and subordinates performed military service for their lords in return for protection

Liberal Arts

Basic core of the curriculum in Europe between 500 and 1500 that consisted of the trivium (logic, grammar, and rhetoric) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and music theory)

Scholasticism

Prevailing method of instruction in Europe between 1100 and 1500 that held students could arrive at a correct answer if they used their powers of reasoning and consulted the appropriate sources

Simony

The sale of church office, considered a sin in Europe

Heresy

The offense of believing in teachings that the Roman Catholic Church condemned as incorrect

Friars

Members of the begging orders established in Europe between 1100 and 1200, of which the Franciscans were the best known

Crusader

Term that indicated anyone who attached a cross to his or her clothes as a sign of belonging to a large, volunteer force against Muslims between 1095 and 1291

Inquisition

Special court established by the pope to hear charges against those accused of heresy

Parliament

(literally “to talk”) Name for the different councils that advised the English kings and approved their requests for taxation.