The Later Middle Ages 1000-1500

  • The rise of feudal monarchs resulted in the development of the nation-states of France

    • Early 13th century, royal authority had expanded and France became a European power

    • Conflicts with the pope over religious rule → increase in authority of the monarch. Religious authorities lost some power, and monarchs gained

    • The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) between England and France → English being driven out of most of France

  • The Norman conquest had an impact on development of culture, language, and judicial systems in England

    • The Battle of Hastings 1066 → ended Anglo-Saxon rule in England

    • 12th century, English common law was firmly established

    • Magna Carta (1215) → limited the power of the king.

      • Most important document in English constitutional law

    • 14th century, English parliament was firmly established

      • Parliament gained power at the expense of the king

      • House of Lords (titled nobles) and the House of Commons (gentry and middle classes) composed Parliament

  • Spain and Portugal during the later Middle Ages

    • The Reconquista reestablished Christian control over Muslim Spain in 1492

      • Spanish state marked by strong, absolutist rule

      • Monarch instituted inquisitions and expelled the Jews

  • The Holy Roman empire during the late middle ages

    • Pope was dominant in religious matters and the monarch in secular matters

    • Continued power struggle between the papacy and the secular ruler

  • Characteristics of medieval civilization during the late middle ages

    • Society was based on strict class division

      • Clergy and nobility were the privileged class

      • Peasant and artisans were the workforce

      • Serfs were tied to the land

    • Decline of feudalism and manorialism started around the 12th century and was absolute by the 16th century

    • Commercial revival led to rise of towns

      • true middle class emerged

      • economic activities in the towns were supervised by the guild system (merchant and craft guilds)

      • The Crusades led to the revival of international trade

    • Education stressed the liberal arts

      • theology influenced both religion and politics

      • universities were created in Paris, Oxford, and Cambridge during the 11th and 12th century

    • Philosophy dealt with the consistency of faith and reason

    • Architecture was dominated by the Romanesque (11th-12th cen) and Gothic (13th-14th) styles.

  • Historical interpretations of the Middle Ages

    • period of transition between ancient and modern Europe

    • unique with a distinctive culture

  • Englands Magna Carta (1215)

    • Key provisions

      • kings authority limited by law

      • rights of the king’s subjects declared (habeus corpus)

      • respect for legal procedures

    • Modern influence

      • constitutionalism

      • individual rights

      • due process of the law