🏰The Middle Ages Unit 16 – Late Middle Ages: Society & Politics

Key Events and Timeline

• The Late Middle Ages spanned from the 13th to the 15th century, following the High Middle Ages
• The Black Death (bubonic plague) devastated Europe from 1347 to 1351, killing an estimated 30-60% of the population
  • Resulted in labor shortages, rising wages, and challenges to the feudal system
• The Hundred Years' War between England and France lasted from 1337 to 1453
  • Marked by significant battles such as the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and the rise of Joan of Arc
• The Great Schism (1378-1417) divided the Catholic Church with rival popes in Rome and Avignon
• The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 marked the end of the Byzantine Empire
• The Reconquista in Spain culminated with the fall of Granada in 1492, ending Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula

Political Structures and Power Dynamics

• Feudalism characterized the political and social structure of medieval Europe
  • Based on a hierarchical system of lords and vassals bound by mutual obligations
  • Kings granted land (fiefs) to nobles in exchange for military service and loyalty
• The power of monarchs varied across Europe
  • England developed a strong parliamentary system limiting the king's authority (Magna Carta, 1215)
  • France saw the rise of absolutism under powerful kings like Philip IV and Louis XI
• The Holy Roman Empire, a loose confederation of German states, was led by an elected emperor
  • Imperial authority was often challenged by powerful nobles and the Catholic Church
• The Papacy played a significant role in medieval politics
  • Popes claimed authority over secular rulers, leading to conflicts like the Investiture Controversy

Social Classes and Hierarchies

• Medieval society was divided into three main estates: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate)
• The clergy, consisting of religious officials and institutions, held significant power and influence
  • Enjoyed privileges such as exemption from taxes and the right to collect tithes
• The nobility comprised wealthy landowners who held political and military power
  • Responsible for providing military service to their lords and maintaining order in their domains
• The commoners included peasants, artisans, and merchants
  • Peasants, the majority of the population, worked the land and were tied to their lords under the feudal system
  • Artisans and merchants gained importance with the growth of towns and trade
• Social mobility was limited, but some individuals could rise through the ranks via military service, the Church, or success in trade

Economic Changes and Developments

• The Late Middle Ages saw a shift from a primarily agricultural economy to one that included growing trade and commerce
• The growth of towns and cities led to the rise of the merchant class and the development of guilds
  • Guilds regulated production, quality, and prices in various trades (textiles, metalworking)
• Long-distance trade expanded, facilitated by the Hanseatic League in northern Europe and the Italian maritime republics (Venice, Genoa)
• The introduction of new financial instruments, such as bills of exchange and double-entry bookkeeping, revolutionized banking and finance
• The Black Death's labor shortages led to increased wages and the breakdown of the manor system
  • Peasants gained more freedom and opportunities for social mobility

Religious Influences and Conflicts

• The Catholic Church held immense power and influence throughout the Middle Ages
  • Controlled education, provided social services, and acted as a unifying force in Europe
• The Church faced challenges and criticism, including accusations of corruption and calls for reform
  • The Avignon Papacy (1309-1377) and the Great Schism (1378-1417) undermined papal authority
• Heretical movements, such as the Cathars and Waldensians, challenged Church doctrine and authority
  • The Inquisition was established to combat heresy and enforce orthodoxy
• The Crusades, a series of religious wars aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim rule, had far-reaching consequences
  • Increased contact between Europe and the Islamic world led to cultural and technological exchanges
• The rise of mendicant orders, such as the Franciscans and Dominicans, emphasized poverty, preaching, and service

Cultural and Artistic Movements

• The Late Middle Ages witnessed the flourishing of Gothic art and architecture
  • Characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and large windows (stained glass)
  • Notable examples include the cathedrals of Chartres, Notre-Dame, and Westminster Abbey
• The rise of vernacular literature and poetry, such as Dante's Divine Comedy and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
  • Reflected the growing use of native languages instead of Latin
• The development of polyphonic music and the emergence of notable composers like Guillaume de Machaut
• The emergence of universities as centers of learning and scholarship
  • Studied the seven liberal arts (trivium and quadrivium) and theology, law, and medicine
• The revival of classical learning and the beginnings of Renaissance humanism in the 14th and 15th centuries
  • Scholars like Petrarch and Boccaccio promoted the study of classical texts and ideas

Technological Advancements

• The Late Middle Ages saw significant advancements in agriculture, warfare, and navigation
• Agricultural innovations included the heavy plow, the three-field system, and the horse collar
  • Increased food production and supported population growth
• The longbow and the cannon revolutionized warfare
  • The longbow proved decisive in English victories during the Hundred Years' War (Battle of Crécy, 1346)
  • The cannon's introduction gradually rendered castle walls obsolete
• The magnetic compass and the astrolabe improved navigation
  • Enabled longer sea voyages and the exploration of new trade routes
• The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1440) revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge
  • Facilitated the spread of ideas, literacy, and the Renaissance

Legacy and Impact on Later Periods

• The Late Middle Ages laid the foundations for the Renaissance and the early modern period
  • The revival of classical learning and humanism paved the way for the cultural flourishing of the Renaissance
• The Reformation of the 16th century had its roots in the religious and social changes of the Late Middle Ages
  • Criticism of the Church and calls for reform set the stage for the Protestant Reformation
• The rise of strong monarchies and the decline of feudalism led to the development of the nation-state
  • The centralization of power in the hands of monarchs set the stage for the rise of absolutism
• The economic and technological advancements of the Late Middle Ages contributed to the Age of Exploration
  • Improved navigation and shipbuilding enabled European explorers to reach the Americas and establish global trade networks
• The cultural and artistic achievements of the Late Middle Ages continue to inspire and influence art, literature, and architecture to this day