Chapter 12 - Crisis of the Middle Ages
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Chapter Objective:
The fourteenth century was a time of disease, war, crime, violence, and ethnic-racial conflicts. The art and literature of the period are full of the portrayal of death, just as the historical accounts are full of tales of conflict and violence. There were several major causes for this century of human suffering. Natural disasterincluding changes in climate and horrible new diseases, in particular the Black Death attacked Europe. A long series of wars between France and England not only brought death and economic ruin but increased personal violence and crime as well. The wars actually fostered the development of constitutionalism in England.
In addition, while standards of living and real wages rose overall, a serious shortage of labor, created by the bubonic plague, resulted in intense socialconflict between workers and landlords. Economic crisis during the century also resulted in a bitter struggle between urban workers and their guild masters. The Jaquerie and the Revolt of the Ciompi are just two of the violent conflicts of the age. In the long run, the decline in population meant that those who survived had better food and higher wages. Peasants in Western Europe used the labor-shortage problem to demand higher wages and freedom from serfdom. Meanwhile, landlords tried to shift the cost of war and the increase in expenses to the working classes, which exacerbated conflicts.
The Church lost power and prestige, partly because of the religious disillusionment that accompanied the plague. While individual members of the clergy performed admirably through the crises, the Church was unable to replace members lost to disease. In short, the institutional church failed to fill the spiritual vacuum left by the series of disasters. A more immediate reason for the decline of the Churchs influence and prestige was the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism. The call for reform, often in the form of the conciliar movement, by people such as Marsiglio of Padua and John Wyclif, was a signal of things to come in the sixteenth century. The disillusionment with the organized Church also led to greater lay independence and, ultimately, ideas of social and political equality.
But this century of disaster was also a century of some change for the good of ordinary people. It is in this light that the chapter examines some important changes in marriage practices, family relations, and the life of the people. Increased standards of living led to increased popular literacy. A vernacular literature of great beauty, humor and emotional depth evolved through the writings of such authors as Dante Alighieri, François Villon, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Christine de Pisan.
The migrations of peoples from the European heartland to the frontier regions of Ireland, the Baltic, eastern Europe, and Spain led to ethnic frictionlargely between native peoples and new settlers. Economic difficulties led to ethnic consciousness and spawned a vicious racism.
After reading and studying this chapter, students should be able to
explain the process that brought the Black Death to Europe and how this disease spread throughout Europe
in the later Middle Ages.
- discuss the role of Dante, Chaucer, and Villon in the transition from Latin to vernacular languages and
literature.
- list factors in the demise of the later medieval Catholic
Church.
The fourteenth century was a time of disease, war, crime, violence, and ethnic-racial conflicts. The art and literature of the period are full of the portrayal of death, just as the historical accounts are full of tales of conflict and violence. There were several major causes for this century of human suffering. Natural disasterincluding changes in climate and horrible new diseases, in particular the Black Death attacked Europe. A long series of wars between France and England not only brought death and economic ruin but increased personal violence and crime as well. The wars actually fostered the development of constitutionalism in England.
In addition, while standards of living and real wages rose overall, a serious shortage of labor, created by the bubonic plague, resulted in intense socialconflict between workers and landlords. Economic crisis during the century also resulted in a bitter struggle between urban workers and their guild masters. The Jaquerie and the Revolt of the Ciompi are just two of the violent conflicts of the age. In the long run, the decline in population meant that those who survived had better food and higher wages. Peasants in Western Europe used the labor-shortage problem to demand higher wages and freedom from serfdom. Meanwhile, landlords tried to shift the cost of war and the increase in expenses to the working classes, which exacerbated conflicts.
The Church lost power and prestige, partly because of the religious disillusionment that accompanied the plague. While individual members of the clergy performed admirably through the crises, the Church was unable to replace members lost to disease. In short, the institutional church failed to fill the spiritual vacuum left by the series of disasters. A more immediate reason for the decline of the Churchs influence and prestige was the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism. The call for reform, often in the form of the conciliar movement, by people such as Marsiglio of Padua and John Wyclif, was a signal of things to come in the sixteenth century. The disillusionment with the organized Church also led to greater lay independence and, ultimately, ideas of social and political equality.
But this century of disaster was also a century of some change for the good of ordinary people. It is in this light that the chapter examines some important changes in marriage practices, family relations, and the life of the people. Increased standards of living led to increased popular literacy. A vernacular literature of great beauty, humor and emotional depth evolved through the writings of such authors as Dante Alighieri, François Villon, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Christine de Pisan.
The migrations of peoples from the European heartland to the frontier regions of Ireland, the Baltic, eastern Europe, and Spain led to ethnic frictionlargely between native peoples and new settlers. Economic difficulties led to ethnic consciousness and spawned a vicious racism.
After reading and studying this chapter, students should be able to
explain the process that brought the Black Death to Europe and how this disease spread throughout Europe
in the later Middle Ages.
- discuss the role of Dante, Chaucer, and Villon in the transition from Latin to vernacular languages and
literature.
- list factors in the demise of the later medieval Catholic
Church.
Homework Assignment : CHAPTER 12- Due on Friday, September 14.
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Short-Essay; Please answer EACH of the following questions THOROUGHLY.
1. Please explain thoroughly how the Conciliar Movement was a threat to papal power.
2. What were the causes of the Hundred Year's War?
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Terms to know: Define each of these terms THOROUGHLY, using your text and any other materials.
1. Agincourt
2. Babylonian Captivity
3. Banns
4. Black Death
5. Buba
6. Conciliarists
7. Crécy
8. Dalimil Chronicle
9. Flagellants
10. Great Famine
11. Jacquerie
12. Joan of Arc
13. Merchet
14. Nationalism
15. peasant revolts
16. racism
17. representative assemblies
18. Schism
19. Statute of Kilkenny
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-Essay; Please answer EACH of the following questions THOROUGHLY.
1. Please explain thoroughly how the Conciliar Movement was a threat to papal power.
2. What were the causes of the Hundred Year's War?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terms to know: Define each of these terms THOROUGHLY, using your text and any other materials.
1. Agincourt
2. Babylonian Captivity
3. Banns
4. Black Death
5. Buba
6. Conciliarists
7. Crécy
8. Dalimil Chronicle
9. Flagellants
10. Great Famine
11. Jacquerie
12. Joan of Arc
13. Merchet
14. Nationalism
15. peasant revolts
16. racism
17. representative assemblies
18. Schism
19. Statute of Kilkenny
| Chapter 12 - Notes- Crisis of the Middle Ages |
