Disasters of the Fourteenth Century
Section 2.5
Bring Out Your Dead
The Black Death
Causes According to Medieval People• sinister
alignment of the planets
• foul air created by recent earthquakes
• A Jewish conspiracy
• God’s punishment
Why did it spread so rapidlyWhy did it spread so rapidly• Lack of Lack of
sanitation/ sanitation/ hygiene hygiene
• Overcrowded Overcrowded citiescities
• Malnourished Malnourished populationpopulation
• New trade New trade routesroutes
Characteristics
Characteristics• Flu-like symptoms at
first• Egg-sized lumps on
neck& armpit• Hemorrhaging under the
skin(caused purple blotches)
• Infection of lungs allowed virus to spread through cough or sneeze
• Victims died in 1 to 6 days
• A disease of revulsion rather than sympathy
Results of the Black Death• 33% population wiped out• Food production
decreased• Breakdown of feudal
system– Serfs, lords died– Labor shortage– wages rose
• Catholic Church lost power
• Anti-Semitism arose
Ring Around
the RosieA Pocket
Full of PosiesAshes, AshesWe All
Fall Down
Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) Causes
Edward III (Philip the Fair’s grandson) claimed French crown
Had backing from French barons, Flemish wool merchants
Characteristics• Took place in France & Low
Countries• Glorified chivalry
• Chivalry disregarded at Crecy (1346)
• England controlled large parts of France by 1419
• Joan of Arc• Lifted siege at Orleans (1429)• Turning point of war
Results• Joan of Arc’s execution=patriotism• Parliamentary gov grew
– Commons (knights and burgesses) got right to approve tax increases
• French noble class diminished• Revolts
– Jacqueries (nickname for peasant) in 1358
• Lords tried to freeze wages• Peasants had rising
expectations– Wat Tyler’s rebellion (1381) Peasant ultimately better off
Babylonian Captivity (1309-1377)• Papacy a tool of French
• Great Schism (1378-1417)
– England/Germany recognize Urban VI
– France recognize Clement VII
• Papal prestige sank even lower
– How do I save my soul?
• People begin to question the Church
– John Wycliff and the Lollards
• Proposed that common man read Bible (In English!)
– Jan Huss
• Utilized Wycliff’s ideas for Bohemia
Conciliar Movement• Council of Constance (1414)
– Ends schism– Discourage heresy (Huss
executed) – Issue reforms– Pope Martin V made pope
• Others step aside• Martin dissolves Council
– Refuses reform– Church ruled by Pope not
council
Results of the Disasters• Mass Neurosis
• Church loses power
• Population decline
• Revolts break out
– Favorable position for peasants
• Fixed rents
• Property owning class emerges
• Renaissance begins!!!
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