Europe in the Middle Ages 1000–1500 Key Events As you read, look for the key events in the history of medieval Europe. • The revival of trade led to the growth of cities and towns, which became important centers for manufacturing. • The Catholic Church was an important part of people’s lives during the Middle Ages. • During the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, Europeans experienced many problems including the Black Death, the Hundred Years’ War, and the decline of the Church. The Impact Today The events that occurred during this time period still impact our lives today. • The revival of trade brought with it a money economy and the emergence of capitalism, which is widespread in the world today. • Modern universities had their origins in medieval Europe. • The medieval history of Europe can be seen today in Europe’s great cathedrals. World History Video The Chapter 10 video, “Chaucer’s England,” chronicles the development of civilization in medieval Europe. Notre Dame Cathedral Paris, France 1163 Work begins 1233 on Notre Dame The Inquisition Cathedral begins 1150 1200 1250 1300 c. 1158 c. 1210 First European Francis of Assisi university appears founds the Franciscan order Saint Francis of Assisi 312 The cathedral at Chartres, about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Paris, is but one of the many great Gothic cathedrals built in Europe during the Middle Ages. Medieval depiction of Death Louis XI 1431 HISTORY Joan of Arc 1461 is burned at King Louis XI the stake rules France Chapter Overview Visit the Glencoe World History Web site at 1350 1400 1450 1500 wh.glencoe.com and click on Chapter 10–Chapter Overview to preview chapter information. 1347 1453 1485 The Black Death Hundred Tudor dynasty begins to Years’ War is established devastate Europe ends in England 313 ᮡ Somersaulting was done for entertainment and leisure in medieval London. This medieval manuscript page shows a London scene. Life in London n the twelfth century, William Fitz-Stephen spoke of Lon- Why It Matters don as one of the noblest cities of the world: “It is happy One would hardly know from Fitz- Iin the healthiness of its air, in the Christian religion, in the Stephen’s cheerful description that strength of its defences, the nature of its site, the honor of its medieval cities faced overcrowded citizens, the modesty of its women; pleasant in sports; fruit- conditions, terrible smells from rot- ful of noble men.” ting garbage, and the constant threat To Fitz-Stephen, London offered a number of opportunities of epidemics and fires. The rise of and pleasures: “Practically anything that man may need is cities was one aspect of the new burst of energy and growth that brought daily not only into special places but even into the characterized European civilization open squares, and all that can be sold is loudly advertised for in the High Middle Ages, the period sale.” “Any man,” according to Fitz-Stephen, “if he is not a from about 1000 to 1300. New good-for-nothing, may earn his living expenses and esteem farming practices, the growth of according to his station.” trade, and a growing population Sporting events and leisure activities were available in created a vigorous European society. every season of the year: “In Easter holidays they fight battles on water.” In summer, “the youths are exercised in leaping, History and You Research cur- rent conditions in the city of London. dancing, shooting, wrestling, casting the stone; the maidens Compare the city today with the way dance as long as they can well see.” In winter, “when the it was described by Fitz-Stephen. great fen, or moor, which waters the walls of the city on the Write an essay in which you explain north side, is frozen, many young men play upon the ice; how London has changed and how some, striding as wide as they may, do slide swiftly.” it has remained the same. Why do To Fitz-Stephen, “every convenience for human pleasure is certain problems persist? Document known to be at hand” in London. your argument with evidence and include a bibliography. 314 Peasants, Trade, and Cities Guide to Reading Main Ideas People to Identify Reading Strategy • New farming practices, the growth of bourgeoisie, patricians Cause and Effect Use a chart like the one trade, and the rise of cities created a below to show the effects of the growth of flourishing European society. Places to Locate towns on medieval European society. Venice, Flanders • The revival of trade and the develop- Cause Effects ment of a money economy offered new Preview Questions opportunities for people. 1. What changes during the High Middle Key Terms Ages enabled peasants to grow more food? Growth of manor, serf, money economy, commer- Towns cial capitalism, guild, masterpiece 2. What were the major features of the manorial system? Preview of Events ✦800 ✦900 ✦1000 ✦1100 ✦1200 c. 800 c. 1050 1000s c. 1200s Serfdom grows in New cities and towns Craftspeople organize into guilds European population increases western Europe arise in Europe Voices from the Past One monk reported in the twelfth century how his monastery used a local stream to grind grain and make cloth: Entering the Abbey under the boundary wall, the stream first hurls itself at the mill where“ in a flurry of movement it strains itself, first to crush the wheat beneath the weight of the millstones, then to shake the fine sieve which separates flour from bran. The stream is not yet discharged. The fullers [people who finished the manu- facture of woolen cloth] located near the mill beckon to it. One by one it lifts and drops the heavy pestles, the fullers’ great wooden hammers. How many horses would be worn out, how many men would be weary if this graceful river, to whom we owe our clothes and food, did not labor for us.” —The Medieval Machine, Jean Gimpel, 1976 Woodcut showing use of elementary watermill Gradually, the growth of trade and manufacturing and the rise of towns laid the foundations for the transformation of Europe from a rural, agricultural society to a more urban, industrial one. The New Agriculture In the early Middle Ages, Europe had a relatively small population. In the High Middle Ages, however, population increased dramatically. The number of people almost doubled between 1000 and 1300, from 38 million to 74 million people. CHAPTER 10 Europe in the Middle Ages 315 What caused this huge increase in population? For of labor-saving devices. For example, the people of the one thing, conditions in Europe were more settled Middle Ages harnessed the power of water and wind and peaceful after the invasions of the early Middle to do jobs once done by human or animal power. Ages had stopped. This increased peace and stability Many of these new devices were made from iron, also led to a dramatic expansion in food production which was mined in various areas of Europe. Iron was after 1000. used to make scythes, axes, and hoes for use on farms, In part, food production increased because a as well as saws, hammers, and nails for building. Iron change in climate during the High Middle Ages was crucial in making the carruca, a heavy, wheeled improved growing conditions. In addition, more plow with an iron plowshare. Unlike earlier plows, land was cultivated as peasants of the eleventh and this plow could easily turn over heavy clay soils. twelfth centuries cut down trees and drained Because of the weight of the carruca, six or eight swamps. By 1200, Europeans had more land for oxen were needed to pull it. However, oxen were farming than they do today. slow. Two new inventions for the horse made it possi- Changes in technology also aided the development ble to plow faster. A new horse collar spread the of farming. The Middle Ages witnessed an explosion weight around the shoulders and chest rather than Watermill on Certovka River Harnessing the Power in Prague, of Water and Wind Czech Republic atermills use the power of running water to do work. WThe watermill was invented as early as the second cen- tury B.C. It was not used much in the Roman Empire because the Romans had many slaves and had no need to mechanize. In the High Middle Ages, watermills became easier to build as the use of metals became more common. In 1086, the survey Sail of English land known as the Domesday Book listed about six thousand watermills in England. Located along streams, mills powered by water were at first used to Break grind grains for flour. Gradually, mill operators were able to mechanize wheel entire industries. Waterpower was used in mills for making cloth and in sawmills for cutting wood and stone, as well as in the working of metals. Wind shaft Rivers, however, were not always available. Where this was the case, Europeans developed windmills to harness the power of the wind. Histori- ans are unsure whether windmills were imported into Europe (they were invented in Persia) or designed independently by Europeans. Like the watermill, the windmill was first used for grinding grains. Later, however, windmills were used for pumping water and even cutting wood. However, Grindstone they did not offer as great a range of possible uses as watermills. Great The watermill and windmill were the most important devices for har- spur nessing power before the invention of the steam engine in the eighteenth wheel century. Their spread had revolutionary consequences, enabling Europeans to produce more food and to more easily manufacture a wide array of prod- Workings of a basic windmill ucts.