Crises of the High Middle Ages

Challenge to Religious Authority

The Black Death

The Hundred Years War

The Great Schism

Peasant Revolts

England and France weave troubles War with each other at the end of the 13th

century. Both begin taxing the clergy to pay for the

war. Pope Boniface VIII issues a decree that

condems this act…the pope loses as England and France impose an embargo

Unam Sanctam Pope Boniface issues a decree placing all

Christians in his hands legally… He is kidnapped by French mercenaries

only to die after being freed. Papal power in question.

The Black Death Europe’s enhanced

trade networks a breeding ground for this biological nightmare.

Began in Kaffa along the ports of the Crimean (Black Sea).

Bacterial Infection Spread through the

fleas that fed on their host rats, the fleas were easily transmitted along these trade routes and spread from person to person with ease.

Facilitating the disease Urban sprawl Overcrowding Hygiene Trade

Loss of life Florence, Italy: 2/3 1.4 million of 4.2

English

Impact

Recurrence ravaged Europe until the 17th century.

Massive impact on wages Mayhem for minorities Tremendous population

loss. Increased productivity and

social balance? Tax burden Lessened power of the

church

The Hundred Years War Cause: England’s

claim to rule the French region known as Aquitaine.

English king had French roots back to the famed French king Phillip the Fair

More than just control… At stake were

economic issues-control of textile trade and trade routes.

The war saw an amazing /unified effort by both countries to pain the other as an adversary.

England domination See maps on 424 in

the McKay text. England victory keyed

to the Longbow.

The Tide Turns After key victories by

the English at Poiters and Crecy, victory seemed certain.

Joan of Arc changed that, bringing a spirit of unity, discipline, and faith.

Wars results Increased taxation on

peasants—leading to peasant revolts in nearly all European countries

Rise in Nationalism Rise of parliaments in

Europe, not in France) Death, destruction, and

the status quo? New methods of warfare

The Great Schism (part II) 1309-1376 popes lived

in Avignon, France. Pope Clement, an

ailing elderly pope pressured under French jurisdiction.

Babylonian captivity

Babylonian Captivity The Pope lost

extraordinary prestige. Returned by Gregory

in 1378. It was short lived.

Urban and Clement VII Urban demanded a

return of papal authority, renegade cardinals fled to Avignon and continued the dual papacy.

A European Alliance As the dual elected popes

quarreled over who was “legit”. European powers chose sides and popes.

Issue finally resolved at the Council of Constance and reform so this couldn’t happen again.

Anti-Clerical movments such as those of John Wyclif and the Lollards emerged.

Peasant Revolts One of the impacts of

plague and war were the revolts that ripped across late 14th century Europe. The most violent being that in England in 1381.

Causes Plague Hundred Years War Imbalanced tax

burdens. Leadership of Wat

Tyler and Jack Straw amongst others.

Impacts

Signaled an end to Feudalism

Spread to nearly every European country, put the wealthy and landed on the guard.

Devastating violence against against Jews, who were blamed for most events in the Middle Ages.