Economic & Political

Transformation in Western

Europe (600-1450)

Economic Transformation

Peasants & Manor Life

• Manor• Serfs• Received the

lord’s protection • Could even have

several acres for themselves.

• Illiterate• Few lived past

the age of 35

An Agricultural Revolution

• By the 800s, farmers started using new inventions.– Iron plow,

harness, & windmill

• Began to us the 3-field system to keep the soil fertile.– Grain, beans,

fallow

Trade Revives• During the High

Middle Ages economy grows stronger

• Population grows• People began to

trade again• War diminishes• Growing demand

for goods• Merchants set up

fairs• Meeting places

grew into the 1st towns and cities.

Medieval TradeMedieval Trade

Commercial Revolution

• New ways of doing business.

• Money • Banks • Partnerships• Insurance• Bills of

exchange

Society Changes• New middle class

emerged that included traders, merchants, and artisans.

• The lords & clergy despised them.

• The church forbade Christians from lending money. (usury)

• As a result, many Jews became money-lenders & played an important role in the new economy.

Guilds• Merchants and

artisans formed associations known as guilds.

• Each guild represented workers in one occupation.

• They made rules to protect the quality of their work, set prices, & look after their members.

• Fewer people were serfs as times changed.

GuildsGuilds

Guild Hall

Guild Hall

Commercial Monopoly:

Controlled membership apprentice journeyman master craftsman

Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece].

Controlled prices

Jews in Europe• Jewish

communities existed across Europe.

• Muslim Spain became a center of Jewish culture. (Sephardic)

• Many rulers in N. Europe valued and protected Jewish Community

• In the late 1000s, Christian persecution of Jews began & worsened in bad economic times.

• Many Jews then migrated to E. Europe and thrived.

Chaiya's Sephardic World,

Jewish Prince in Moslem Spain: Selected Poems of Samuel ibn Nagrela,

Political Transformation

The Church• Later missionaries

spread Chr. throughout Europe

• In manor villages, the priest was the peoples’ contact w/ the church.– Celebrated mass

and administered the sacraments…leading to salvation..

• Christian rituals were part of the fabric of everyday life.

One of the oldest Medieval churches

Monks and Nuns• Some Christians

spent their lives serving God.

• About 530 B.C., a monk named Benedict organized the first monastery. (Convent)

• They took 3 vows:– Obedience to the

abbot– Poverty– Chastity

• Cared for the sick and poor, and set up schools

• Some were missionaries …life of service

• After the fall of Rome, the Church split into eastern & western churches (@1000 CE).

• Western – Roman Catholic church, headed by the pope

• Church connected to government

The Height of Church Power

• During the 1200s, the Church was very powerful.

• Pope Gregory VII and Pope Innocent III believed the pope should have more power than any other ruler.

• Rulers who objected were excommunicated.

• After 1200s, the power of the pope declined.

Pope Innocent III

The Age of Charlemagne• @ 800 CE• Charles the Great

crowned by pope • Emperor of the

Romans• Wanted capital to

be like Rome • Encouraged Latin• Set up schools• Spread

Christianity• Appointed

powerful nobles • missi dominici

Charlemagne: 742 to 814

Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire

After Charlemagne• His empire fell

apart • Grandsons split

empire into 3 • Legacy: He

blended Germanic, Roman, and Christian ideas.

Growth of Royal Power in England and France

Monarchs, Nobles & the Church

• Nobles & the church had as much – or more – power as feudal kings– The monarchs

began centralizing their power.

– They gave rights to townspeople & gained their loyalty.

• The Magna Carta (England) contained 2 important ideas that stay w/ us today.– People have rights– The monarch must

also obey the law.• During the 1200s,

Parliament also evolved.– Representatives of

the “common people” joined w/ the lords.• House of Commons• House of Lords