England, France, Spain and Italy · 2013-09-20 · and allow guilds, and fair government. Ciompi Revolt Baaaad! Not Cool! •However, by 1382, the great families of Florence had full

Four Nations: England, France,

Spain and Italy

Social Studies 8 – Unit 6

Background

Hey!

Wassup?

• After the Crusades, Europe was fairly peaceful for a time.

• Cities grew, people recovered from war, famine, and plague... And built their farms and fortunes.

• The 1300’s and 1400’s, saw revolt, war, and brutality once again. The question is... Why?

Rural Revolt

• Lords tried to hold onto power in a world that was post-crusade and post-plague.

• Tried to re-impose serfdom... Couldn’t.

• Tried to lock wages for working class... Couldn’t.

• So, they taxed people with all sorts of poll taxes (flat rates for all people... No matter what the status).

Whoa!

Not Cool!

Rural Revolt • Peasants hardest hit of course. Got very angry.

• Revolt led to a march on London in 1381. Mobs killed king’s advisors, and burned records and houses of prominent lords.

• Wanted end to poll taxes, fixed tithes, serfdom, and labour services.

• Led by Wat Tyler, and a priest (whose name is mostly lost to history).

Rural Revolt

• The king, only 15, rides out to meet the mob. Talks with Tyler.

• While talking, one of his men rides in and kills Tyler.

• King quickly sides with mob and makes all sorts of promises. Mob happy and leaves.

• King ignores promises. Nobles butcher peasants.

Rural Revolt

• Other revolts happened over similar issues in Paris, Sweden, Germany, and other places.

• Both urban and rural peasants upset over taxes and wages (labour now in demand, so they should get paid more money).

▫ Most labour surplus died in the plague.

Rural Revolt

• Revolt in Florence, Italy in 1378.

• City was a massive wool manufacturer. Employed 120,000 people before the plague.

• After plague, employers cut production and caused unemployment.

• Employers also in political power. Passed laws for low wages and high tax.

Ciompi Revolt

• Poor workers were forbidden to form a guild and work together against this.

• Judges hired by the employers. Not quite fair.

• Wool workers (Ciompi) revolted. Got agreement that employers would keep up good production, open wages up, and allow guilds, and fair government.

Ciompi Revolt

Baaaad!

Not Cool!

• However, by 1382, the great families of Florence had full control again. Workers lost all rights.

▫ These revolts weren’t useless though. Slowly showed upper class that things had to change.

• Those revolting were not the poorest (who can’t pay tax anyway), but a rising middle class who was starting to make money.

Ciompi Revolt

• People also in revolt on religious grounds.

• Argued that God, in the Bible, didn’t intend for rich to oppress the others.

• Pointed to millennium period when Christ was to come back and usher in a time of fairness and peace for 1000 years. Shouldn’t they be trying to do that now?

Religious Reasons for Revolt

• Tensions increased because of the looming threat of war.

• The 1300’s and 1400’s saw what was called The Hundred Years’ War.

• Fighting was all over Europe, and stability was a thing of the past. People became more desperate.

• Government seen to be failing in their task.

War on the Horizon

War on the Horizon

• Europe is now in the age of kings.

• Power based on old feudal ties with vassals, partnerships with lords and kings, relations with the Church, and goodness to his subjects.

• Seen as an absolute ruler, but had to allow much power to privileged persons or institutions.

• As a result of the wars, people and groups gave more of that power back to the king, dictator, or despot.

• The lack of full control, expanded the conflict, made peace hard to attain, and allowed many horrors to happen without anyone able to stop them.

War on the Horizon

• The problems came because the French Capetian kings had no male heir to the throne, for the first time in 450 years +/-.

• English War of the Roses fought internally over uncertain succession to the crown of England and two rival houses of Landcaster and York wanting to take power.

The Cause of Warfare

• In Portugal, Castile, France, England, Naples, Hungary, Poland, and Scandinavia... The rulers by 1400’s were not direct legitimate descendants of those from the early 1300’s.

Most had fought, and kept fighting, for their new positions.

Weaker kings = prey.

The Cause of Warfare

• War grew more expensive, and more frequent. It cost a lot to keep an army in the field.

• The new use of firearms radically changed the nature of warfare.

• Governments couldn’t do much with their poorly-trained, poorly-armed vassal soldiers....

Changes in Warfare

• Major battles at Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt showed the power of a professionally-armed and trained mercenary army.

• They could slaughter knights on horseback easily. Old codes of war are over.

• It’s about decimating your enemy, not just “winning the field.”

Changes in Warfare

• Many mercenaries were organized into “Companies of Adventure.”

• Leaders were good soldiers and good businessmen. Went where the money was, and would switch sides for the right pay.

• Money now determined who could field an army and win a war. Kings needed more and more $$.

Changes in Warfare

• Ways for kings to make money were dropping.

• Used to rely on rents, but those falling after the plague. Turned to taxes (but people hated that).

• The church also lost lots of money. Started selling positions of power, and forgiveness of sins (indulgences). Much conflict and debate here.

Changes in Warfare

• In France, the monarchy developed a monopoly over the sale of salt.

• In England they used poll tax.

• In Italy, they taxed everything from windows to prostitutes.

• All countries made money off of people’s sins and vices. Not much spiritual leadership from anyone.

Seeking Revenue 7

• What about the Nobles? ▫ Was a privileged class, based on

birthright.

▫ Got special things from kings. Did little work. Managed serfs and rents.

▫ Now their wealth was tied up in the land, but they didn’t have the people to work it. Serfdom is ending.

▫ Were not equipped for agricultural work themselves. Sons without much inheritance.

Seeking Revenue

• To survive and keep their position, some nobles joined mercenary companies.

• Others tried to enhance their position by marriage or by winning pensions, favours, offices, or titles from governments.

• Factions formed within states, and unrest was high.

Factions in Politics

Factions in Politics

• Normally a faction was led by a great noble house, and could include scores of other houses, knights, peasants, artisans, and professional soldiers.

• Became almost little states within a country – complete with their own banners, colours, and costumes.

• Kings had a lot to deal with.

• The Paston house of England is a good example of how this worked.

▫ The founder, William, was basically a commoner.

▫ Married the daughter of a knight and increased his status.

▫ Educated his sons in law, because you could wrestle land away from others in the courts.

Factions – The Pastons

▫ Married his sons upwards. One son, John, married in the Duke of Norfolk’s household and was the Duke’s aid during ceremonial events. John became a great soldier, and very rich during the 100 years war.

▫ John eventually became the Duke’s heir, and inherited a huge estate.

▫ Family managed to become nobility.

Factions – The Pastons

• All these factors fed into the cause of the 100 Years War.

• It wasn’t fought for 100 years straight, but in a series of stages.

• Great battles didn’t change much, despite the victories.

• More determined by war of attrition against the general population.

Attrition Warfare - the

military strategy of

wearing down the enemy

by continual losses in

personnel and material

The 100 Years War - Introduction

• The issue that started it, was the dispute over French royal succession.

• Most noble families only had direct father-to-son links for 3 generations.

• The French Capatians had it for over 300 years.

• The last three kings all died without male heirs. In 1328, the last Capatian died. The line was gone.


• Closest male relative was King Edward III of England.

• He was son to the last Capatian king’s daughter, Isabella.

• However, law stated a daughter could not claim, or transfer claim, to the crown.

• Philip VI, a first cousin, became king instead.


Initially no real issue yet. Edward did ordinary homage to Philip... Not liege homage.

Recognizes his rule, but does not place self under that authority in any way.

• Problem starts partially over wool in Flanders, France. Wool imported from England, and processed in France.

Workers revolted against a local count.



• Philip VI defeats them, and arrests English traders along with French rebels.

• Edward stops shipping wool to France. Causes massive unemployment.

• Workers revolted again, and drives out the local count. They then call on Edward to claim the crown of France and rule.

• Meanwhile... Philip wants liege homage, which would force Edward to support him in all conflict. Edward doesn’t think a king should give homage at all, and doesn’t.

• Philip declares Edward’s fiefs (land he owned or had rights to in France) forfeit.

• Edward actively supported revolt in response = WAR.


• Philip encouraged pirates to harass English wine trading ships.

• Edward invited all rebel French weavers to come to England and live under his protection. They did. Beginning of England’s dominance in the later Industrial Revolution.

• When the war ended, those weavers had been in England for 2-3 generations. No going back anymore.


• French had numbers on their side. Population of 15 million, compared to England’s 4-5 million.

▫ Seem like an unfair fight?

• But, French subjects in Fleming, Gascon, and Burgundia fought with the English against fellow Frenchmen.

• Conflict was very haphazard, but can be divided into 3 main phases.


Ready?

Oh Yeah…

• First phase from 1338-1360.

• English never properly exploited early victories, and French didn’t undo them.

• English naval victory in 1340 determined the fighting would be on French soil.

• Six years later, Edward invades France... Sort of.

Phase One: Initial English Victories

• Does more raiding and looting than conquest.

• Philip chases English to Crecy. English hold the high ground. French knights attack without archer support. English rain down arrows and massacre men and horses.

• English soldiers come out to finish off the survivors.

• English hold Calais area.


• In 1356, John II succeeds Philip. Attacks Edward’s son, The Black Prince.

• Similar story, and a brutal defeat. John captured, but nobody wants to pay his ransom (not even his own sons), and he dies.

• Black death and mutual exhaustion lead to the peace of Bretigny in 1360.


• The English are given Calais, and an enlarged Acquitaine.

• In return, the English take back their claim on the French crown.

• However, French not willing to leave so much French land under English control... So in 1369, John’s successor – Charles V- starts the war up again.



• This phase from 1369-1415

• French plan is to avoid direct battle, and instead just slowly wear down the English. It worked.

• By 1380, they had pushed the English almost back into the sea.

• From 1380-1415, fighting is sporadic, and both sides content with a stalemate.

• War of attrition.

Phase Two: French Recovery

• Real losers here were the common people.

• Mercenaries on both sides devastated the countryside. Plundered villages, looted, raped, killed, and destroyed crops. Horrible things done.

• This type of warfare was repeated in the Thirty Years’ War, and World War II.

Phase Two: French Recovery

• From 1415-1453.

• Henry V of England invaded France and decimated the French at Agincourt in 1415. Replay of earlier French defeats.

▫ Soldiers killed from above by arrows and gunfire, and armoured French knights were chased into swampy areas... And slaughtered.

• Treaty of Troyes signed in 1420.

Phase Three: Rapid Shifts

• French king, Charles VI, declared his own son illegitimate to rule (The Dauphin of France).

• Declared English Henry V as his heir and regent of France. Gave him control over roughly ½ of France.

• Gave daughter in marriage to Henry, with agreement that the child born would be the next French king.



• The Dauphin is...upset.

• Leads an army into English territory in France, but is pushed back by English and loses many other towns and fortresses.

In 1428, they (English) lay siege to Orleans. If captured, it would give the English a powerful base of operation for conquering rest of France. Dauphin in trouble…

Joan of Arc

• The Dauphin is saved by a young peasant girl.

• Receives a vision from God (she says), and convinces the Dauphin to give her an army.

• In 1429 she defeats the English at Orleans.

• Brings the Dauphin to Reims to be crowned. French people swept to Dauphin’s cause. Tide turns to his favour.

• Joan doesn’t fare well.

• Continues campaign though Dauphin is now king and wants her to stop. Betrayed.

• Captured by Burgundians, and sold to the English. French just too uncomfortable with peasant girls running armies and claiming visits from God himself.

Joan of Arc

• Dauphin does nothing to help her. Does just opposite.

• Burned at the stake by English in 1431. She was 19 years old.

• Years later, the Catholic Church declares her a saint.

▫ First they kill her, then they revere her.

Joan of Arc

• Dauphin, now king, rallies French troops and drives English back towards the sea. Blames them for Joan’s

death. Works on people.

• By 1453, only Calais is under English control.

• No formal treaty ends the war, but outcome is decided. England is no longer a power on the continent.

The End of the War

• Rapid advances in weaponry. Crossbow, pike, gun... all beat knight on horseback.

• English king needed money, and gives much more power to parliament in exchange for rights to impose new taxes.

• French crown took power from their parliament and imposed new taxes.

Effects of the War

• England emerged more consolidated, and more conscious of its national identity.

▫ They had not been invaded

▫ Wool industry grew rapidly

▫ Began to focus on the seas, and expansion on other continents.

• France king emerged as sole ruler in French lands.

▫ Had a strong, professional army at his command.

Effects of the War

Effects of the War

Sorry…

▫ Had full control over taxation and fees.

▫ Land ravaged by war, but recovered quickly.

• In both cases, there were still nobles that had feudal powers.

▫ Own law courts, special status, small armies.

King, however, seen as dominant power, and would press his control in coming years.

I Make the Laws

around here!

The War of the Roses (England)

• England also had former soldiers and others roaming the countryside and attacking for what they wanted, during 100 years war

• Factions fought for control, such as the Pastons.

• War of Roses started over an issue of succession again.

• Henry V and Catharine of France did have a son...

• ... But he went through periods of insanity. Not fit to rule (though it never stopped the Romans any).

• Two factions laid claim to the throne: The Lancastrians (with a red rose emblem) and the Yorkists (with a white rose emblem).

• English nobles aligned with one side or the other.


• Civil war lasted 35 years.

• Not brutal on general populations, but many nobles died in the fighting.

• Richard III, a Yorkist, killed two young nephews because they had a clearer right to the throne than he.

• Finally, Lancastarian Henry Tudor, defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485.


• Then Henry married Elizabeth of York to heal the rift between the two sides.

• The people welcomed the stability that Henry established.

• Other claims on the throne were not to come until quite some time later. For the moment, England had peace again.


The States of Italy

• Free cities, called communes, dominated much of the political life on central and northern Italy.

• The Holy Roman Empire claimed control over much of the peninsula north of Rome, and the Papacy governed the area around Rome.

• The rest gained status as self-governed city-states.

• During the late 1300’s, many merged together, and smaller, independent ones had a hard time competing economically.

• Rising costs of war made it hard for them to defend their independence against hostile takeover.

• Regional states, with a central control center, began to replace them.

The States of Italy

• Milan one of the most successful.

• Italian despot, Gian Galeazzo Visconti (r. 1378-1402) started with control over 21 cities.

• Through negotiation and attack, he gained more... And access to the Adriatic sea.

• Seized Bologna, bought Pisa, and got 5 others.

The States of Italy - Milan


• With careful political scheming, he kept his two biggest rivals: Florentines and Venetians, divided.

• Seemed ready to create a single, united, Italian kingdom.

He secured appointment as Imperial Vicar from the emperor in 1380 and Duke in 1395.

• This move made him the only Duke in all of Italy.

• He revised the laws of Milan, allowing him to get huge revenue from taxes.

Was also a generous patron of the arts (more during Renaissance unit on that).

Only needed to crush Florentines before being made king... But then died suddenly in 1402. Sons weak, and could not rule.


• By the mid-1300’s, Florence was the principal banking center in Europe, and one of the most important producers of luxury goods.

▫ Silks, textiles, fine leather, silver and gold objects.

▫ Excellent training by guilds, and highly skilled artisans

• It’s currency, the Florin, was respected internationally as reliable.

The States of Italy - Florence


• Though self-governed, Florence wasn’t politically stable. The Ciompi revolt, and others, challenged the leadership regularly.

• Eventually the Medici banking family seized control in 1434. Kept up facade of republican govt, but only their friends could run for positions.

• Mob boss rule over the cities

• Leader was Cosimo de Medici.

• Tax policies favoured lower and middle classes (kept happy).

• Gave Upper-Middle classes appointments to positions of office, and political sponsorship (kept happy too).

• Huge patron of the arts. Big festivals, universities, etc. The place to be for artists.


• Tradition continued with his grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent (r. 1469-1492)

• Beat back other Florentine families and strengthened control over the city.

• Set the style of Italy, and eventually for all of Europe.

• Lavish social life, architecture, and support for writers and thinkers.


The States of Italy - Venice

• Already independent for more than 500 years, by 1400 the city of Venice controlled a large empire through Italy and the Mediterranean.

• Had its own army and navy.

• Wealth came from spices like black pepper and cloves. Very expensive.


• Wealthiest men controlled the government. Not split by factions like Florence.

• 150 families shared power in an oligarchy and one was elected to head the government for life.

• He was called the doge. Usually elected as an older man, so he wouldn’t rule for too long (tempted to become corrupt)

• City-state was very stable politically. Maintained order through patricians who relied on informers and punished wrongdoers brutally (Mangled body left in the streets).

• Showed concern for general public welfare. Supported arts liberally. Allowed all ethnic groups in to trade, talk, learn.



• Biggest accomplishment was the Arsenal.

• On a collection of islands, in a lagoon, was a factory that employed over 100,000 people.

• Could build a fully-equipped warship from nothing to complete in only a day.

• Entire families worked there, women also.

• Very impressive feat!


• Its empire grew and slowly its coinage (the ducat) replaced the Florin as the standard currency.

• Their push for the arts made Venice a center for the Renaissance.

• All forms of learning promoted, including Arabic, Jewish, Turkish, Slavic, and Greek.

• Papacy also tried to grow its power, but was hindered because it was stuck in Avignon (South France) instead of Rome.

• Difficult terrain and spotted fortifications allowed petty lords and brigands to defy the Catholic church.

• Major financial drain, just trying to keep some authority. Many revolts from various sides.

The States of Italy – Papal States

The States of Italy – Naples & Sicily

• Also faced a lot of revolt and turmoil.

• Competition between Aragonese and Angevins.

• In 1435, the king of Aragon, Alfonso V, re-united Sicily and Southern Italy.

• Suppressed most factions, but terrain was rough and it was hard to do.

• Also promoted learning and literature. Court in Naples.

• Relations between states were tense, as they fought over trade and territory.

• Peace of Lodi in 1454 ended a war between Milan, Florence, and Venice.

• Cosimo de Medici tried to make peace a lasting one through an alliance system of Milan, Naples and Florence on one side, and Venice and Papal states on the other. Balance of Power.

Balance of Power

Balance of Power

• This was mostly successful, until French invaded in 1494.

• First attempt in European history of a Diplomatic Balance of Power for maintaining peace.

▫ Was attempted before, and after, WWI and WWII as well.

▫ Never really worked though.

Fall of Byzantium / Ottoman Empire

• By mid-1400s, Byzantium empire (Eastern Church) was effective only in Greece, Aegean Sea, and Constantinople.

• Seljuk Turks lasted through the Crusades, but eventually fell to the Mongols in 1200s.

• Ottoman Turks (Islamic) followed the Mongols and built an empire that lasted over 600 years.


• Eastern Emperors was themselves surrounded. Begged Roman Church for help (even agreeing to unify with them).

• Western Church not interested in any more Crusade.

• Eastern peoples actually preferred Islam to the Western Church. Hated them and what happened in Crusades.


• Ottomans mounted a major campaign in 1453 under Sultan Mehmet II, the conqueror.

• Valiant defense, but it was doomed to fail. Emperor Constantine XI died. His lineage stretched back 1,400 years to Augustus Caesar.

• Truly the end of an era.

• No big practical changes, East already less important.

But... huge psychological impact.

Constantine had established a Christian Empire there, that was to last until the return of Christ. (Did last for over 1000 years).

• Seen as another spiritual disappointment. God just not acting like He’s supposed to.


• Sultan Mehmet II changed the name of Constantinople to Istanbul (not officially recognized until 1930).

• Subjected Bosnia/Serbia. Controlled Black Sea.

• Retook Mecca and Medina from Mongols. Subjugated them as well.

• Sultan became the Caliph, the successor to Muhammad.

The Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire

• Under Suleiman II, Rhodes fell, Venice lost much of its naval power, and they nearly took Vienna (it held).

• Turned then to the East and overran Mesopotamia most of Arabia. Took Egypt as well.

• Part of his success was due to Christian in-fighting. He could be impartial referee, and many accepted his rule for stability.

• Like early Muslims after Muhammad, he allowed culture, religion, and trade to remain as it was.

• Paid a tax for religious freedom, but people were ok with that.

• Jews and Christians handled trade. He handled military.

• Governed with the aid of a series of advisors, including a Grand Vizier.

The Ottoman Empire

• Succession is important to stability. Sultans handled it rather brutally.

• A sultan had many concubines and fathered a great many children.

• At his passing, he picked his favourite to rule.

• New ruler was obligated to murder all his siblings. Done with silk thread and strangulation (don’t spill royal blood).

The Ottoman Empire

• By end of 1400’s, peace was generally restored.

• England constitutional monarchy.

• France under absolute monarchy.

• Italy under balance of power control.

• Arabia under dictatorship.

• New inventions were about to change the world forever.

By the end of it all

Up Next...

The Renaissance

Documents

England, France, Spain and Italy · 2013-09-20 · and allow guilds, and fair government. Ciompi Revolt Baaaad! Not Cool! •However, by 1382, the great families of Florence had full