Changes

After the Crusades, the kings and the Catholic Church had much more power.  Feudalism had been weakened by the Crusades.  This set the stage for a rise in power of the nation-states that exist today.  Feudalism had been successful in defending against Viking invasions, and the Vikings settled down and converted to Christianity.  The threat of foreign invasions was diminished and feudalism, with its strong defensive system, was no longer needed.  With new stability, trade began to flourish once again.  The European population tripled between A.D. 1000 and 1300.   

After the Crusades, the kings and the Catholic Church had much more power.  Feudalism had been weakened by the Crusades.  This set the stage for a rise in power of the nation-states that exist today.  Feudalism had been successful in defending against Viking invasions, and the Vikings settled down and converted to Christianity.  The threat of foreign invasions was diminished and feudalism, with its strong defensive system, was no longer needed.  With new stability, trade began to flourish once again.  The European population tripled between A.D. 1000 and 1300.   

Towns began to grow, and merchants formed “guilds”, which were organizations to establish rules and fairness in trade.  Guilds were led by men, but both men and women could be members of a guild.  The practice of apprenticeship began during this time period, by which young men could receive training from a master craftsmen.  A middle class arose, comprised of bankers, merchants and craftsman, and was known as “burgess” in England, “bourgeoisie” in France, and “burgher” in Germany.  As prosperity grew, there was also a rise in banking and investment, and gold coins were used as currency.  An agricultural revolution occurred, bringing improvements such as new plows, harnesses and farming methods.   Feudalism continued to decrease as food surpluses occurred, population increased, and many serfs could now leave the manors.

Towns began to grow, and merchants formed “guilds”, which were organizations to establish rules and fairness in trade.  Guilds were led by men, but both men and women could be members of a guild.  The practice of apprenticeship began during this time period, by which teenagers could receive training from a master craftsmen.  A middle class arose, comprised of bankers, merchants and craftsman, and was known as the “burgess” in England, the “bourgeoisie” in France, and the “burgher” in Germany.  As prosperity grew, there was also a rise in banking and investment, and gold coins were used as currency.  An agricultural revolution occurred, bringing improvements such as new plows, harnesses and farming methods. Feudalism declined as many serfs could leave the manors:  food surpluses occurred, population increased, and overall wealth increased.

An epidemic of the bubonic plague known as the Black Death struck Europe and many parts of Asia between 1347 and 1351.  The plague was spread by rats and other rodents, and spread rapidly along trade routes and especially the Silk Road.  It originated amongst the Mongols in Asia, who carelessly allowed their sacks of food to be exposed to rats and fleas that carried the fatal disease.  Traders brought it with them into the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.  In four short years, 40 to 45% of the European population was lost to the plague, especially the poor.  The Mongols amplified the problem by using catapults to toss plague-ridden bodies over city walls.  The modern world is not the first to use biological warfare.

But then disaster struck.  An epidemic of the bubonic plague known as the Black Death swept through Europe and many parts of Asia between 1347 and 1351.  The plague was spread by rats and other rodents, and spread rapidly along trade routes and especially the Silk Road.  It originated amongst the crude Mongols in Asia, who carelessly allowed their sacks of food to be exposed to rats and fleas that carried the fatal disease.  Traders brought it with them into the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.  In four short years, 40 to 45% of the European population died from the plague, especially the poor.  The Mongols amplified the problem by using catapults to toss plague-ridden bodies over city walls to attack their enemies.  The modern world is not the first to use biological warfare.

The fatality rate was even higher in China, where an estimated 25 million died from it.  It took 100 years for Europe and China to recover, and a longer period of time for Islamic countries and the Middle East.  Egypt was hit particularly hard, with some areas not recovering for 500 years.

The fatality rate was even higher in China, where an estimated 25 million died from it.  It took 100 years for Europe and China to recover, and a longer period of time for Islamic countries and the Middle East to recover also.  Egypt was hit particularly hard, with some areas not recovering for 500 years.

The germ theory of disease had not been discovered, so nobody could figure out what was causing people to catch and die from the disease.  How do you know if you have the disease?  Here are the symptoms.  Three to seven days after an infection, the person experiences initial symptoms of chills, fever, diarrhea, headaches, and the swelling of the infected lymph nodes.  If it is untreated, 30-75% of those who contract the plague die.

The germ theory of disease had not been discovered, so nobody could figure out what was causing people to catch and die from the disease.  How do you know if you have the disease?  Here are the symptoms.  Three to seven days after an infection, the person experiences initial symptoms of chills, fever, diarrhea, headaches, and the swelling of the infected lymph nodes.  If it is untreated, 30-75% of those who contract the plague die.

The plague weakened the Catholic Church, which appeared helpless to stop it. After the plague began to subside in the 1350s, there were severe worker shortages and even rebellions as workers demanded higher pay.  The devastation to the serf population weakened the force behind the success of the manors and contributed greatly to the end of feudalism.  The plague also created a demand for more centralized government that could respond effectively to disease.

The plague weakened the Catholic Church, which appeared helpless to stop it.

 

After the plague began to subside in the 1350s, there were severe worker shortages and even rebellions as workers demanded higher pay.  The devastation to the serf population weakened the force behind the success of the manors and contributed greatly to the end of feudalism.  The plague also created a demand for more centralized government that could respond effectively to disease.

In England, the rise of a centralized government began with a series of Anglo-Saxon kings including Alfred the Great, Edward the Confessor and Harold.  In 1066 William the Conqueror, a Norman duke, led an invasion of Britain against the Saxon King Harold.  He successfully conquered the country and declared himself owner of all its land, granting fiefs to his Norman lords.  The system of feudalism under William led to the rise of a centralized government, and the blend of the Norman and Saxon cultures would come to define the people of England.  In 1166, William’s relative Henry II introduced trial by jury and took control of the court system in the “assize of Clarendon.”  Royal judges traveled throughout the land, their decisions establishing an English common law, which has greatly influenced law in the United States.  William was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine, a remarkable woman who had two husbands and two sons who were kings.   

In England, the rise of a centralized government began with a series of Anglo-Saxon kings including Alfred the Great, Edward the Confessor and Harold.  In 1066 William the Conqueror, a Norman duke, led an invasion of Britain against the Saxon King Harold.  He successfully conquered the country and declared himself owner of all its land, granting fiefs to his Norman lords.  The system of feudalism under William led to the rise of a centralized government, and the blend of the Norman and Saxon cultures would come to define the people of England.  In 1166, William’s relative Henry II introduced trial by jury and took control of the court system in the “assize of Clarendon.”  Royal judges traveled throughout the land, their decisions establishing an English common law, which has greatly influenced law in the United States.  William was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine, a remarkable woman who had two husbands and two sons who were kings.