The Crusades
What religious goals did Pope Urban II hope to achieve with the initiation of the Crusades?
Identify the primary social problem in medieval society and how the Crusades helped solve it.
3. Explain the primary economic motivations behind the crusades. Why are religious motivations for war more convincing than economic motivations?
1. Pope Urban II hoped to reclaim the holy lands (Palestine) and reunite the Western and Eastern versions of Christianity. Further spread of religion along with eradication of competition may also have been motivation.
2. Without a common enemy to band against, Knights found entertainment by dueling one another and causing mischief in other ways. The Crusades allowed them an opportunity to play at being the heroes they were often described as. It also provided them with a greater purpose and reason to follow the code of Chivalry.
3. Economically, the Crusades offered an opportunity for minor Nobility to gain land and power. It also allowed merchants a chance to profit by selling supplies to the Nobility and gaining access to Asian markets. Religious motivations are greater than economic because while one will die for their beliefs, no one wants to die for the money they've worked to gain and if anything they fight to live so that they may use it.
Explain how the Great Schism impacted people’s confidence in the Catholic Church and strengthened the power of European Monarchs.
2. How did Jan Hus and John Wycliffe rebel against the Catholic church? How did the Church handle the challenge they presented?
1. Because the Great Schism revealed a lack of unity and understanding in the Church, many people began to question their power. Inability to select a single Pope also caused a weakening of Pope power. European Monarchs began to strengthen their power through providing stability during this time.
2. John Wycliffe challenged the teachings of the Church and suggested people trust in the Bible instead. To help with this he created the first English translation of the Bible which the Church combated by burning any copies they found. Jan Hus taught Biblical teachings over those of the Church but was shut down when the Church caught, tortured, and burned him at the stake.
Provide two examples that demonstrate how the Crusades had net positive impacts on European society.
Provide two explanations for the rapid population increase in Europe between 1100 - 1300 A.D.
3. Describe the concept and purpose of a Guild.
1. Crusades brought in wealth and influences which positively impacted Europe. Trade was able to spread and grow cities as a result of religious wars. Interaction with other cultures led to an interest in learning and exploration among Europeans.
2. One cause of population increase was due to an improvement in farming. Utilization of a three-field system and horse power meant food could be grown quicker and in larger amount which meant more people survived = greater population. Another cause was an overall expansion of food resources due to new influences.
3. A guild is a group composed of people in a similar occupation who band together in order to achieve some sort of economic advantage. Guilds also provided the lower class with some resistance to the Nobility.
Explain how the Duke of Normandy (French nobility) had a claim to the English crown. How did William eventually become king of England? 10pts
Describe how English monarchs increased their land holdings in France by providing an historical example. Provide an example of how this led to conflict between the French and the English.
3. Explain why and how English monarchs formed alliances with the middle classes by providing specific historical examples. What was the primary goal behind these reforms?
1. William the Conqueror claimed right to the throne through a relation to Canute, an earlier king of England. By winning the Battle of Hastings over Harold Godwinson he was able to take the crown.
2. Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine in a strategical alliance which allowed him to inherit the territory which her family held in France and turn it into English territory. This did not please the French who wanted to maintain their territory and fought the English.
3. Henry II formed alliances with the middle class through the introduction of a jury system composed of loyal citizens. This allowed the middle class a sense of power within Europe and prevented the possibility of future rebellions.
The Crusades Vocab + Definitions
Simony - the buying and selling of Clergy positions
Lay Investiture - power to select members of the Clergy
Gothic Architecture: style of architecture established during the Middle Ages to inspire people and bring glory to God
Notre Dame - Large structure built during the Middle Ages
Pope Urban ll - Declared war on Muslims = Crusade (Holy War)
Palestine - Holy Land fought over during the Crusades
The First Crusade - Holy War which ended with the recapturing of Jerusalem from Muslim Turks by European forces in 1099 AD
crusader states - regions created by the victors of the 1st Crusade to divvy up their territory, each ruled by a European Nobility
Saladin - powerful Muslim warrior who led forces to successfully retake Jerusalem
Richard the Lionheart - English king who was killed while on a Crusade, fought Saladin for power over Jerusalem
Fourth Crusade - Crusaders get distracted and don't reach Jerusalem but instead become corrupt and attack regions like Egypt
1st Children's Crusade - 30,000 children are sent to retake Jerusalem (led by 12yo Stephen of Cloyes)
Reconquista - centuries long effort to expel non-christians from the Iberian Peninsula
Spanish Inquisition - efforts by the Church to suppress heresy (anything that defies the Church)
4. How did Pope Urban II help motivate many knights and nobility to leave Europe to fight in the crusades?
5. Explain why the success of Europeans during the first crusade were short lived.
6. Explain why Richard the Lionheart was the only king to arrive in Palestine. Provide evidence to justify who won the 3rd crusade.
4. By claiming that dying in a Crusade would allow someone to achieve salvation or redemption, the Pope began a religious fervor which motivated many to join the Crusade armies. This was appealing to Knights and criminals alike.
5. Following the first crusade the Europeans divided their territory into Crusader states and placed a noble in charge of each one. This was poor planning because as we know by now: a house divided cannot stand. The Turks took advantage of this division and attacked with much success while the still divided Europeans failed to form a counterattack.
6. The Pope called for European Monarchs to reclaim Jerusalem. But French king Phillip II has disagreements with English King Richard and leaves the group. Meanwhile German King Fredrick drowns leaving Richard as the only monarch to fight in the 3rd Crusade. While there wasn't a definitive winner in the 3rd Crusade I would argue that Saladin and his Muslim forces prevailed. This is because Richard was not successful in his efforts to reclaim Jerusalem but Saladin was successful in maintaining his control of the region.
3. Describe the cause and symptoms of the black death. Using logic, how would you have limited the spread of the plague in Europe?
4.Explain how the plague helped give lower classes the ability to reject Feudalism.
5. Provide an example of how Church policies during the plague decreased trust and confidence in the Church.
3. The Bubonic plague was carried from Asia to Europe via merchant trading vessels and was further spread by fleas carried by rats and the many trade routes of Europe. Symptoms included swelling of the lymph nodes, boil like bumps, fever, and a black discoloration of skin. I would have limited the spreading of the plague by enforcing quarantining among plague victims, introducing new hygiene standards (specifically targeting cities), and instating new traveling regulations.
4. Many Lords were leaving their manors at this time due to the plague outbreak, this allowed serfs and other lower class workers the opportunity to leave in search of better wages and opportunity. So in a way, the plague helped bring about the end of Feudalism.
5. During the plague many of the honorable Church members died due to disease (contracted by delivering sacraments). This allowed for corruption to enter the Church via new members. These new priests introduced policies which were either useless or many times, meant to benefit themselves. These practices signaled the beginning of a wavering of faith in the Church.
4. Explain how people met their basic economic needs in Europe before and after the commercial revolution.
5. Explain why money lending was difficult in the early middle ages. Explain why money lending is important for the long term growth of an economy.
6. Provide an explanation for the rapid growth of cities in Medieval Europe. Describe a negative consequence associated with this rapid growth
4. and 5. Before the commercial revolution, many produced products to provide for themselves and would sell whatever remained locally. Interest could not be charged on loans due to Usury to many avoided loans altogether. Following the Commercial Revolution people began to sell goods and services at markets, allowing for an expansion of trade and economy. The Church removed their laws of Usury which meant the economy was able to grow (greater circulation of money = growth of economy) Growth of economy led to growth of towns into cities, which created more job opportunities.
6. Because cities held opportunity for employment, many left their manors or homes for the big cities. This was negative in that housing had to be quickly put together to accommodate the masses so the quality of homes was low, close quarters meant breeding grounds for disease, and lack of a good sewage system create further issues.
4. Describe how King John’s leadership led to the signing of the Magna Carta. Why is the Magna Carta important to the foundation of democracy?
5. Describe why and how King Edward I created parliament.
4. King John was a terrible and cruel leader. Through harsh taxation and mistreatment of subjects he promoted a rebellion which resulted in the signing of the Magna Carta. This document presents the idea of rights in the areas of political representation, protection under law, and trial by jury, all which were incorporated into the system of democracy.
5. King Edward I created parliament as a way to raise funds for war. By electing Nobility and non-nobility to make decisions in the areas of law and fund raising he achieved success. He established parliament by summoning two knights and two Burgesses from each English county.
Major Changes in Medieval Society Vocab + Definitions
Three-Field System - Farming technique which utilized three fields with alternating seasons of growth to more efficiently farm
Guilds - organizations of same occupation individuals who banded together to achieve economic advantages
Standards - idea established by Guilds to decide the necessary quality of work, wages, and working conditions
Commercial Revolution - Brought expansion of trade, business, and banking
Usury - Church established laws which forbade the use of interest
Burghers - powerful merchant class
University - learning establishments which gave educational opportunity to non-nobility and Church members
Vernacular - commonly used language
Thomas Aquinas - promoted the use of common sense through Aristotle's teachings
Scholastics - students who debated topics at Universities
Pascal's Wager - Combined logic and religion in the argument that it is better to believe and God and lose nothing if he doesn't exist while gaining eternal life if he does, than to believe in nothing and gain nothing while possibly losing a blissful eternity
7. Explain why the Europeans believed the Children’s Crusades would be successful and explain why they ultimately failed. What important lesson can we learn from this absurd event?
8. The goal of the Spanish Inquisition was to seek out and destroy heresy. What is heresy and what strategies did the Spanish use to destroy it?
7. The Europeans were convinced that the cause for their failure was a lack of innocence which God would not support. So they sent the innocents with the belief that God would protect them. An important lesson to be learned here is that while religious beliefs can be highly beneficial to a society, we cannot allow them to become distorted or cloud our logical thinking.
8. Heresy is generally referred to as anything that is untrue. During this period, heresy was anything that defied the Church. By persecuting non-Christians and expelling Jews and Muslims from Spain, the Church hoped to rid Europe of any other religions. Torture was also a common mechanism during the Spanish Inquisition.
6. Provide a detailed explanation for the cause of the 100 Years’ War.
7. Explain how the English benefitted from discarding chivalry. Explain how chivalry negatively impacted the French armies.
8. Explain how Joan of Arc turned the tide for the French in the 100 Years’ War. Why was this achievement unlikely for Joan?
9. Provide evidence that supports your opinion as to what the most important outcome of the 100 Years’ War was.
6. Following the death of the last Capetian king a power vacuum was formed due to lack of a clear heir which led to grappling among the relatives of the late king. Relatives from England and France both claimed right to the throne which led to a war when a English heir claimed the French throne.
7. Without Chivalry, the English were able to develop more effective and advanced weaponry and strategy which gave them a fighting chance against the greater in number French armies. Because the French maintained Chivalry they were unable to adapt to fight the English with their new styles.
8. After convincing the Nobility to provide her with an army, Joan of Arc led troops to the Battle of Orleans and scaled the castle walls with her soldiers, retaking the fortress. She did this multiple times with similar outcomes. Joan's achievements are miraculous in the sense that she was a girl (someone looked down upon as lesser than a boy during this time), poor (with few opportunities in life), and inexperienced (she'd never led an army before)
9. The most important outcome of the 100 Years' War was either the discarding of chivalry or the end of the Catholic Church's total power. Without Chivalry, enemies no longer had to maintain the guise of honor and respect so war became deadlier. The development of weaponry following the middle Ages reflects this as advanced artillery and grenades began to emerge. Weakening of the Catholic Church's power meant new ideas like nationalism and individual rights could spread. This allowed for reformations like that brought by Martin Luther which later brought changes like democracy to America (and democratic-like governments to other countries)
7. What new class structure was born out of the commercial revolution and expansion of trade. How did this new class resist the power of nobility?
8. Explain why there was a rise in education and learning in the late middle ages. Describe the role Universities played in the education of Europe.
7. The Burghers were a new class system of influential merchants born out of the commercial revolution. This class resisted Nobility power by banding together and establishing standards which dictated the quality of work, wages, and work conditions to ensure fair treatment. They also demanded rights and the ability to govern towns.
8. Contact with other more educated cultures led to an interest by the Europeans to grow their knowledge. As a result of this Universities or centers for learning were established and provided access in English to education for the poor and rich alike. Scholars could debate topics at Scholastics.
6. How was the Capetian Dynasty of France able to become powerful enough to successfully unite all of France under centralized rule? 10pts
7. What are the two main ingredients needed to create modern democracy?
6. By maintaining control of major trade routes and cities, the Capetians were able to expand territory for France and gradually grow their power and influence.
7. The two ingredients necessary for modern democracy is a centralized government and inclusion of all classes. (specifically lower class)
England and France Develop Vocab + Definitions
Alfred the Great - Anglo-Saxon king who suppressed Viking invasions
Canute - Danish King who conquered England in 1016 AD and combined Anglo-Saxon & Viking cultures
William the Conqueror - Duke of Normandy who claimed right to the English throne after King Edward's death
Battle of Hastings - Battle between William and Harold for the throne of England (William won)
Henry ll - English king who helped expand territory into France
Eleanor of Aquitaine - married Henry ll and provided England with French territory, behind the scenes power player
King's Court - Royal judges loyal to the king who were sent to different parts of England
jury system - 12 loyal citizens trusted to help make decisions in a court case
Common Law - generally accepted rules/practices
King John - weak/cruel ruler, son of Henry ll, lost Normandy to France, forced to sign the Magna Carta
Magna Carta - agreement presented to King John by his rebelling servants, established their right to political powers (no taxation without representation, jury trial, and equal protection under law), provided inspiration for modern law codes and democracy
Effects of the Crusades on Europe
- Established valuable trade routes
- Introduced Asian influences
- Sparked exploration (Age of Discovery)
- Weakened Legitimacy of the Church (Failure in battle = questioning of power)
- Kings gain power in Europe (Nobility Weakened and centralized power begins to be established)
- Beginning of bitter divided between Muslims and Christians
Describe different aspects of the 1300's
- Division in the Church
- Plague
- Economic Development
- Constant Warfare
- Medieval Way of Life is Discarded
The Estates of French government
1st estate: Clergy
2nd estate: Nobility
Esates-General: wealthy merchants
England and France Develop Vocab + Definitions pt. 2
Hugh Capet - French king who succeeded the last Carolingian ruler
Paris - large trading city in France
Capetian Dynasty - ruled France from 987-1328 AD
Philip Augustus - French king who reclaims Normandy + other territory
Bailiffs - servants of the king sent to enforce the royal law
Estates-General - wealthy merchants
2nd Children's Crusade
- 20,000 children recruited by German leaders
- Many die on trek to Rome through the Alps
- Pope sends them home
Consequences of the Hundred Years' War
- Nationalism: belief in the success of a nation over an Lord or single group
- French Monarchy gains respect/power: continued rivalry with England
- English Civil Wars: War of the Roses (Tudors)
- End of Catholic Church total power over Europe: new ideas can spread/emerge
- End of a code of Chivalry: War becomes deadlier
- End of the Middle Ages
Plague and War Develop Vocab + Definitions
Avignon - region of France which the Pope moved to
Great Schism - division among members of the Church caused by the different Popes excommunicating one another
John Wycliffe - Scholar who challenged the Church by suggesting the following of the Bible over Pope teachings, created first English translation of the Bible
Jan Hus - rebellious Scholar who taught Biblical teachings over that of the Popes (caught and burned at the stake)
Bubonic Plague - Disease which greatly impacted Europe (1/3 of the population dead). Came from Asia, carried by merchant ships in 1347 AD, and further spread by fleas on rats
The Hundreds Years' War - War between England and France lasting greater the 100 years, began with the death of the last Capetian king in 1337, signaled end of Chivalry, and won by France in 1453 AD
Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt - Most significant battles of the 100 years' War
Longbow - weapon developed by the English to overpower the French calvary, widened the structure of a bow to achieve higher accuracy
Joan of Arc - 13yo French peasant girl who believed she received visions from God telling her to retake the French crown. Led an army to end the battle of Orleans and turn the war so the French could win. Killed by Burgundians and later established as a saint.