📍Topic 1.6 Developments in Europe

📖 AMSCO p.53 - p.62

Main Idea

Key Timeline

Image Courtesy of Riya Patel

Things to Know

Introduction to Middle Ages (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

• Western Europe transitioned to the Middle Ages after the decline of the Roman Empire.
• Trade, intellectual life, and political unity decreased, leading to smaller kingdoms.
• Feudalism emerged with mutual obligations among monarchs, lords, knights, and peasants.

Feudalism and the Manorial System

• Characterized by the exchange of land for loyalty.
• Lords granted fiefs to knights, who pledged service and protection.
• Manors, large self-sufficient estates, limited external trade needs.

Agricultural and Political Developments

• The three-field system and technological advancements improved agriculture.
• Monarchies grew more powerful, employing bureaucracies and military forces.

Holy Roman Empire and Norman England

• Otto I was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962, facing conflicts like the lay investiture controversy.
• Norman England, led by William the Conqueror, established a feudal system.
• English nobles limited royal power, leading to the Magna Carta in 1215.

Crusades and Hundred Years' War

• European campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslims.
• The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between England and France, involving archers and gunpowder weapons.
• Identity shifts during the war, fostering a sense of "English" or "French" rather than regional affiliations.

Church and Social Change

• The Roman Catholic Church dominated feudal Europe.
• Education, art, and governance influenced by the Church.
• Economic and social changes included trade expansion, agricultural surplus, and the rise of a middle class.

Jews, Muslims, and Gender Roles

• Jews and Muslims faced discrimination but contributed to European society.
• Expulsions led to migration, and Jews played a significant role in finance.
• Women's rights eroded during the transition from agriculture to urban society.

Renaissance and Origins of Russia

• The Renaissance marked a revival of classical culture, including humanism.
• Johannes Gutenberg's printing press (1439) facilitated mass production of manuscripts.
• Kievan Rus, adopting Orthodox Christianity, maintained cultural ties with Byzantium.
• Mongol rule in Russia ended in the late 15th century under Ivan the Great, marking the beginning of modern Russia.

Terms to Remember