Reasons for the Decline of Feudalism during the

Reasons for the Decline of Feudalism during the High Middle Ages

Decline of Feudalism--Crusades n Feudalism weakened after the Crusades: –Lords sold off some of their lands to raise money for Crusades –Pope lost respect because the Crusades were unsuccessful

Decline of Feudalism—Trade n Merchants saw new, exotic products as a result of the Crusades & began to trade them in Europe n Increased trade led to cities & weakened feudal relationships: –New opportunities for serfs –Kings gained power because they could tax the merchants

Decline of Feudalism—Black Death n In 1347, a trade ship arrived in Italy bringing cargo from China— on ship was disease called the Plague (Black Death) Death n Swept rapidly throughout Europe along trade routes

Steps for Spread of Bacteria: n The rat is infected with the bacteria n The flea gets on the rat and bites the rat, and through the rat’s blood the bacteria is contracted n Bacteria multiplies in the flea n Flea's gut gets clogged with bacteria n The flea bites a human, regurgitates blood into open wound n HUMAN is INFECTED!!

Flea full of Plague-Causing Bacteria

Modern-Day Images of the Plague!! This is why your mother makes you clean your room!!

Here are some of the CRAZY ways they had to cure the Plague: n Bathing in human n Chop a snake up everyday urine n Wearing of human n Try to fall asleep on the left side of the excrement bed n Placing dead n Don't sleep during animals in the day home n Do not exercise n Use of leaches n Do not eat any n Pomanders desserts

Decline of Feudalism—Black Death n Plague killed 25 million people in 5 years (1/3 of Europe’s population) n Plague would disappear, then reappear in the 1600 s n Effects: Effects wiped out 1/3 population, but those who survived could demand higher wages for labor because there were fewer people to do work—lower & middle classes gained more rights

100 Year’s War

Decline of Feudalism— 100 Years War n Beginning in 1337, England invaded France to take over lands that belonged to William the Conqueror (a Frenchman who ruled England in 1066) n Began 116 years of turmoil n But there were major effects of 100 Years War:

New Weapons n Longbow— 6 -foot Longbow bows that could fire length of 3 football fields (replaced feudal fighting technique of using exclusively knights on horseback) n Cannons—used Chinese Cannons technology of gunpowder to shoot 20 -inch stone balls (replaced feudal practice of relying on castles for protection)

Nationalism n People looked at the King as a national leader fighting for the glory of the nation-state n English people were proud when England defeated France in battle; French people were proud when France defeated England in battle France England

Joan of Arc n England & France traded victories for 92 years, but in 1429 a young girl named Joan of Arc had a vision that she could lead France to victory n Under her leadership, France defeated England n BUT, Joan was captured & condemned to die by fire; Joan of Arc is considered a French hero & religious saint

The Hundred Years War England VS. France

“Staircase” from Early to High Middle Ages n On the graphic organizer provided, describe the characteristics of the Early Middle Ages & the High Middle Ages n Think of as many reasons as possible for the shift from the Early to the High Middle Ages & create a separate staircase for each reason n The person/group with the most accurate “staircases” wins!!