Late Middle Ages

The Three Contributions The Black Death Hundred Years’ WarThe Great Schism

The Black DeathThe Black DeathThe Black Death, also called the Bubonic

Plague began in Asia in 1346. It was said to be transmitted by fleas and rats that came across on trading ships to Europe.

The symptoms were painful, signs were of swollen glands in the groin, armpit, and neck. Victims coughed and spat up blood, and their body gave off a terrible odour. Eventually the swellings burst and they died.

The Black Death affected the social, religious, and economic environment of Europe.

The Black Death continued…

The social effects of the plagueThe people began to give gifts to the Church to try and purify themselves and rid their sins. It was thought by many that the plague was the wrath and judgement of God. Everyone was asking the question of whom was the ones spreading the plague? The “culprit” was the Jews. Jews were massacred as a result and driven out of the countries.

Economic effects of the plagueTook Europe 150 years to recover from the population decline. Prices in crops went up because labour was expensive. They tried to prevent newcomers to enter craft or trade, and many discouraged innovations. Economic power shifted away from the cities and towns to the countryside.

The Hundred Years’ WarThe Hundred Years’ War took place between the French and English. Problems were aroused from the fact that the French and the English were very closely inter related. This meant that to war. The war actually lasted 116 years and was mostly sieges and edgy truces. Eventually King Edward III’s son Edward IV started fighting. He became known as the black prince, and he captured Aquitaine the leader, John II. This English win amounted to the signing of a treaty placing Edward as king of Aquitaine. Because of the heavy taxes placed on the people, the nobles asked for help from Charles V, during the time of succession for the French throne, it was unclear who was to reign. The French heir Philip VI took the throne, but the English king Edward III thought he had a rightful claim to the throne. This created tension and later led to Edward III claiming he was king of France. This challenge of power set the French and English who had taken the French kingship. After a few battles the French pushed out the English. Both countries were now having internal problems and fighting subsided.

More of the 100 years’ war

Henry V became the English king and decided to attack the French when they were suffering from internal strife. Henry beat the French in the Battle of Agincourt and forced the French to sign another treaty. This disinherited the Royal French heir of his right to the throne. This might have continued, but the young girl Joan of Arc had a vision that told her to drive the English out of France. Joan of Arc then led an army and defeated the English. The French heir, Charles VII then retook his throne. The Hundred Years’ war was complete twenty years later, when all of the English were gone.

The great schism is used to refer to two major events in Christianity

1. Division between the eastern (orthodox) and western (roman) church

2. The period (1378 – 1417) during which the western church had two lines of popes

• The cardinals were afraid of the crowds of Romans who wanted a Roman to fill the papacy, so they voted for a Roman

• This election was challenged so another pope was elected

• Rulers of the Christian countries took the side against the French and the French defended the Pope of Avignon.

• The schism was not resolved until 1417 and it created great problems for clergy, bishops and the universities that advised them

• Most of the schism was used for debating and negotiating the withdrawal of one of the two popes

• The conflict quickly escalated from a church problem to a diplomatic crisis that divided Europe.

• Secular leaders had to choose which pope they would recognize

Random Junk

• Printing Press.• Origins of Dracula (Bram Stoker)• The first recorded gunpowder in

war. • The rhyme ‘Ring around the

rosies’.• Parliament

The EndCreated by…

Louis, Evan,

and Brittany