Chapter 12 Background to the Early Modern Period (1450)

1. Chapter 12Background to the Early Modern Period (1450) • The big changes that took place in early modern European society were not spontaneous. • They had their roots in the Middle Ages

2. The Changes: • Demographic: due to the Plague and War and Famine and Disease and Migration This gave rise to a new social order: The rise of the middle class and more powerful monarchs • The end of Feudalism and Manoralism: Largely due to the Siege Cannon and the Long Bow (100 Years War) • The decline in the Prestige of the Church

3. Life in the Middle Ages • Revolved around the Church and Agriculture • Most (E. and W. Europeans) were Catholic • Very few Jews, Muslims, Africans • Widespread poverty due to : Pandemics, War, Famine, climate changes • Illiteracy (even among the nobility and most clergy) • Latin was the written language • The Vulgate: hand-copied Latin Bibles

4. The Church reinforced and supported the social order: • The Social Hierarchy : • Pope and HRE • Kings and Sovereign Princes • Greater to Lesser Nobility • Knights, Merchants, Artisans • Independent Peasants, Laborers, Serfs

5. Feudalism • The Principal economic, political, social system. Different rules, laws, punishments for different classes. -A contract between a lord and his knights • Manoralism worked to reinforce feudalism. -A contract between a lord and his peasants

6. Medieval Philosophy • The greater good was important (the community) rather than individual rights or self-awareness (except for the sake of one’s soul) • Conformity was important…so no autobiographies • The arts and literature reflected social values: Religion and Chivalry

7. Widespread problems • Climate changes, storms, droughts • Famine and food shortages • War • Inflation • Disease • Church issues • Migration = ethnic racism

8. Climate Changes • Little Ice Age = poor transportation and no refrigeration • 1 poor harvest every 4 years • 1315-1322: Famine is all of Europe • Up to 1/3 dead in some areas • Poor nutrition = less production= less food= starvation and vulnerability to disease

9. Disease • 1316 Typhoid epidemic • Livestock epidemics • 1302-1348 20 poor harvests • 1348 The Plague (aka the Black Death) • Fleas carried bacillus • Rats carried fleas • Ships carried rats • (The Italians had taken control of Gibraltar and parts of the Mediterranean after defeating the Moroccans)

10. The Bubonic Plague • Began? Russia? Asia? • First in Europe in Italian port cities: Genoa, Rome, Messina, Florence…then spread North • Was not as bad in countryside as in urban areas • Was not as bad in Eastern Europe so many abandoned land and went East = rising ethnic tension in East (competition for jobs, clerical offices) Note: Hungarians and type O

11. The effects of the Plague • Many abandoned land or sold it for food • The wealthy bought it up and sometimes enclosed it to raise sheep for wool (the first enclosure movement: in England only) • = a bigger food shortage • Normally English wool to Flanders factories BUT plague = decline in trade= economic issues for both

12. The Effects of the Plague • Discontent, paranoia, superstition and preoccupation with death • Extreme behaviors: Orgies to Flagellants • The need to believe in a reason or purpose = a rise in witch hunts • Peasants blamed the rich, Jews and lepers • Were accused of poisoning Christian wells • Persecution was encouraged by nobles (who usually owed $ to the Jewish bankers)

13. Government Response France: Philip the Fair (IV) • Discouraged grain speculation • Forbade the sale of grain abroad • Forbade large fish traps England: Edward I and Edward II • Tried and failed to buy grain abroad • Tried and failed at price controls (enforcement problems)

14. In the Meantime… • Scandinavia = lack of salt= food shortages • Balkans had no food either • Inflation (partially caused by rising prices due to food shortages = • Homelessness • Gangs of criminals • Vagabonds

15. Two forms of the Plague • Pneumonic (person to person) • Bubonic (flea bite) • Buba: (Boil in neck, groin, arm pits…painful) • Treatments • Causes • Urban areas: poor sanitation and overcrowding Human excrement and dead animals in the street Lack of hygiene, fleas and body lice common Many to a bed…animals inside for warmth • Quarantines

16. Effects of the plague • The best of the clergy perished • The rest (and the barbers) fled • Funerals used to be big parties • Now bodies left in the streets = Cholera • Some to hospitals (founded by the Church or wealthy merchants in exchange for prayers for their souls) • More in West Europe than East • Few records…many to a bed • Attitude toward children : indifference

17. Consequences of the Plague • Population down by 1/3 ? • Fewer peasants so more valuable • Peasants could now bargain = paid in wages = a rising middle class (different in Eastern Europe) • Slave prices went up • Plague = a more equitable distribution of wealth • Before plague too many people in relation to food supply

18. Universities • Plague = increase in the endowment of more hospitals and universities • BUT during the Middle Ages, fewer universities meant that they were more international in nature • NOW more local universities meant a decrease in European cultural cohesion