England & France Develop
Main idea:
As the kingdom of England and France
developed into nations, certain democratic
traditions evolved.
Why it matters know:
Modern concepts of jury trials, common law, and
legal rights developed during this period.
Q. -What should we understand by the
expression “new monarchs”?
Compare and contrast: New monarchs v/s mediaeval rulers.
(think about sources of money; the army and choosing officials)
New monarchs:
• Taxes
• Paid soldiers from any
class.
• Nobles and middle class
Mediaeval rulers:
• Land
• Knights-nobles
• Nobles
Q.- What factors contributed to the grow of England
and France as nations-states during the 1300’s?
• Slow the power of the two great medieval
institutions- the Church and feudalism began to
decline and in their place we will see the
beginning of a powerful new institution –
the nation.
• By 1500, for the first time we can speak about a
nations in the modern sense of the word, not
just a feudal kingdom.
Q.-What is a NATION?
What is a Nationalism?
• Geographic borders were established, kings
became powerful than feudal lords, middle
classes gained political power.
• Nation is a group of people who occupied one
territory and are united under one government,
and one language, culture and traditions.
• Nationalism is the feeling that one’s own land
and people; the belief that one’s greatest
loyalty should be to one’s country.
ENGLAND
England was formed by the blending of cultures.
Danish Vikings came to the island in the 800s,
uniting with the Anglo-Saxons who had come
there from Germany hundred of years earlier.
Over time this people became one kingdom.
In 1066 the king died and the duke of the
northern France invaded and won control of the
island.
His name was William the Conqueror.
• William the Conqueror declared in
1066 England to be his.
• Henry II, who ruled from 1154-1189,
was one of the strongest kings. He
married Eleanor of Aquitaine, thus
gaining control of more of France.
• King John, weak king with serious
problems. He was forced to sign
MAGNA CARTA. –June 15, 1215
MAGNA CARTA limited the power of the
king and guaranteed basic political and
legal rights that, although at first applied
only to nobles, came to be applied to all
citizens.
Model Parliament -1295
• Edward I restored the royal power
by introducing the first Parliament in
England. The parliament was truly a
national assembly. Their law applied
to the whole country.
• King Edward's parliament was
Edward I important because for the first time
(1272-1307)
it included not only the bishops and
nobles but also common people
from the towns.
“What affects all should be approved by all!”
FRANCE
In France , a new dynasty of kings, the Capetians,
ruled from 987 to 1328. France was split into 30
separate small territories, each ruled by a
different lord. The kings- who held only a small
area centered in Paris- tried to gain control of all
of the land.
Philip II
1180-1223
Philip was one of the most successful
medieval French monarchs in
expanding the royal demesne and the
influence of the monarchy.
He gave France a strong central
government and tripled the land
under his own control.
He reorganized the government,
bringing financial stability to the
country and thus making possible a
sharp increase in prosperity.
His reign was popular with ordinary
people because he checked the power
of the nobles and passed some of it
on to the growing middle class.
Louis IX (St. Louis)
1226-1270
He was known as the ideal king. After his death he was made
saint by the Catholic Church.
Louis created a French appeals court, which could overturn the
decisions of local courts.These royal courts of France
strengthened the monarchy while weakening the feudal ties.
Philip IV(le Bel)
1268 -1314
“Philip the Fair" is well known for his troubles with the papacy.
Excommunicated by Boniface VIII in 1296, Philip was instrumental
in engineering the election of Pope Clement V and keeping the
curia out of Rome, thus beginning the Avignon Papacy.
At the same time, Philip was an effective ruler who knew how
to make good use of his intelligent advisors and ask the
support of his subjects.
In 1302, expanding French royal power led to a general
assembly (Estate General) consisting of the church leaders (1st
Estate), great lords (2nd Estate) and the commoners as the
(3rd Estate)
Unlike Parliament in England, The Estates never became an
independent force that limited the king’s power.
Q.- What evidence show that the power of the middle classes
was growing both in England and France
For ex.: After his victory, William declared all
England his personal property and granted land
to about 200 Norman lords who supported
him. In this way he laid the formation for
centralized government.
Later with the Model Parliament- The middle
class was included in the ruling body.
In France - Philip le Bel let the commoners
(middle class) to be part of the Estate General.
CHURCH CRISES-13C.
A CENTURY OF
TURMOIL
1. Church crises-13c.
John Huss
The Great Schism
(1378-1417)
-39 years
The Effects :
 John Wycliff -England
 John Huss -Bohemia
John Wycliff
3 major teachings:
 Jesus was the true head of the
church not the pope ;
 Clergy should be poor;
 Bible translation from Latin to
native language
2. The Black Death
- 13 c. were marked
by series of disasters
in Europe:
 Declining fertility in the soil led to
small crops ;
 A period cold caused smaller
harvests & famine ;
 In 1345-the Black Death killed 1/3
of Europe’s population or 25
million people.
Interesting Facts About the Black Death
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A plague epidemic swept through Europe from 1348 through 1351, killing an estimated 25–
60% of Europeans. Some estimates are as high as 2/3 of the population. The Black Death
might have killed as many as 200 million Europeans between 1348 and 1351.
(Y. pestis) causes three varieties of plague: bubonic plague, caused by bites from infected
fleas, in which the bacteria moves to lymph nodes and quickly multiplies, forming growths,
or buboes; pneumonic plague, a lung infection that causes its victim to cough blood and
spread the bacteria from person to person; and septicemic plague, a blood infection that is
almost always fatal.
The term "Black Death" is recent. During the plague, it was called "the Great Mortality" or
"the Pestilence."
Although the period known as the Black Death ended in 1351, the plague continued to
return to Europe, with epidemics every few years through the end of the 15 century.
The Black Death followed a period of population growth in Europe which, combined with
two years of cold weather and torrential rains that wiped out grain crops, resulted in a
shortage of food for humans and rats. This caused people and animals to crowd in cities,
providing an optimal environment for disease.
Many believed that the plague was a divine scourge to punish the people for their sins.
After the Black Death, plague epidemics continued to ravage Europe. For example, London
was struck by the Great Plague of 1665, with thousands of deaths. This plague was followed
almost immediately by the Great Fire, leaving London devastated.
A third epidemic began in China and India in the 1890s and eventually reached the United
States, with infections being especially dangerous in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was
during this pandemic that the real cause (Y. pestis) was discovered, along with a cure.
3. 100 Years War
- 1337-
War between
England &France
-
Major battles
Jean of Arc
The impact of the War
At the age of thirteen, while in her parents' garden, Joan of
Arc began to see visions of saints. Then she began to hear
their voices - urging her to help the Dauphin of France
become King Charles VII.
Joan of Arc was born in 1412 Domremy, France. Her family were poor
and her region had suffered from the long conflict between England and
France. From the age of 12 she began to have mystical visions. In these
visions she said she felt the voice of God commanding her to renew the
French nation. At her later trial Joan of Arc said she felt these visions
were as real seeing another person. The visions were often accompanied
by light and the presence of saints such as St Michael and St Catherine.
"I was thirteen when I had a Voice from God for my help and guidance.
The first time that I heard this Voice, I was very much frightened; it was
mid-day, in the summer, in my father's garden. ” - Joan of Arc from her
trial transcript.
These visions made Joan of Arc even more religiously inclined. She
would frequently go to confession and, it is said that, whenever she
heard the bells for Mass she would immediately drop her work and run
to church.
Initially Joan did not tell others about her visions and inner
commandments but in May 1428 the divine messages urged her to seek
an audience with Charles VII currently an ineffective and relatively weak
leader of the French.
 At the time of Joan’s childhood, France was seriously divided with a lack
of national unity. In 1415 King Henry V of England had invaded France
and defeated the French army at Agincourt. This famous victory over the
French nobility left the country weak and divided.
 Under Charles VII the French were without direction and without a real
leader. When Joan of Arc came to the court she overwhelmed Charles
with her passion and conviction. It is quite remarkable that this 17 year
old peasant girl was given control over an army and allowed to lead
them into battle.
 Within a year Joan of Arc had led the French army to victories at Orleans,
Patay and Troyes. Many other towns were also liberated from English
control and it allowed a triumphal entry into Dauphin for the coronation
of King Charles VII on 17 July 1429.
 For her exploits and leadership Joan of Arc and her family were
granted noble status. She has also won the hearts of the French
soldiers who looked up to Joan as an almost mythical leader.
However a year later Joan was captured by the Burgundian forces at
Compiegne and sold to the English. Her trial is well documented and
provides a revealing insight into her character and destiny.
The English and members of the French clergy decided to put her on trial for
witchcraft. In many ways it was a show trial with the result cleverly orchestrated. The
leading clergy member was Pierre Cauchon was a strong supporter of the British and
hated Joan of Arc for her miraculous revival of French national pride. However, another
interpretation is that he genuinely felt obliged to save Joan's Immortal soul from
damnation for the claims she was making.
The trial was a very testing experience for Joan. Initially the trial was held in public,
but, her responses were much sharper than her prosecutors expected. She held her
own and produced some strong rebuts, which gained her public sympathy. For
example, the prosecution tried very hard to get her to blaspheme. She was asked: "Do
you know if you are in the grace of God?“
"If I am not, may God place me there; if I am, may God so keep me. I should be the
saddest in all the world if I knew that I were not in the grace of God. But if I were in a
state of sin, do you think the Voice would come to me? " - Joan of Arc
Eventually, the trial was continued behind closed doors. It appears Joan was
threatened with torture, but, she wasn't actually tortured. As expected, Joan was
found guilty and condemned to death by burning at the stake. Faced with such an
overwhelming ordeal Joan broke down and confessed.
However a week later she regained her strength and recanted her confession. She was
able to face her ordeal with dignity. It is said that over 10,000 people came to see her
execution by burning. Her ashes were scattered in the Seine. One legend tells how her
heart remained unaffected by the fire.
26 years later the English were
finally driven from Rouen and in a
later inquest Jean of Arc was
declared to be innocent and was
officially designated to be a martyr.
She was canonized a saint in 1920
and remains the patron saint of
France.
"One life is all we have and we live it
as we believe in living it. But to
sacrifice what you are and to live
without belief, that is a fate more
terrible than dying." - Joan of Arc
Joan's birthplace is now a museum.
The village church where she attended
Mass is on the right behind the trees.
Joan of Arc achieved a
remarkable
accomplishment in
her short life of 19
years.
In particular she
embodied religious
devotion with great
bravery and humility,
her life helped change
the course of French
history.