Crisis: Disease, War, and Schism The Plague -­‐ 1347 –Struck at a Genoese colony in the Black Sea -­‐ Carried by fleas that hitched on rats that hitched on boats -­‐ By 1351, had spread throughout Europe & into Africa & Middle East -­‐ One third to one half the populaGon died -­‐ Effects enhanced due to a series of famines that weakened the pop. The Dance of Death Consequences of the Plague -­‐  Flagellants – extremists who believed the plague to be an act of God – they whipped themselves to atone for their sins -­‐ AnG-­‐SemiGsm – Flagellant-­‐inspired religious fervor -­‐  aSacks against Jews-­‐ Thousands slaughtered in Germany – Many fled to Poland Plague Conseq. Cont’d -­‐ Changes in agriculture – smaller pop. = less to feed = new land usage -­‐  Raised the Standard of Living – fewer workers leveraged demands for labor into beSer wages and working condiGons -­‐ BeSer living condiGons following plague aSacks led to spikes in the birthrate The Hundred Years War (1337-­‐1453) -­‐  A series of struggles between England and France concerning English claims on French lands -­‐ 4 phases – first 3 dominated by England -­‐ BaSle of Agincourt – 1415 – major English victory began phase 4 -­‐ Joan of Arc – led French to victory at Orleans -­‐ Burgundy emerged as an independent state allied with England Consequences of 100 Yrs’ War: -­‐ Chivalry – largely non-­‐existent – war was fought BY mercenaries FOR plunder -­‐  Mercenaries –hired soldiers lived off countryside, eventually molded into large, standing naGonal armies -­‐The Jacquerie – massive French peasant revolt in protest of crushing taxes levied to pay for the war -­‐ Wat Tyler’s Rebellion – English peasant uprisings against taxes levied for the war – resulted in an end to serfdom in England OSoman Conquest Fall of ConstanGnople, 1453 OSomans: -­‐ A Turkish, Muslim group who conquered the Byzan&nes in 1453 -­‐ ConstanGnople became known as Istanbul (“The City”) -­‐  Had a powerful military, including Elite corps of Euro ChrisGan youths draded from the conquered peoples and converted to Islam – called the Janissaries -­‐ Excellent arGllery -­‐ Conquered much of Eastern Europe & Balkan Peninsula The Great Schism THE GREAT SCHISM (1378-­‐1417) -­‐ Papacy’s move from Rome to Avignon, France -­‐ upset tradiGonalists/Italians -­‐ M
arsilius of Padua – claimed all power lay with the people – quesGoned the Papacy – felt posiGon should be elected by council represenGng all ChrisGans -­‐ William of Ockham – English monk – believed that laity & clergy held power, not the popes or a councils -­‐  Pope Gregory XI led Avignon, returned to Rome, & died there. Cardinals elected -­‐  Urban VI, who greatly increased his own powers at expense of the Cardinals -­‐ French Cardinals sought to depose him, elected Clement VII, who went to Avignon -­‐ Urban & Clement excommunicated each other’s flock = Great Schism Conciliar Movement -­‐ Church intellectuals called for Cardinals to declare a council to clear it up -­‐ Ader Cl. & Ur died, Cardinals from each called the Council of Pisa (1409) -­‐ 2 new popes boycoSed, Cardinals deposed them & elected new pope -­‐ Euro powers backed Council, Popes ignored them = 3 Popes -­‐ Pope John XXIII, successor of the newest one, called another council -­‐ Council of Constance – deposed all 3 -­‐ elected MarIn V – schism over ReacIon to the Schism -­‐Increased focus on educaIon – locally, ChrisGan clergy & laity saw educaGon as a way to deepen faith – they feared the consequences of papal paralysis to their own salvaGon -­‐ Home shrines & public religious parades – use to reinvigorate the faith & faithful Heresies – several groups, disenchanted by Schism, broke w/ the Church: -­‐ Lollards – followers of John Wycliffe, who shared Marsilius & Ockham’s view that the church was the community of believers rather than the clerical hierarchy-­‐ -­‐ JW emphasized vernacular translaGon of Bible, criGcized monasGcism, excomm., mass -­‐ Members went underground, reemerged during England’s ReformaGon -­‐  Hussites – Bohemian (Czech) followers of Jan Hus – demanded to receive bread & wine during the mass (only priests rec. wine) – a call w/ religious & social moGves (equality) -­‐ Morphed into an ethnic conflict between Czechs & the German elite of the HRE -­‐ HRE Sigismund called Hus to the Council of Constance, revoked his pledge of safe passage, and had Hus burned at the stake for heresy -­‐ Emblazoned Czech idenGty into the mindset of the Bohemians John Wycliffe Wyclef Jean Jan Hus, 1372 -­‐1415 Jan Hus Memorial. Prague, Czech Republic