A Changing Europe

A QuickWorld History Review

Middle Ages(400-1300)

• After the fall of Rome, Europe is not united – Kings fight for territory and ruling power.

• Feudal System is created

Kings

Lords/Nobles

Knights

Peasants / Serfs

A Clash Over Power

• Constant power struggle between kings and church officials.

• 1096-1200 The Crusades • Spread of Christianity• Introduced Europeans to new cultures, ideals, and

trade.• Demand for new goods created more trade.

A Power Shift

• 1215 Magna carta – Limiting ruling power for King John of England.

Parliament

House of Lords Hour of Commons

**This document wrote down two new ideas. The first was that the king had to obey the law, like other people. And the second idea was that if the king broke the law, the lords had the right to remove that king and choose a new one. The lords formed the council of the king, (parliament), and that council could stop the king from doing things if the council thought they were wrong. In particular, the king could not collect new taxes unless the council said it was okay.

The Bubonic Plague

• 1348-1350 – Thought to have started in Asia, spread from merchant ships traveling the Mediterranean to Europe.

• Europe’s population is devastated.

• End of Feudalism

• People moved to the cities = new opportunities and ideas

The Renaissance1400’s – 1600’s

• A time of BIG CHANGE! New ideas in technology, art, shipbuilding, map making, science, thinking, etc.

• 1455 – The Printing Press

• 1517 – Martin Luther -The Ninety-Five Thesis

• 1530’s – Protestant Reformation - The breaking of the Catholic church

• 1534 – King Henry VIII - Breaks from Catholic Church – creates Church of England (He is in charge of both church and state)

Wars break out in Europe over religion and ruling power

Age of Exploration

The Sea was the super highway of trade and riches and Spain lead the way

• 1492 – Columbus - Sailed for Spain (Ferdinand & Isabella) looking for a western route to Asia. Three ships – found land (thought he was in Asia), but actually in Canary Islands (Cuba/ Puerto Rico Islands).

• 1501 – Amerigo Vespucci – Sailed for Spain – landed in present day South America – Map maker called it North and South America.

• 1513 – Ponce De Leon – Sailed for Spain – landed in present day Florida.

• 1519 – Hernan Cortez – Sailed for Spain – Conquered the Aztec Empire ($ for Spain)

• 1534 – Francisco Pizarro – Sailed for Spain – Conquered the Inca Empire in present day Peru (South America) (More $ for Spain)

Another Power Shift The Spanish Armada

1588

By the late 1500’s, Spain was the most powerful country in the world, especially on the sea. England was a small country, with little wealth, few friends, and many enemies. The Spanish made no secret of their hostility to the English Queen, Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth had heard mutterings of the intended invasion of England by Spain for some time. It was planned that the Spanish fleet, consisting of over 100 ships, would sail up from Spain along the English Channel and conquer England once and for all. But the English were waiting. On the cliffs of England and Wales, men watched the seas day and night, waiting for the first sighting of the great Armada. When at last the great ships appeared on the horizon, beacons were lit on the hillsides, which sent the message over the cliffs and throughout the country, that the Spanish were coming.The Spanish fleet was trapped and was defeated by the small British fleet.

Great Britain becomes the leader of the seas

Quick ReviewAnswer the following questions in complete sentences

1) How did the Magna Carta change the power of King John?

2) Why was the printing press such an important invention?

3) What was the result of the Protestant Reformation?

4) How did Spain become a powerhouse on the seas?

5) What event shifted sea power from Spain to Great Britain?