Chapter 12Chapter 12Background to the Early Background to the Early Modern Period (1450)Modern Period (1450)

The big changes that took place in The big changes that took place in early modern European society were early modern European society were not spontaneous.not spontaneous.

They had their roots in the Middle They had their roots in the Middle AgesAges

The Changes:The Changes: Demographic: due to the Plague and Demographic: due to the Plague and

War and Famine and Disease and War and Famine and Disease and MigrationMigration

This gave rise to a new social order: This gave rise to a new social order: The rise of the middle class and more The rise of the middle class and more powerful monarchspowerful monarchs

The end of Feudalism and Manoralism: The end of Feudalism and Manoralism: Largely due to the Siege Cannon and the Largely due to the Siege Cannon and the Long Bow (100 Years War)Long Bow (100 Years War)

The decline in the Prestige of the ChurchThe decline in the Prestige of the Church

Life in the Middle AgesLife in the Middle Ages Revolved around the Revolved around the ChurchChurch and and

AgricultureAgriculture Most (E. and W. Europeans) were CatholicMost (E. and W. Europeans) were Catholic Very few Jews, Muslims, AfricansVery few Jews, Muslims, Africans Widespread povertyWidespread poverty due to : Pandemics, due to : Pandemics,

War, Famine, climate changes War, Famine, climate changes IlliteracyIlliteracy (even among the nobility and (even among the nobility and

most clergy)most clergy) Latin was the written languageLatin was the written language The Vulgate: hand-copied Latin BiblesThe Vulgate: hand-copied Latin Bibles

The Church reinforced and The Church reinforced and supported the social order:supported the social order:

The Social HierarchyThe Social Hierarchy : :

Pope and HREPope and HRE Kings and Sovereign PrincesKings and Sovereign Princes

Greater to Lesser NobilityGreater to Lesser Nobility Knights, Merchants, ArtisansKnights, Merchants, Artisans

Independent Peasants, Laborers, Independent Peasants, Laborers, SerfsSerfs

Feudalism Feudalism

The Principal economic, political, social The Principal economic, political, social system.system.

Different rules, laws, punishments for Different rules, laws, punishments for different classes.different classes.

-A contract between a lord and his knights-A contract between a lord and his knights

Manoralism worked to reinforce Manoralism worked to reinforce feudalism.feudalism.

-A contract between a lord and his peasants-A contract between a lord and his peasants

Medieval PhilosophyMedieval Philosophy

The greater good was important (the The greater good was important (the community) rather than individual community) rather than individual rights or self-awareness (except for rights or self-awareness (except for the sake of one’s soul)the sake of one’s soul)

Conformity was important…so no Conformity was important…so no autobiographiesautobiographies

The arts and literature reflected The arts and literature reflected social valuessocial values

Widespread problemsWidespread problems

Climate changes, storms, droughtsClimate changes, storms, droughts Famine and food shortagesFamine and food shortages WarWar InflationInflation DiseaseDisease Church issuesChurch issues Migration = ethnic racismMigration = ethnic racism

Climate ChangesClimate Changes

Little Ice Age = poor transportation Little Ice Age = poor transportation and no refrigerationand no refrigeration

1 poor harvest every 4 years1 poor harvest every 4 years 1315-1322: Famine is all of Europe1315-1322: Famine is all of Europe Up to 1/3 dead in some areasUp to 1/3 dead in some areas Poor nutrition = less production= Poor nutrition = less production=

less food= starvation and less food= starvation and vulnerability to diseasevulnerability to disease

DiseaseDisease

1316 Typhoid epidemic1316 Typhoid epidemic Livestock epidemicsLivestock epidemics 1302-1348 20 poor harvests1302-1348 20 poor harvests 1348 1348 The Plague The Plague (aka the Black Death)(aka the Black Death)

Fleas carried bacillusFleas carried bacillus Rats carried fleasRats carried fleas Ships carried ratsShips carried rats (The Italians had taken control of Gibraltar (The Italians had taken control of Gibraltar

and parts of the Mediterranean after defeating and parts of the Mediterranean after defeating the Moroccans)the Moroccans)

The Bubonic PlagueThe Bubonic Plague Began? Russia? Asia?Began? Russia? Asia? First in Europe in Italian port cities: Genoa, First in Europe in Italian port cities: Genoa,

Rome, Messina, Florence…then spread NorthRome, Messina, Florence…then spread North

Was not as bad in countryside as in urban Was not as bad in countryside as in urban areasareas

Was not as bad in Eastern Europe so many Was not as bad in Eastern Europe so many abandoned land and went East = rising abandoned land and went East = rising ethnic tension in East (competition for jobs, ethnic tension in East (competition for jobs, clerical offices) Note: Hungarians and type clerical offices) Note: Hungarians and type OO

The effects of the PlagueThe effects of the Plague

Many abandoned land or sold it for foodMany abandoned land or sold it for food The wealthy bought it up and The wealthy bought it up and

sometimes enclosed it to raise sheep for sometimes enclosed it to raise sheep for wool (the first enclosure movement)wool (the first enclosure movement)

= a bigger food shortage= a bigger food shortage Normally English wool to Flanders Normally English wool to Flanders

factories BUT plague = decline in factories BUT plague = decline in trade= economic issues for bothtrade= economic issues for both

The Effects of the PlagueThe Effects of the Plague Discontent, paranoia, superstition and Discontent, paranoia, superstition and

preoccupation with deathpreoccupation with death Extreme behaviors: Orgies to FlagellantsExtreme behaviors: Orgies to Flagellants The need to believe in a reason or purpose The need to believe in a reason or purpose

= a rise in witch hunts= a rise in witch hunts Peasants blamed the rich, Jews and lepersPeasants blamed the rich, Jews and lepers Were accused of poisoning Christian wellsWere accused of poisoning Christian wells Persecution was encouraged by nobles (who Persecution was encouraged by nobles (who

usually owed $ to the Jewish bankers)usually owed $ to the Jewish bankers)

Government ResponseGovernment Response

France:France: Philip the Fair (IV) Philip the Fair (IV) Discouraged grain speculationDiscouraged grain speculation Forbade the sale of grain abroadForbade the sale of grain abroad Forbade large fish trapsForbade large fish traps

EnglandEngland: Edward I and Edward II: Edward I and Edward II Tried and failed to buy grain abroadTried and failed to buy grain abroad Tried and failed at price controls Tried and failed at price controls

(enforcement problems)(enforcement problems)

In the Meantime…In the Meantime…

Scandinavia = lack of salt= food Scandinavia = lack of salt= food shortagesshortages

Balkans had no food eitherBalkans had no food either Inflation (partially caused by rising Inflation (partially caused by rising

prices due to food shortages =prices due to food shortages = HomelessnessHomelessness Gangs of criminalsGangs of criminals VagabondsVagabonds

Two formsTwo forms Pneumonic (person to person) Pneumonic (person to person) Bubonic (flea bite)Bubonic (flea bite) Buba: (Boil in neck, groin, arm pits…painful)Buba: (Boil in neck, groin, arm pits…painful) TreatmentsTreatments CausesCauses Urban areas: poor sanitation and Urban areas: poor sanitation and

overcrowdingovercrowdingHuman excrement and dead animals in the Human excrement and dead animals in the streetstreet

Lack of hygiene, fleas and body lice commonLack of hygiene, fleas and body lice commonMany to a bed…animals inside for warmthMany to a bed…animals inside for warmth QuarantinesQuarantines

Effects of the plagueEffects of the plague The best of the clergy perishedThe best of the clergy perished The rest (and the barbers) fledThe rest (and the barbers) fled Funerals used to be big partiesFunerals used to be big parties Now bodies left in the streets = CholeraNow bodies left in the streets = Cholera

Some to hospitals (founded by the Church Some to hospitals (founded by the Church or wealthy merchants in exchange for or wealthy merchants in exchange for prayers)prayers)

More in West Europe than EastMore in West Europe than East Few records…many to a bedFew records…many to a bed Attitude toward children Attitude toward children

Consequences of the Consequences of the PlaguePlague

Population down by 1/3 ?Population down by 1/3 ? Fewer peasants so more valuable Fewer peasants so more valuable Peasants could now bargain = paid in Peasants could now bargain = paid in

wages = a rising middle class (different in wages = a rising middle class (different in Eastern Europe)Eastern Europe)

Slave prices went upSlave prices went up Plague = a more equitable distribution of Plague = a more equitable distribution of

wealthwealth Before plague too many people in relation Before plague too many people in relation

to food supplyto food supply

UniversitiesUniversities

Plague = increase in the endowment Plague = increase in the endowment of more hospitals and universitiesof more hospitals and universities

BUT during the Middle Ages, fewer BUT during the Middle Ages, fewer universities meant that they were universities meant that they were more international in naturemore international in nature

NOW more local universities meant NOW more local universities meant a decrease in European cultural a decrease in European cultural cohesioncohesion