Economic & Political
Transformation in Western
Europe (600-1450)
Economic Transformation
Peasants & Manor Life
• Manor• Serfs• Received the
lord’s protection • Could even have
several acres for themselves.
• Illiterate• Few lived past
the age of 35
An Agricultural Revolution
• By the 800s, farmers started using new inventions.– Iron plow,
harness, & windmill
• Began to us the 3-field system to keep the soil fertile.– Grain, beans,
fallow
Trade Revives• During the High
Middle Ages economy grows stronger
• Population grows• People began to
trade again• War diminishes• Growing demand
for goods• Merchants set up
fairs• Meeting places
grew into the 1st towns and cities.
Medieval TradeMedieval Trade
Commercial Revolution
• New ways of doing business.
• Money • Banks • Partnerships• Insurance• Bills of
exchange
Society Changes• New middle class
emerged that included traders, merchants, and artisans.
• The lords & clergy despised them.
• The church forbade Christians from lending money. (usury)
• As a result, many Jews became money-lenders & played an important role in the new economy.
Guilds• Merchants and
artisans formed associations known as guilds.
• Each guild represented workers in one occupation.
• They made rules to protect the quality of their work, set prices, & look after their members.
• Fewer people were serfs as times changed.
GuildsGuilds
Guild Hall
Guild Hall
Commercial Monopoly:
Controlled membership apprentice journeyman master craftsman
Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece].
Controlled prices
Jews in Europe• Jewish
communities existed across Europe.
• Muslim Spain became a center of Jewish culture. (Sephardic)
• Many rulers in N. Europe valued and protected Jewish Community
• In the late 1000s, Christian persecution of Jews began & worsened in bad economic times.
• Many Jews then migrated to E. Europe and thrived.
Chaiya's Sephardic World,
Jewish Prince in Moslem Spain: Selected Poems of Samuel ibn Nagrela,
Political Transformation
The Church• Later missionaries
spread Chr. throughout Europe
• In manor villages, the priest was the peoples’ contact w/ the church.– Celebrated mass
and administered the sacraments…leading to salvation..
• Christian rituals were part of the fabric of everyday life.
One of the oldest Medieval churches
Monks and Nuns• Some Christians
spent their lives serving God.
• About 530 B.C., a monk named Benedict organized the first monastery. (Convent)
• They took 3 vows:– Obedience to the
abbot– Poverty– Chastity
• Cared for the sick and poor, and set up schools
• Some were missionaries …life of service
• After the fall of Rome, the Church split into eastern & western churches (@1000 CE).
• Western – Roman Catholic church, headed by the pope
• Church connected to government
The Height of Church Power
• During the 1200s, the Church was very powerful.
• Pope Gregory VII and Pope Innocent III believed the pope should have more power than any other ruler.
• Rulers who objected were excommunicated.
• After 1200s, the power of the pope declined.
Pope Innocent III
The Age of Charlemagne• @ 800 CE• Charles the Great
crowned by pope • Emperor of the
Romans• Wanted capital to
be like Rome • Encouraged Latin• Set up schools• Spread
Christianity• Appointed
powerful nobles • missi dominici
Charlemagne: 742 to 814
Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire
After Charlemagne• His empire fell
apart • Grandsons split
empire into 3 • Legacy: He
blended Germanic, Roman, and Christian ideas.
Growth of Royal Power in England and France
Monarchs, Nobles & the Church
• Nobles & the church had as much – or more – power as feudal kings– The monarchs
began centralizing their power.
– They gave rights to townspeople & gained their loyalty.
• The Magna Carta (England) contained 2 important ideas that stay w/ us today.– People have rights– The monarch must
also obey the law.• During the 1200s,
Parliament also evolved.– Representatives of
the “common people” joined w/ the lords.• House of Commons• House of Lords