The Latin West 1200-1500

AP World History

Ch 16

Chapter 16 Topics

• Rural Growth and Crisis

• Urban Revival

• Learning, Literature and Renaissance

• Political and Military Transformations

Tips for understanding

• Read the introduction to chapter pg. 394

• Review timeline

• Read conclusion page 415

• Read “Environment and Technology” section pg. 406 The Clock

Part 1. Rural Growth and CrisisPart 1. Rural Growth and Crisis

The Latin West

• Western Europeans regarded themselves as “Latin”

• due to their allegiance to the Latin rites of Christianity and to the Pope in Rome.

• Latin was also the language used by their literate members.

The Latin West

• 90% of the western European population was rural during the late Middle Ages.

• The manor system did not create a huge surplus of food.

• Peasants overworked and underpaid by Lords

Three Field Three Field SystemSystem

• Agricultural system used to increase crop yields.

• Crops grown on 2/3 of land.

• 1/3 of farm planted in oats.• Oats replenished the soil

and fed draft animals to help work fields.

• 54 hour week avg. for farmers.

• Population growth leads to new settlements as food production increases.

• Swamps drained forests cleared for farms.

• After 1250 many farming on land with poor soil

• 1315-1317 Great Famine• Due to bad weather and

poor soils.• Starvation widespread in

Europe.• Life expectancy 30-35

years.

Black Death 1347-1351

• Bubonic plague brought to Europe by Genoese )Italian) traders.

Black Death 1347-1351

• Killed 1 out of every 3 western Europeans

Impact of Plague

• Laborers demand higher pay

• Peasant Revolutions

• Increase in per capita income

• Brings about the end of serfdom in western Europe

Social Rebellion

• Wat Tyler in 1381 led English peasants in a revolt in London.

• Demanded an end to serfdom and most kinds of manorial dues (taxes).

• Wanted higher wages and social changes.

• Murdered the archbishop of Canterbury and many officials.

• Serfdom practically disappears.

• The welfare of the rural masses generally improved after the Black Death.

Population Growth

• From 1350-1445 population of Europe doubles to 80 million (about the same as China’s)

• Causes:

• Economic growth

• Warm temperatures

• Few epidemics

• New farming techniques

New Industries

• Water wheels, windmills and mines spring up along rivers.

• Waterwheels • Had long been common

in Islamic societies• Along with windmills

provided power for increased food production and jobs.

Rise of Industry and Cities

• The water wheel provided the power for increased production.

• Wind and water driven mills ground flour and corn.

• The technology had existed in the Islamic world for a century.

• Mill owners soon became very rich men!

End Part 1End Part 1