> An Agricultural Revolution> The Crusades> The Revival of Trade> The Rebirth of Towns> Birth of the University System

Renewal and Vitality

950-1250

793 – 950 Chaos and Disorder in much of Europe

Vikings looking for Danegold

• Eventually these marauding raiders ended their pillaging & settled down in many areas of Europe including Normandy, Sicily, Sardinia, southern Italy and Kiev (Russia) and merged with the people.

• As the dust settled on the chaos and disorder, Europe slowly began to emerge with a new spirit.

Feudalism -a 19th c. generic term used to decribe Europe from the 900's through the 1200's

Key Words:

Decentralization

Fragmentation

Vassal- liege Lord – Monarch (Sovereign)

Homage- Oath of Fealty

Investiture – Fief

Subinfeudation

An Agricultural Revolution

• Lords of the manors promoted expansion of cultivated land

• Higher agricultural production reduced the number of deaths caused by starvation and dietary disease…

• Grain surplus meant that some livestock could survive the winter increasing fresh meat, milk and manure…

• Population increased

Benefits for the common man

• Peasants drained swamps, cleared forests and established new settlements

• Expansion contributed to the decline of serfdom- lords promised freedom from personal services in return for rent-in France in 1050-90% were serfs; by 1350 only 10% remained as serfs

• Surplus food and increased population freed people to work at non-farming occupations, making the expansion of trade possible.

Cottage industries – “the putting out” system

• Early entrepreneurs: the humble peddler

Revival of trade

• End of Viking attacks

• Expanding agricultural production

• Increasing population

• Greater political stability

The Crusades (1096-1291)

The Crusades (1096 – 1291)

• 1095 Pope Urban II called for “a Holy War against the Infidels…” at the Council of Clermont

Europe’s response:• Religious persons who

believed “God Wills It”• Christians desired

papal forgiveness• Nobles expected to

gain new lands• Merchants saw a

chance to make profits• Serfs sought to escape

feudal oppression • Adventurers who

welcomed travel and excitement

The Crusaders States

• The 1st Crusade led by Godfrey of Bouillon

After 200 years, …the Crusaders failed to take control of the Holy land but the

impact on Europe was life-changing:

• Broadened the European outlook

• Stimulated trade

• Strengthened the power of kings and weakened the nobility

• Weakened Serfdom

• Encouraged learning and scholarship

A commercial revolution begins…

• Cities like Venice, Genoa and Pisa grew prosperous during the Crusades and after as increasing trade with Byzantine and Islamic worlds -silks, sugar, spices and dyes increased tremendously.

• Traveling International Fairs – Champagne• Large-scale enterprises on the Atlantic Ocean-

shared costs, reduced risks led to more profit-making opportunities

• Advances in business techniques- banking houses; credit; accounting books

• Trade Fairs attracted buyers and sellers, merchants from distant places exchanged news, Entertainers and ordinary people

Rebirth of towns and cities:

Towns were a revolutionary force- The town residents were “the new man” (middle class) in the social hierarchy

Towns were granted charters of autonomy and

merchant and craft guilds evolved

The secular needs of town life led to the birth of the University system

The End