The Late Middle Ages

1
The Late Middle Ages
2
Popes Kings

• Head of Holy Roman Church (everyone in Medieval
  Europe belonged to this church)
• Held great spiritual power
• Seen as Gods representative
• Had power to kick people out of the church
  (excommunicate)

• Single ruler of a kingdom or empire
• Held great political power (laws)
• 3 most powerful kings France, England, Holy
  Roman Empire

3
The Crusades

• A series of wars fought by Europe to gain control
  of Muslim controlled Holy Land

4
The Crusades

• Causes
• Muslims attacked Christians going to the Holy
  Land
• Muslims attacked parts of Christian Europe

• Effects
• Stimulated trade between Europe and Asia
• Kings became more powerful
• Tension between Christians, Muslims, and Jews
  grew

5
The Plague

• Also called the Black Death, the bubonic plague
  swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351

6
The Plague

• Causes
• Rats from Asia spread infected fleas
• Poor sanitation
• Poor hygiene

• Effects
• Killed 1/3 of the population in Europe
• Helped destroy feudalism and the manorial system

7
The 100 Years War

• A series of wars fought between England and
  France
• Lasted 120 years
• Important Person
• Joan of Arc young peasant girl who believed she
  had visions from God. Led French army to several
  victories against England.

8
The 100 Years War

• Causes
• Argument over claim to the French throne and land

• Resolution
• Changed government of France and England
• England Parliament
• France more powerful king
• French drove English away

9
Common Law

• Court decisions based on local customs and
  previous decisions
• Laws and decisions in one part of England could
  be different from those in another part

10
The Magna Carta

• Document created by the nobles of England
  outlining the basic rights of men
• King John I was forced to sign it into law
• Basis for modern concepts of jury trials and
  legal rights
• U.S. Constitution is modeled after this document