The Late

Catholic Influence

The Crusades

The Rise of the Monarchies

Challenges to the Church

Middle Ages

Section Focus

• One power was above the King’s and Noble’s word; The Church.

• European life revolved around the Christian Church.

• Church took control of government, law, art, and learning.

Catholic Influence

• Nobles and Clergy began to clash over power.

• Pope took control of the “Holy Roman Empire” and claimed power over all kings.

Catholic Influence

• People who went against Pope lost all rights (excommunicated).

• Pope excommunicated the Bishop of Constantinople and his followers for arguing over power.

• Church split in two: Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.

The Crusades

The Crusades

• Turkish Muslims also challenged power of the “Holy Roman Empire” by capturing Jerusalem.

• Christians were furious and wanted land back.

• Attacked in series of wars called “The Crusades” that lasted almost 200 years.

The Crusades

• Pope Urban II sent troops to recapture Jerusalem and to reunite church.

• Promised rewards of:

– Money

– Land

– Forgiven of all sins

The Crusades

The Crusades

• There were a total of 8 Crusades.

• 1st Crusade: (Peasants)

– Peasant warriors, were wiped out by Turks.

– Nobles eventually captured city but it was retaken 50 years later.

• 2nd Crusade: (Nobles)

– Nobles, reluctantly, set out to recapture, complete failure.

The Crusades

• 3rd Crusade: (Kings)

– Kings of Europe attacked but were unable to retake land.

– King Richard of England signed peace treaty with Saladin.

• 4th Crusade: (Knights)

– Too far away & expensive so they decided to attack Constantinople.

• All other Crusades were complete failures.

Effects of the Crusades

• Church split became permanent.

• Muslims gained more land.

• Many new towns were developed and trade grew.

• Feudalism diminished, Kings took all power.

The Rise of Monarchies

• Four main powers emerged:

– England

– France

– Germany

– Spain

• Kings tried to control all all power in regions but some had problems.

The Rise of Monarchies

• Many English nobles (barons) did not go to Crusades and still wanted power.

• Nobles rebelled against King and forced him to sign the Magna Carta.

• Reestablished democracy.

• Nobles and King worked together to rule England (Parliament).

The Rise of Monarchies

• Enraged, the King of England, tried to conquer new land in France.

• Began the Hundred Years’ War.

• England was winning until Joan of Arc, led the French and defeated England.

• English King lost more power and French king gained power.

The Growth of Trade and Towns

The Growth of Trade and Towns

The Growth of Trade and Towns

• Because of Crusades and Hundred Years’ War, the Church began to fear the loss of power.

• Trade and money began to control the people.

• Simple markets developed into towns.

The Growth of Trade and Towns

• Workers formed Guilds and began apprenticeshipsto learn new jobs.

• Towns grew in wealth, population, and size.

• Merchants took over, basically ending Feudalism.

The Growth of Trade and Towns

• Unfortunately towns were crowded, unhealthy, and disease was everywhere.

• Most destructive was “The Black Death” which killed more than 30 million people.

• Survivors decided to take over and demanded money for services.

The Growth of Trade and Towns

Europe in Transition

• The Church wanted to regain power.

• Most of Spain had been conquered by Muslim Empire.

• Church united with monarchy of Spain, began the “Reconquista.”

• Spain agreed to work with Church to retake land and power.

Europe in Transition

• Began the Inquisition, to remove heretics with force.

• Inquisition was to stabilize government and church.

Europe in Transition

• In 1492, Spain sent Columbus to India to find a faster route for trade.

• Accidentally found the “New World.”

• New discoveries sparked the Renaissance.