Middle Ages

Middle Ages

Lesson 5: The Late Middle Ages

Famine and Plague

In the 1300s, disaster struck western Europe. Bad weather and

disease killed the crops. Livestock died from diseases. The result

was a seven-year famine, or lack of food.

Then, a terrible plague swept across Europe and Asia. A

plague is a disease that spreads quickly and kills many people.

The plague was called the Black Death. Most scientists think that

a type of bacteria carried by fleas was the source of the plague.

Rats from boats and trading caravans carried the fleas to places all over the world.

Famine and Plague Cont...

The Black Death probably began in China and spread along

the Silk Road between China and Europe. In 1346 the Black

Death reached Europe. Between 19 and 38 million Europeans

died of the Black Death in just four years. That is nearly one out

of every two people.

The deaths of so many people hurt Europe’s economy. As a

result, the plague helped weaken the feudal system and change

European society.

Plague doctors wore a mask with a bird-like beak to protect them from being infected by deadly diseases such as the Black Death, which they believed was airborne.

Open Ended

What is a plague?

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a cause of the plague?

• Fleas carried bacteria or

  germs.

• Rats carried fleas on

  ships and caravans.

• Trade routes spread rats

  and fleas around the

  world.

• The warm weather caused the rats to have more fleas

Divisions in Religion and Politics

The plague was not Europe’s only problem. The English and

French were at war. Christians in the Iberian Peninsula fought

to drive out Muslims who had conquered them centuries

before. In addition, the Catholic Church became divided over

its leadership.

From 1378 to 1417, the Church was divided by disputes over

its leadership. This argument was called the Great Schism. A

schism is a break or a split. During this time, several men

claimed to be the rightful pope. Each wanted church members

to support him.

The church was divided durig the Great Schism

Multiple Choice

During the Great Schism the Church was divided by disputes over ____________.

• education

• leadership

• land

• building more churches

Divisions in Religion and Politics Cont...

In 1417 a council of church officials chose a pope that everyone agreed on. Many educated people, however, wanted to change the Church. They wanted the Church to be less worldly and more spiritual.

Europe also experienced political divisions. For centuries, the

English ruled areas of France. In 1337 English king Edward III

claimed to be king of all of France. He invaded France, beginning a

war between England and France that lasted more than 100 years.

The English won two important battles, at Crécy in 1346 and at

Agincourt in 1415. They had better weapons than the French:

longbows and an early form of the cannon.

King Endaward III of England who invaded France beginning a 100 year war

Multiple Choice

Who claimed to be king of all of Franc and started a

war between England and France that lasted more than 100 years?

• Prince Charles of France

• King Henry VII

• King Edward III

• Prince Ferdinand

Divisions in Religion and Politics Cont...

In 1429 a French peasant girl named Joan visited Prince

Charles of France. She told him that saints had spoken to her and

wanted her to free France. He let her lead a French army. Joan’s

faith inspired the French soldiers, and they took back the city of

Orléans from the English.

Shortly after, Charles was named king. A few months later, the

English captured Joan. They handed her over to the Inquisition.

She was burned at the stake. She later became known as Joan of

Arc, a French national hero.

Joan of Arc

Open Ended

Who was Joan of Arc?

Divisions in Religion and Politics Cont...

The French finally defeated the English in the Hundred Years’

War. England’s loss in the war was hard on the English nobles.

Soon, they were fighting a civil war. It was known as the War of

the Roses and fought over who should be king. The winner,

Henry Tudor, became King Henry VII.

During the early Middle Ages, Muslims ruled much of the

Iberian Peninsula, the area that is now Spain and Portugal. They

developed a rich culture. However, over time, Christians drove

out most of the Muslims. The struggle was known as the

Reconquista, or “reconquest.” By the 1200s, Christians ruled

most of the peninsula.

Christians drove most of the Muslims out of the Iberian Peninsula. The struggle was known as the

Reconquista.

Divisions in Religion and Politics Cont...

In 1469 Princess Isabella of Castile married Prince Ferdinand of

Aragon. They became king and queen and joined their lands into

one country called Spain. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted all of

Spain to be Catholic.

When Muslims ruled, Iberian Jews mostly lived freely. As

Christians took over Spain, they mistreated the Jews. To avoid

persecution, some Jews became Christians. Ferdinand and

Isabella, however, believed many of these people practiced

Judaism in secret. So the king and queen set up the Spanish

Inquisition. Its purpose was to punish heretics. The Spanish

Inquisition tried and tortured thousands of people accused of

heresy.

Divisions in Religion and Politics Cont...

In 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella gave Jews the choice to

convert to Christianity or leave Spain. Most Jews decided to

leave. The king and queen then turned to the Muslims. In 1492

Spain’s army conquered Granada, the last Muslim area of Spain.

Muslims were given the same choice as the Jews: become

Christians or leave Spain. Most left for North Africa.

Ferdinand and Isabella gave Jews and the Muslims the choice to

convert to Christianity or leave Spain.

Open Ended

What was the purpose of the Spanish Inquisition?

Open Ended

How did Ferdinand and Isabella treat those of Muslim and Jewish faiths?