Decline of Feudalism

​Decline of Feudalism

By Josefine Pettit

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What does the word decline mean to you

Three Major Causes of the Decline of Medieval Europe

• Political Development in England

• Disease: Black Death

• Military Conflict and Advances

Image Analysis

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Political Developments in England

• Henry II made legal reforms with juries and trials, strengthening royal courts over feudal lords.

• Henry II clashed with the Church over trying clergy in royal courts; Archbishop Thomas Becket was killed in 1170.

• King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, limiting royal power and protecting certain rights.

• Edward I created the Model Parliament in 1295, including commoners in government.

• These changes weakened feudalism and helped build ideas of law, rights, and representative government.

• In the 14th century, the plague began in Central Asia, spread throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa

• ​The term the black Death probably came from black spots that appeared on the skin of many of the victims.

• The bacteria that caused the plague were spread by fleas carried by rats.

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The Bubonic Plague

Impact of the Bubonic Plague

1. Plague kills about a third of the European population

2. Need for workers, allowed workers to demand more rights and pay, and peasanta revolt

3. Feudal obligiations end peasants flee to cities

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What impact do you believe this might have on society?

The Hundred Year's War

• The war began when the king of France challenged England's claim to French fiefs.

• The English army relied on archers armed with longbows. Arrows fired from longbows flew farther, faster, and more accurately than those fired from French crossbows

Joan of Arc

• Joan was a 17-year-old peasant girl who claimed she heard voices urging her to save France

• She led the French army to victories in battle and helped turn the tide in the war. Her actions inspired many French people to feel more nationalistic and patriotic

• She was burned at the stake as a heretic

• Technological advances (cannons, guns, harquebuses, longbows) ended the usefulness of knights and castles

• Kings rely on large armies

• Nationalism shifted power away from lords to monarchs

• Commoners were needed as soldiers and workers, which gained them greater influence and power

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​Impact of the Hundred Years' War

Audio Response

In your own opinion, which of these impacts causes the decline of Feudalism?

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