Ch. 14.

2 Economic & Cultural Revival The Crusades helped transform the Dark Ages into the beginning of Western Civilization. Early Middle Ages Crusades High Middle Ages Renaissance Modern Era Age of Exploration Age of Reason Age of Enlightenment The Revival of Trade A. Expansion of Trade (Italy & Kiev trade centers) 1. People wanted Asian goods 2. Trade expanded with the revival of towns 3. They repaired and rebuilt Roman Roads 4. Trade fairs were held at convenient land and water routes. B. Banking 1. Early merchants used the barter system 2. Money economy led to banking 3. Banking developed from moneychangers 4. This helped lead to the decline of feudalism II. Growth of Towns A. Grew in numbers between 1000s to 1100s AD beside welltraveled roads or waterways. B. Walls were built to protect the towns C. No sanitation caused the rapid spread of disease 1. many turned into epidemics 2. Bubonic Plague (Black Death) between 1348-1350 AD killed 1/3 of the population a. Church lost power (faith decreased) b. serfs freed themselves from feudal obligations D. Guildsbusiness associations 1. maintain a monopoly of the local market for its member 2. merchant guilds restricted trading 3. craft guilds regulated the work of artisans 4. prohibited competition, but set standard of quality 5. controlled by master who owned their own shops 6. apprentice-worked without payjourneyman-pay under a mastersample for approval to guildmaster 7. provided medical help and unemployment relief 8. helped organize social and religious life

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E. Rise of the Middle Class 1. middle class developed with towns 2. merchants, bankers and artisans 3. helped turn towns into municipalities F. Town Govt 1. many broke away from the power of local lord and became independent 2. some received charters which allowed them to control their own affairs Life & Culture A. Most people were illiterate B. Education was controlled by the clergy C. As towns grew, there was a need for educated officials and lawyers, as a result universities were formed D. Universities 1. They studied Aristotle, Roman law, Latin classics, Islamic scholars 2. (Books were scarce, students took notes on slates) E. Scholasticism was a new type of learning that emphasized reason as well as faith F. Thomas Aquinas claimed reason was a gift from God that could provide answers to basic philosophical questions Medieval Literature and Art A. Epics and Romances 1. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic telling the harshness of life in Northern Europe 2. Song of Roland is a French epic that tells of the chivalrous deeds of Charlemagnes knights 3. Romances about knights and ladies were very popular B. Vernacular Literature was written in everyday language (not Latin) making literature accessible to more people 1. Dantes Divine Comedy 2. Chaucers Canterbury Tales C. Medieval Art 1. Early churches were Romanesque still (mixture of Roman & Byzantine)

IV.

2. Gothic style developed ca 1150 AD replacing the heavy walls and low arches with flying buttresses, high ceilings, stained glass windows, open interiors, thin walls 3. Painters focused on illuminated manuscripts