Europe in the Middle

Ages
The High Middle Ages 1000-1300
Europes population nearly doubles (38 to 74
million)
Increased peace and stability
Improvements to farming increase production
Watermills and windmills were developed
a heavier iron plow was developed
the horse collar allowed horses to replace oxen
aided by the horseshoe
three field crop rotation was developed
two fields were plant and one would lie fallow
 The Manor System
a manor was a large agricultural estate owned by a lord
peasants worked the manor in exchange for living upon it
peasants that fell into debt became serf
bound to the land (not exactly property like slaves)
serfs owed the lord duties on the manor
two or three days labor per week on the Lords land
a portion of the grain grown on the serfs land went to the
Lord
one out of every ten livestock went to the Lord
a portion of all fish and game caught
all grain ground at the Lords mill was taxed
all bread baked in the Lords ovens was taxed
tax when a serf was married (with the Lords permission)
Daily Life of the Peasantry
manor life was simple and harsh for peasants
diets consisted of bread and vegetables
meat was rare for peasants
ale was common due to lack of pure drinking water
simple one-room cottages housed peasants
clay walls and thatch roofs
animals often brought in during the winter
each manor was self-sufficient
food, fuel, cloth, leather, and lumber were
produced on each manor
few items were purchased (salt, iron, stone, etc.)
peasants observed religious holidays on breaks
from labor
 The Revival of Trade
Italian cities revived trade as a result of the
crusades
fairs became the centers of trade for large
areas
Six fairs a year became common across
Europe
Gold and silver currency re-emerges
towns grew larger and richer
commercial capitalism returns to the economy
a merchant class (bourgeoisie) returns
 The Growth of Cities
new cities emerge and city populations
increase
most were surrounded by walls and were
crowded
pollution and disease were common
Set the stage for the Black Plague
craft guilds (unions) emerge for most
trades
set standards of production and prices
determined the number of people that could
join and how to do so
apprentice, journeyman, master (masterpiece)
Medieval Christianity
 The Papal Monarchy
The Church controlled Rome and
surrounding lands known as the
Papal States
Church leaders became involved in
political matters
Church reforms establish the pope as
the supreme authority in Europe by
1200
Interdiction was the main tool of the
pope
 New Religious Orders
Cistercian monks emerge as simple
missionaries
Franciscans emerge preaching simplicity
and poverty
Dominicans emerge to defend the Church
against heresy
Led to the creation of the Church court
known as the Inquisition
Confession led to public penance
No confession led to torture
 Popular Religion
ordinary people practiced the
sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation,
Eucharist, Penance, Anointing the
Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony)
saints were important figures in
Church doctrine
saints were considered more godly
than ordinary people
relics and shrines of saints became
popular