Chapter 1: Times of Change

Inquiry Question

In what ways can changing social structures affect a society’s worldview?

Vocabulary

Feudalism Hierarchy Allegiance Manors Freeman Serfs Monastery Journeyman Sumptuary Laws

AKA Bubonic Plague. End of Middle Ages

(1347). Merchant ships

arriving from Black Sea.

Dead and dying sailors.

Reappeared minimum six more times (1410).

1/3 to 1/2 (25 Million) dead.

One theory: Tartars attacked the

trading post of Caffa. People were walled in

and starved. Tartars started dying

and catapulted dead bodies.

Fled on ships. Fleas bite animals

and humans

Three forms Septicemic Plague Bubonic Plague Pneumonic Plague

Most common was Bubonic Plague

Up to 75% infected died.

THE PATH OF DEATH

EFFECT ON EUROPE

Worst effect – 1347 to 1351

25 million dead

Enlarged lymph nodes. Arm pits, neck, groin

area. High fever. Nausea. Vomiting. Aching joints. 4 days most.

Did not realize disease had to do with cleanliness Some were convinced that the plague resulted from

the movements of the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mars.

Other people thought that the plague was a punishment sent by God.

Others believed that it was caused by the devil or magic.

Others believed that burning incense would purify the air and keep the plague away.

Still others blamed cultural or ethnic groups of people different from their own group.

Still exists Hunters in BC and

Alberta (Isolated). Cats and dogs found

to have it. W.H.O reports up to

3000 each year. Antibiotics.

What if half the people in Canada suddenly died of a terrible disease, how do you think this would affect society?

Question beliefs, behavior, or values.

Looking for answers. Become cautious. Greater value on

science. Spend time with

loved ones. Huge problems in

economy and society.

Feudalism A hierarchy. People ranked by

importance. Born into and stayed

there. Based on land,

loyalty, duty. Allegiance to king.

Most people lived in rural villages. Manor

Peasants assigned land to harvest.

Peasants worked cooperatively

Peasants paid a portion to “Lord of the Manor”

Had to build roads, clear forests.

Worked hard

Two types of peasants:

Freemen Rented land from lord Worked for pay

Serf Most of the peasants Not allowed to leave

without permission Travel to nearest

town

Medieval towns were farm communities.

Close to castle, palace, or monastery.

Stone walls to protect themselves.

Towns had shops.

Dirty Crowded Rat-infested

Provided freedom and new opportunities.

Freedom to do whatever they wanted.

Married whom they pleased.

Made money.

By law: Runaway serfs could

gain freedom by staying in a town for one year and a day.

Peasants opened workshops, learned trades, and worked as servants and labourers.

Goods and trade organized by organizations called “guilds”

Controlled prices, standards of quality, and decided who could apprentice.

What was the role of women in medieval socitey?

Rural women Town women

Had many children Worked in fields Made clothes Cooked meals Preserved food

Worked in trades Sold goods Able to inherit property

and guild membership Could work in textiles

and brewing

Wealthy women had many opportunities. School (away or

home)

Negatives: Made few choices Marriages were

arranged, often at birth

Hundred Years’ War In 1337, France and

England went to war Lasted more than a

century (Hundred Years’ War)

Devastated the country sides of France and England.

Peasants revolted due to high rents and taxes to finance the war.

French peasants were called “Jacques Bonhomme”

Revolts ended brutally by authorities. Still unrest

remained.

Nobles who still had land rented or sold it to serfs.

Serfs were released from obligation to lords

Feudal System came undone.

Nursery rhyme associated with the Black Death: Ring around the

rosesA pocketful of posiesAtchoo, Atchoo, we all fall down

“Roses” refer to the boils that developed

“Posies” are flowers believed to avoid the Plague

Sneezing was sign of Plague

“We all fall down” refers to people dying

Stay where they know (security).

Move to towns to start new life (adventure, opportunity).

Before black death

200 serfs lived and worked on manors. Wages were low.

To hire 80 workers for 300 days/year at 1 penny/day.

80 x 300 x 1 = 24 000 pennies

Total expenses for year: 24 000 pennies.

After black death

60 serfs died of plague or left for higher wages. Peasants demanded higher wages.

To hire 80 workers for 300 days/year at 3 pennies/day.

80 x 300 x 3 = 72 000 pennies

Total expenses for year: 72 000 pennies.

Money was needed in the towns to buy things.

As a result, people thought of time differently.

Activities ruled by rising and setting of sun and changing of seasons.

Only people who needed exact time was Church – to pray.

People used: Sun dials Water clocks Hourglasses

Mechanical clocks invented because of towns.

Town and city (urban) people had opportunity to move up socially.

New social structure developed.

Middle class introduced. Based on money. Loved material

possessions.

This love for material possessions resulted in expansion of trade.

Peasants

Gowns

Men’s wear

Because peasants had money, the sumptuary law was introduced: Controlled consumption or how people

spent their money. Restricted what people could wear in

different classes.

Top Level: Aristocracy

Middle Level: Middle Class

Bottom Level: Lower Class

High Church officials Merchants and businesses

Peasants

Rulers or lords Craftspeople Rural laborers

Old noble families Shopkeepers Urban laborers

Wealthy merchants Bankers Servants

Priests The unemployed

THE CHURCH

Hierarchy Show obedience to

group above What similarities can

you see between the feudal system and the Church?

Pope

Archbishops

Bishops

Priests

Parishioners

Between the year 900 and 1000, 1500 churches built in France

Took hundreds to build a church In medieval towns, the tallest

buildings were cathedrals.

EPCOR Tower Floors: 28 Height: 149 m (490ft) Constructed: 2011

Why so “small?” Municipal Airport Building height must

be below 150m. What does EPCOR

Tower tell us about our societal values?

EPCOR Tower (Edmonton)

THE RENAISSANCE

After the Black Death

Means “rebirth of classical knowledge and learning.”

Started in Italy.

Christian Europeans shard a religious worldview- that God was the center of all things.

The beliefs of the poor presented a worldview in which they accepted a harsh, short life on earth.

They believed they if they suffered they would be rewarded after death by going to heaven.

Wealthier people used religion to interpret everything about their world. Religion was the center of their life. Their religion helped them understand the world around them.

They looked at the afterlife, and donated money and property to the church, hoping that God would reward them with heaven.

Their religious beliefs were communicated in their art and architecture. Almost every artist and European thinker worked for the church.

Rarely did anyone disagree with the church’s ideas about the world or the way people should act.

No one questioned the importance of religion.

CHEAT SHEET

Guilds Worldview of medieval

Europe compared to modern Canada

Sumptuary laws Role of women Tall structures Peasant Revolt Black Death Town Life New Social Structure

(p.27)