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Intercultural Exchange and the Evolution of the
Medieval European World View
What factors led to changes to the World View held by the people of Europe during the Middle Ages?
Factor 1: The Silk Road P 16-17 What:
Long road traveled by foot or horse driven caravan.
Where: Started in Europe, through the Middle East and parts of Asia, all the way to
China
Who: Merchants from all over the known world would meet along this trail to make
exchanges
Why: to obtain exotic products unavailable in their own region. Products such as silk, spices, porcelain and paper were high in demand by
Europeans and would be traded between merchants.
How did the Silk Road affect the World View of the European Population at the time?
The impact the Silk Road had on the worldview of the European population went much further than simply providing them with exotic products and goods.
Along the way, social interaction with other cultures flourished and exposed the people to new ideas and technologies in the fields of religion, science, philosophy, music and mathematics.
These ideas spread across Europe. Exposing the people to these new ideas changed their values and
beliefs and thus altered their world View. The exchanges made weren’t always positive, for disease and
illness were also passed along.
.
.
Factor 2: The Islamic Civilisation P 18 The Islamic Empire was at the centre of the known world and Because of their geographic position; they had control of the Silk
Road. All goods, products and ideas exchanged were done so through
their commercial centres. They became not only the spot for commercial exchange, but they
were the centre of intellectual exchange amongst scholars and philosophers of the time.
Scholars from all over would gather to collect study and translate important documents from various languages, making information that was once incomprehensible available to diverse cultures.
How did the Islamic Empire affect the World View of the European Population at the time?
The Islamic Empire contributed to the evolution of the Christian Worldview in that it was a place where people could gather to exchange knowledge and be exposed to new ideas that would alter their beliefs and values.
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Stop right there. You can’t come here without my permission first!
Factor 3: The Crusades P 20 - 21 Near the end of the Middle Ages, European Armies organised
crusades to try and recapture and Christianise areas in the Middle East that were under Muslim control.
For the Jewish, Christian and Muslim it was the Holy Land of Jerusalem where their religious background derived.
Each of these religions felt that it was their right to have possession and control over this sacred territory.
. .
MINE!!!
How did the Crusades affect the World View of the European Population at the time?
Soldiers, religious pilgrims of men, women and children from all over the known world would travel to the Middle East to visit the Holy Lands and while there, they would interact with cultures very different from their own and would become aware of other cultures.
There they were encountered new ideas, beliefs and knowledge and thus, would return to their homeland with new ideas, values and beliefs that led to new ways of thinking about their own lives and cultures. .
Factor 4: The Black Death
The Black Death contributed to the transformation of the European World View of the Middle Ages because
it forced people to move to cities where they interacted with new people and exchanged ideas, knowledge and beliefs.
The Feudal system fell apart allowing peasants and serfs to realize they weren't limited by birth and believe they could take steps to improve their quality of life.
Was the Black Death the apocalypse?
Nope! It ended the Dark Ages and brought promise and change … A New Life…
The Renaissance“french word meaning ‘rebirth’
Factor 5: Urbanization
What Is Urbanisation?
The movement of a population from a rural area (village) to an urban area (city).
Why did the Population of Europe Urbanize near the end of the Middle Ages?
After the first outbreak of the Black Plague in 1350, the peasant population was greatly diminished.
There were no longer enough labourers to cultivate farmlands leaving many peasant farmers no other choice but to leave their farmlands to go elsewhere to make a living.
Many survivors decided that they would leave their livelihood in villages to move to cities where there was promise of more opportunities for work.
Where do you think you’re going?
The lady down the lane made me an
offer I couldn’t refuse, I am going
to work for her!
I am off to the big city to make me a
livin’!
What am I supposed to do to survive? How will I get crops? I will surely die.. I don’t know how
to work the land!
Please stay! I will give you more crops from
the yield?!
NAH!
NAH!
You are my serfs and I command you to stay!
Stuff it Lady!
Good luck working
this land on your own!
My whole family is dead and so is most of the population of my village!
My landlord survived and expects me to work as I did before but there is no way I can do all of the work alone… I can’t even grow enough crops to feed myself.
How does she expect me to survive and support her!?
There is no way, I am moving on… maybe I will go to the city, where there is more opportunity!
Where did the rural population of Europe go?
Italian cities… Here I come!!!
The rural population moved to the Italian cities of Venise, Florence, Genoa and Milan
Why did they go to
italian Citie
s?
Geographic Reasons
Mountain ranges to the North protected Italy from invaders making it a peaceful and stable location, allowing its citizens to live in security and develop socially, politically and economically.
These cities were located on important commercial marine and terrestrial trade routes, connecting them to countries to the far east and west for trade.
Social Reasons; The Feudal System had little to no influence here due to a lack of
agricultural land.
The class system was less rigid, meaning people had more freedom to pursue a better quality of life.
The Pope had moved to France, meaning that the people were free from the oppression of the churches strict rules
Ciao Italy… Bonjour France!
Economic Reasons
Due to their geographical position on trade routes they were already into the import and export industry for century’s prior, making them wealthy, established commercial urban centers.
Factor 6: Increased Trade P 29 Later in the Middle ages the demand for exotic products increased. Merchants hired adventurers to open new trade routes which increased
contact with other societies Europeans were introduced to new ideas and knowledge The numbers of merchants grew, they became wealthy, and powerful. They had enough money to influence nobles and leaders. They formed a powerful new class outside of the Feudal system.
How did increased trade affect the World View of the European Population at the time?
Increased trade gave the European Population the opportunity to interact with other societies and exchange knowledge and ideas.
Europeans at the time saw that a person’s role in the rigid structure of the feudal system might be able to change and that it was in fact possible to move out of the class into which they had been born.
What three things shape our worldview?
Geography : What geographic events / changes contributed to the evolution of
the European Worldview during the Middle Ages?
Interaction with others What events / changes allowed the people of Europe the
opportunity to interact with others?
Sharing of ideas and knowledge What events allowed the people of Europe the opportunity to
exchange knowledge and ideas?
What three factors are influenced by our Worldview?
Culture: How did the culture of Europeans change due to their modified
worldview?
Social Systems: How did their social systems change due to their modified
worldview?
Political and economic systems: How did their political and economic systems change due to their
modified worldview?
