1.2 Europe on the Brink of Change - U.S. History | OpenStax

Overview of Medieval Europe

Period: Middle Ages, between the fall of the Roman Empire (476 CE) and the European Renaissance (late 14th century).
Society: Political and military discord; inhabitants lived in walled cities under powerful lords.
Christian Church: Unified and powerful, preserving knowledge in monasteries.
Black Death: Bubonic plague in the 1340s killed about one-third of Europe’s population.
Rejuvenation: High birth rates and bountiful harvests led to population growth by 1450.

Structure: Feudal society with lords, knights, and serfs; land was communally farmed initially.
Serfs: Worked the land; life was hard with high infant mortality and low life expectancy.
Daily Life: Dependent on agricultural cycles; homes were simple and shared among family.
Labor: Seasonal activities included planting, harvesting, and animal care.

Christian Church: The only organized institution post-Rome; divided into eastern and western branches by 1054 (Great Schism).
Hierarchy: Pope at top, followed by cardinals, bishops, priests.
Influence: Central to village and family life through sacraments and rituals.
Power: Could excommunicate; held knowledge and control over temporal matters.

Islamic Expansion: Began 622 CE, spread across Middle East, Asia Minor, and North Africa.
Reconquista: Christian efforts to reclaim Spain, part of larger religious struggles.

Holy City: Sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims; sparked conflict for control.
Crusades: European Christians attempted to retake Jerusalem in 1095.
Consequences: Widespread persecution of Jews, Christian-Muslim hostility, increase in trade with East.

Iberian Peninsula: Portugal and Spain led exploration efforts in the 15th century.
Prince Henry the Navigator: Pioneered exploration and trade with Africa.
1492 Events: Columbus persuaded Spanish monarchy to fund his voyage, marking period of exploration.
Motivations: God, glory, and gold; religious zeal and quest for wealth drove exploration.

The late medieval period in Europe was marked by significant social, religious, and economic changes that set the stage for exploration and expansion into the Americas. The interplay between Christianity and Islam, the rise of powerful monarchies, and advances in navigation and maritime technology all contributed to this transformative era.