Heimler's History: Europe from 1200 to 1450

Historical Context

• Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476): Led to Europe being fractured into tribal kingdoms.
• Byzantine Empire: Continued to exist in the East for another thousand years.

Feudalism

• System of mutual obligations between social classes:
  • King: Granted land to lords.
  • Lords: Provide service and tribute to the king; contracted knights.
  • Knights: Protected the land, sometimes went to war.
  • Serfs (Peasants): Worked on lord’s land; not free, lives tied to the land.
• Decline in trade, living standards, and intellectual life during what was known as the "Dark Ages."

High Middle Ages (1000 - 1450)

• Rise of Powerful Monarchs:
  • Consolidated more land and power.
  • Established bureaucracies and standing armies.
• Shift of Power:
  • Initially towards kings, but some back to nobles by the 13th century.
  • Magna Carta (1215): Guaranteed rights to nobles (e.g., jury trial, property rights).
  • English Parliament (1265): Represented noble interests.

The Roman Catholic Church

• A continuous influence providing cultural and intellectual unity.
• Established the first universities; most educators and artists were religious.
• Christian-themed art for educating illiterate peasants.

Church vs. State

• Rise of monarchs led to power struggles with the church.
• Crusades: Encouraged by the church to reclaim Jerusalem, shifting loyalty from monarchs to the church.

Economic and Social Changes

• Marco Polo’s Travels:
  • Visited China and wrote about the culture and wealth, inspiring European exploration.
  • Led to innovations in mapmaking and cartography.
• Rise of Middle Class (Bourgeoisie):
  • Included shopkeepers, merchants, small landowners.
• Little Ice Age:
  • Decreased agricultural productivity, population decline, less trade, worsened economic conditions.

The Renaissance

• Rebirth (1350s and beyond):
  • Revival of Greek and Roman art, culture, literature.
  • Notable works: Dante’s Divine Comedy, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Conclusion

• Overview provides essential knowledge for AP World History exams.
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