European StudiesStudy Guide for Berka

Early Middle Ages• Disruption of Trade• Merchants faced invasions from both land and sea. Their businesses

collapsed. The breakdown of trade destroyed Europe’s cities as economic centers. Money became scarce.

• Downfall of Cities • fall of the Roman Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of

administration.

• Population Shifts • nobles retreated to the rural areas. Roman cities were left without strong

leadership. Other city dwellers also fled to the countryside, where they grew their own food. The population of western Europe became mostly rural.

• The Decline of Learning• Loss of a Common Language

THIS IS REALLY BORING SORRY NOT SORRY LOL

Church• Became secular under Pope Gregory 1• Center of the Roman government• “Church Kingdom” where the pope was the ruler

Reason For Religious Wars - Funny

Charlemagne

• Crowned emperor by Pope Leo III• Limited authority of

the nobles• Encouraged learning• Left 3 sons who fought

over the kingdom and lead to its downfall

Feudalism• Based on rights

and obligations

• Social class was inherited

• Most peasants were serfs

• Peasants were made to pay tithe; or church tax

ChivalryIdeals;• that a knight fight in

defense of three masters. • He devoted himself to his

earthly feudal lord, his heavenly Lord, and his chosen lady.

• The chivalrous knight also protected the weak and the poor. The ideal knight was loyal, brave, and courteous.

However, many knights only used these ideals when they suited them. For example, knights usually treated the poor harshly.

The Late Middle Ages• Some priests were nearly illiterate and could barely read their

prayers. Some of the popes were men of questionable morals. duties as spiritual leaders

• Many village priests married and had families. Such marriages were against Church rulings

• Bishops sold positions in the Church, a practice called simony

• Using the practice of lay investiture, kings appointed church bishops. Church reformers believed the Church alone should appoint bishops

New Architecture• more money from the growing

wealth of towns and from trade helped fuel the building of churches in several European countries. • Gothic, evolved throughout

medieval Europe. • Unlike the heavy, gloomy

Romanesque buildings, Gothic cathedrals thrust upward as if reaching toward heaven. Light streamed in through huge stained glass windows.

Magna Carta• guaranteed certain basic

political rights

• nobles wanted to safeguard their own feudal rights and limit the king’s powers

• applied to every citizen

• guaranteed rights included no taxation without representation, a jury trial, and the protection of the law

The Bubonic Plague

• Symptoms of the Bubonic PlaguePainful swellings called buboes in the lymph nodes, particularly

those in the armpits and groinSometimes purplish or blackish spots on the skin Extremely high fever, chills, delirium, and in most cases, death

Effects of the PlagueThe economic and social effects of the plague were enormous

The old manorial system began to crumble

Town populations fell, trade declined, prices rose

The serfs left the manor in search of better wages.

Nobles fiercely resisted peasant demands for higher wages, causing peasant

revolts in England, France, Italy, and Belgium.

Jews were blamed for bringing on the plague. All over Europe, Jews were

driven from their homes or, worse, massacred.

The Church suffered a loss of prestige when its prayers failed to stop the

onslaught of the bubonic plague and priests abandoned their duties

Hundred Years War

• French had medieval weapons, the English invented the longbow

• English longbowmen let fly thousands of arrows at the oncoming French. The crossbowmen, peppered with English arrows, retreated in panic. The knights trampled their own archers in an effort to cut a path through them.

• English longbowmen sent volley after volley of deadly arrows. They unhorsed knights who then lay helplessly on the ground in their heavy armor. Then, using long knives, the English foot soldiers attacked, slaughtering the French.

Joan of Arc

• A teenage peasant girl that claimed Saints talked to her and urged her to fight against the English

• Captured by England’s allies, she was condemned a witch and heretic, then burned at the stake

• Although the King Charles VII owed his crown to Joan, he did nothing to rescue her

Renée Jeanne Falconetti as Joan of Arc in La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc

Impact of the Hundred Years War

• A feeling of nationalism emerged in England and France. Now people thought of the king as a national leader, fighting for the glory of the country, not simply a feudal lord.

• The power and prestige of the French monarch increased.

• The English suffered a period of internal turmoil known as the War of the Roses, in which two noble houses fought for the throne

The Renaissance • The term means rebirth, and in this context, it refers to a revival

of art and learning. • The educated men and women of Italy hoped to bring back to life

the culture of classical Greece and Rome. Yet in striving to revive the past, the people of the Renaissance created something new.

• The contributions made during this period led to innovative styles of art and literature. They also led to new values, such as the importance of the individual.

• HumanismFocused on human potential and achievementsEnjoy life by eating good food and fine wineSecular outlookPatrons of the arts

Renaissance Art vs. Middle Ages Art

Machiavelli • pointed out that most people

think it is praiseworthy in a prince to keep his word and live with integrity

• argued that in the real world of power and politics a prince must sometimes mislead the people and lie to his opponents

• suggested that in order for a prince to accomplish great things, he must be crafty enough to not only overcome the suspicions but also gain the trust of others

Legacy of the RenaissanceChanges in the Arts• Art drew on techniques and styles of classical Greece and Rome, paintings

and sculptures portrayed individuals and nature in more realistic and lifelike ways.

• Artists created works that were secular as well as those that were religious• Writers began to use vernacular languages to express their ideas

Changes in Society• Printing made more information available and inexpensive, a greater

availability of books prompted an increased desire for learning and a rise in literacy throughout Europe

• Published accounts of new discoveries, maps, and charts led to further discoveries in a variety of fields

• Published legal proceedings made the laws clear so that people were more likely to understand their rights

• Christian humanists’ attempts to reform society changed views about how• life should be lived, people began to question political structures and

religious practices.

Luther and The Reformation

Luther’s Teachings• People could win salvation only by faith in God’s gift of forgiveness. TheChurch taught that faith and “good works” were needed for salvation

• All Church teachings should be clearly based on the words of the Bible. Both the pope and Church traditions were false authorities

• All people with faith were equal. Therefore, people did not need priests tointerpret the Bible for them

This is funny okay~

England Becomes Protestant• When Henry VIII became king of England in 1509, he was a

devout Catholic.• Henry wrote a stinging attack on Luther’s ideas. In recognition

of Henry’s support, the pope gave him the title “Defender of the Faith.”

• Political needs, however, soon tested his religious loyalty. He needed a male heir. Henry’s father had become king after a long civil war

Henry VIII’s Song

Queen Elizabeth’s Reign• Queen Elizabeth I loved physical activity and had a particular

passion for dancing. Elizabeth also resembled her father in character and temperament. She was stubborn, strong-willed, and arrogant. And Elizabeth had a fierce and unpredictable temper.

• Calvinism Developed from Luther’s teachingPredestination – God had already determined who would earn

salvationTheocracy – government ruled by religious leaders• AnabaptistBelieved that the church and state should be separate Refused to fight in warsBaptized older people

Age of Absolutism - Problems• Inflationa decline in the value of money, accompanied

by a rise in the prices of goods and services Spain’s population had been growing, growing

need for food and other goods, merchants were able to raise prices.

Silver bullion flooded the market, its value dropped. People needed more and more amounts of silver to buy things.

The Dutch Revolt In the Spanish Netherlands, Philip had to maintain an army to keep his subjects under control

The Dutch had little in common with their Spanish rulers. While Spain was Catholic, the Netherlands had many Calvinist congregations

Spain had a sluggish economy, while the Dutch had a prosperous middle class

Reign of Louis XIV• Known as the “Sun King”• Cardinal Richelieu Strong minister that helped LouisWeakened the nobles power

• Skepticism - the idea that nothing can ever be known for certain

• Lesser nobles waited in the palace halls and hoped Louis would notice them. A kingly nod, a glance of approval, a kind word—these marks of royal attention determined whether a noble succeeded or failed.

Austria & Prussia• Thirty Years’ War a conflict over religion, territory, and power among European

ruling families Bohemian peasants revoltHapsburgs • weakened the Hapsburg states of Spain and Austria;• strengthened France by awarding it German territory• made German princes independent of the Holy Roman

emperor• ended religious wars in Europe• introduced a new method of peace negotiation whereby all

participants meet to settle the problems of a war and decide the terms of peace. This method is still used today

Russia• Ivan the TerribleAccused the boyars of poisoning his wife

organized his own police force, whose chief duty was to hunt down and murder people Ivan considered traitors

Using these secret police, Ivan executed many boyars, their families, and the peasants who worked their lands.

Ivan seized the boyars’ estates and gave them to a new class of nobles, who had to remain loyal to him or lose their land.

Eventually, Ivan committed an act that was both a personal tragedy and a national disaster. In 1581, during a violent quarrel, he killed his oldest son and heir.

When Ivan died three years later, only his weak second son was left to rule.

Russia - Continued• Peter the Greathe was fascinated by the modern tools and machines in the

foreigners’ shops. above all, he had a passion for ships and the sea. The young czar

believed that Russia’s future depended on having a warm-water port.

introduced potatoes, which became a staple of the Russian dietstarted Russia’s first newspaper and edited its first issue himselfraised women’s status by having them attend social gatheringsordered the nobles to give up their traditional clothes for

Western fashionsadvanced education by opening a school of navigation and

introducing schools for the arts and sciences

Parliament• By 1628, Charles was forced to call Parliament because of

money• This time it refused to grant him any money until he signed a

document that is known as the Petition of RightHe would not imprison subjects without due cause.He would not levy taxes without Parliament’s consent.He would not house soldiers in private homes.He would not impose martial law in peacetime.After agreeing to the petition, Charles ignored it.

Oliver Cromwell• Cromwell held the reins of power• In 1649, he abolished the monarchy and the House of Lords. • He established a commonwealth, a republican form of

government• Cromwell’s associate John Lambert drafted a constitution, the first

written constitution of any modern European state • However, Cromwell eventually tore up the document and became

a military dictator• Cromwell almost immediately had to put down a rebellion in

Ireland. In 1649 Cromwell landed on Irish shores with an army and crushed the uprising.

• He seized the lands and homes of the Irish and gave them to English soldiers. Fighting, plague, and famine killed hundreds of thousands.

TheGlorious Revolution

• Bill of Rights no suspending of Parliament’s

lawsno levying of taxes without a

specific grant from Parliamentno interfering with freedom of

speech in Parliamentno penalty for a citizen who

petitions the king about grievances

James IIhad an older daughter, Mary, who was Protestant, she was also the wife of William of Orange, a prince of the Netherlands. Parliament invited William and Mary to overthrow James for the sake of ProtestantismWhen William led his army to London in 1688, James fled to France

Northern Ireland• IRA – Irish Republic ArmyRecognized Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within

the British Commonwealth of Nations (rather than British Empire)

A split occurred within the IRA Members who supported the treaty formed the nucleus of the Irish National Army founded by IRA leader Michael Collins

Much of the IRA was opposed to the treaty. The anti-treaty IRA fought a civil war with their former comrades in 1922–23, with the intention of creating a fully independent all-Ireland republic

Northern Ireland vs. The Republic of Ireland

• Protestant• Red, white, blue, orange• Loyalist/Unionist• “No Surrender”• “Remember 1960”• “Ulster Says No”• Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster

Unionist Party, Ulster Defense Association, Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, Loyalist Volunteer Force, Red Hand Commandoes

• Green, White, Orange• Catholic• Republican/Nationalist• United Ireland• "Brits Out"• "Remember 1916"• "Tiocfaidh Ar La"• Sinn Fein• SDLP• Provisional IRA, Official IRA,

NLA, Real IRA, Continuity IRA

Map of Ireland

Vigilante Justice• Rules of the Game: Irish Republican Army (similar for

Loyalists)Allowed to rob a bank or post office for the movementAllowed to steal from government but not neighborsLooting after bombings sometimes allowedStealing cars/trucks only when barricades were neededDuring riots, buses can be stolen, not black taxisPolice were legitimate targets of abuse/fire department

off limitsDealing in smuggled goods okay/dealing stolen goods

forbiddenSelling English newspapers prohibited/no liquor to

minors

Vigilante Justice - Continued• Ghetto Police (all paramilitaries)Punishment squads: Kneecapping (victim compensation)Light Sentence: fleshy part of thigh shotVariations: One leg, both legs, both legs and armsNo counseling available for victims (some community

services)Young delinquents usually beaten/women never

kneecappedParent Responsibility: Beatings, banned from drinking

clubsTar and FeatheringCompensation: 800-4,000 pounds depending on woundsIndependent commission: positive report on IRA after

cease-fire