Mr. Thompson's World History Resources

I. Changes in Agriculture

A. Water mill and windmill increased amount of grain processed

B. Heavier plows opened up new fields

C. New collar harness and horseshoes for horses allowed them to be used (instead of oxen)

D. Settlement of new lands for farming

1. Led to downfall of serfdom

2. Lords promised more freedom to convince serfs to move to new land

E. Population Growth

1. More food = less starvation and malnutrition

2. Increased job specialization

II. New Business Practices

A. Partnerships

1. Made expansion easier

2. Reduced risk of business ventures

B. Moneychanging

1. Exchanged coins from one region for those of another

2. Also lent money

3. Issued "letters of credit" (don’t have to carry heavy coins)

C. Banking

1. Used profits to finance projects

2. Lent money to kings and the Church

A. Trade Routes

1. Disrupted by pirates during early Middle Ages

2. Italians restored safety in the Mediterranean in 11th century

3. Trade expanded between Italy and N. Africa/Byzantine Empire

4. Population growth created new markets in Western Europe in 1300’s (controlled by Venice, Genoa, Milan, and Pisa)

5. Routes also developed within W. Europe as well

B. Trade Fairs

1. Took place along major trade routes

2. Booths set up to show goods

3. Lasted a few weeks

4. Lords provided guards for the merchants traveling to and from fairs

I. Town Life

A. Small population surrounded by walls

B. Narrow winding streets

C. Many shops

D. Very busy (trade fairs, beggars, entertainers)

E. Dangerous at night

II. Opportunities for Women

A. Could own business

B. Were admitted to guilds if husband was a member

III. Freedom for serfs

A. Hide for a year and a day = freedom

B. Towns provided a great hiding place

IV. Rise of the Middle Class

A. Master artisans, merchants, and their families

B. Money came from trade

C. No debts to lords

D. Believed you could improve your place in life

I. Early England

A. Abandoned by Romans in 400’s

B. Germanic tribes invaded (including Angles and Saxons)

C. Alfred the Great preserved Grecco-Roman culture by translating works into Anglo-Saxon language in late 800’s

II. Norman Conquest

A. Normans invaded in 1066

1. Defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings

2. Conquered London and William the Conqueror became King of England

3. Blended Anglo-Saxon and French culture

III. William the Conqueror made several changes in government

A. Divided the land between himself and loyal barons

B. Set up an efficient administration

C. Conducted a census for tax purposes (the Domesday Book)

I. Common Law

A. Cases were brought into royal court, rather than Church court

B. Decisions were written down to replace old, unwritten laws

C. Decisions were common to all people in England, so were called "common law"

D. Became foundation of English legal system

II. Jury System

A. Grand Jury

1. Reported to visiting royal judges

2. Gave names of people suspected of committing crimes

3. Still used today to decide if a case should go to trial

B. Trial jury

1. Developed later

2. Had the power to settle disputes

III. Magna Carta

A. Written in 1215 to protect the rights of nobles

B. King John forced to accept it after barons rebelled over high taxes (taxes needed to pay for King Richard’s foreign adventures)

C. Rights came to be applied to other groups as well

D. Key ideas

1. Taxation only with representation

2. Right to trial

3. Limits to royal power

I. Parliament

A. William the Conqueror used to consult important nobles

B. Advisers met in the Great Council

C. By 1200’s council included lesser landowners and townspeople

D. Evolved into two houses

1. House of Lords - bishops and great nobles

2. House of Commons - lesser landowners (knights) and townspeople

E. Had control over finances

1. King needed approval to raise taxes

2. Parliament asked for more power each time the king asked for more money

II. English government became a limited monarchy

A. Government in which limits are set on the ruler’s powers

B. Rights were protected by common law, the Magna Carta, and Parliament

1. English subjects had certain liberties

2. King could not violate those liberties

3. Power to govern was shared by the king and Parliament

I. Unification was much more difficult

A. Destroyed by feudalism after fall of Charlemagne

B. Challenged by English kings (William of Normandy)

C. Took hundreds of years to unify

1. Kings took land when owner died without heirs

2. Kings made alliances and marriages with greatest landowners

3. Kings used support of townspeople to take lands by force

II. King Philip II laid the basis for unification

A. Won land in wars from King John of England

B. Tripled the land owned by French monarchy

III. Kings maintained absolute monarchy

A. Definition - a system of government in which the king or queen makes all of the decisions and cannot legally be challenged

B. Estates-General developed (similar to England) but never gained power over finances and was often ignored (different from England)