History Study Guide
Decline of the Medieval Church
• Corruption & Criticism: The Church faced criticism for corruption, including the sale of
indulgences and political involvement.
• The Great Schism (1378-1417): A period when multiple popes claimed authority,
weakening the Church’s influence.
• Challenges from Monarchs: Kings and rulers resisted Church control, as seen in England’s
Henry VIII breaking away to establish the Anglican Church.
• Rise of Heresies: Reformers like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus questioned Church doctrines,
inspiring later movements like the Protestant Reformation.
Medieval Culture
• Feudal System & Society: Society was structured in rigid classes: lords, vassals, knights,
and serfs. Landownership dictated power.
• Manorialism: The economic system where manors were self-sufficient agricultural
communities.
• Chivalry: The knightly code of conduct, emphasizing bravery, honor, and respect for
women.
• Gothic Architecture: Cathedrals featured stained glass, pointed arches, and flying
buttresses.
• The Crusades (1095–1291): Religious wars launched to reclaim the Holy Land, leading to
increased trade and knowledge exchange between Europe and the Middle East.
• Black Death (1347–1351): The bubonic plague killed a third of Europe’s population,
undermining feudalism and Church authority.
Italian Renaissance
• Meaning & Origins: The Renaissance, meaning "rebirth," began in Italy due to wealthy city-
states (Florence, Venice, Genoa) and trade prosperity.
• Humanism: A movement emphasizing individual potential, Greek/Roman culture, and
secular achievements.
• Renaissance Art:
o Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper
o Michelangelo: Sistine Chapel ceiling, David
o Petrarch: Father of Humanism, wrote sonnets.
• Machiavelli’s The Prince: A political guide advocating that rulers should use any means
necessary to maintain power.
• Spread to Northern Europe: Writers like Erasmus (The Praise of Folly) and Thomas More
(Utopia) adapted Renaissance ideas to their cultures.
Rise of Modern Nations
• Nationalism & Centralized Governments: The decline of feudalism and the rise of strong
monarchies led to unified nations in England, France, Spain, and Portugal.
• Absolutism: Monarchs ruled with total power, often justified by divine right.
• Spain:
o Ferdinand & Isabella: Unified Spain, established the Spanish Inquisition.
o Philip II: Expanded Spanish influence, strengthened Catholicism.
• France:
o Louis XIV (The Sun King): Ruled for 72 years, built the Palace of Versailles,
expanded France’s military.
• England:
o The Magna Carta (1215): Limited the king’s power, establishing Parliament’s role.
o Glorious Revolution (1688): Overthrew James II, leading to the English Bill of
Rights, creating a constitutional monarchy.
Feudal System and Medieval Culture
Feudalism is a system of government and society where land was exchanged for loyalty and
service.
Structure: Society was organized into a hierarchy with
Lord:
• The ruler of the manor and castle, responsible for governing and maintaining order.
• Provided protection to those under their care and expected loyalty and services in return.
Vassal:
• A landowner who managed a portion of the lord's land, called a fief.
• Acted as the lord’s representative and offered military support when needed.
Knights:
• Skilled horsemen pledged to defend their lord's land and interests.
• Played a crucial role in providing security and enforcing the lord's authority.
Serfs:
• Workers tied to the land, cultivating crops and performing labor.
• Had no freedom to leave and relied on the lord for protection and resources.
reflecting decentralized power.
Manors were self-sufficient units, functioning independently due to the absence of centralized
governance.
Historical Context: The collapse of the Roman Empire and subsequent invasions by Germanic
tribes created a power vacuum, leading to the establishment of feudalism.
Figures: Charlemagne, "Father of Europe," played a significant role in spreading Christianity and
unifying territories. However, his empire's decline led to increased vulnerability, solidifying the need
for feudal systems.
Protestant Reformation
was a major religious movement in 16th-century Europe that challenged the authority and
practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
Causes:
Corruption in the Roman Catholic Church, including the selling of indulgences and excessive
materialism, sparked widespread discontent.
The Renaissance encouraged questioning of authority and access to religious texts in the
vernacular.
Key Figures:
Martin Luther, a German monk, criticized Church practices through his 95 Theses, which spread
rapidly thanks to the printing press.
Erasmus: translated the Bible into vernacular of the people (common language)
John Calvin