The Decline of Feudalism

Chapter 5

5.1 Introduction
Between the 12th and 15th centuries, 3 major developments led to the decline of feudalism: What are they? Political developments Disease War

5.2 What Were the Political Developments in England?

What Were Henry IIs Legal Reforms? He insisted that juries formally accuse people who would then be tried by a judge. This strengthened the power of royal courts. Who lost power because of this? He issued the Constitutions of Clarendon which stated clergy would be tried in royal courts and not church courts. Who lost power and who gained power?

What Was the Magna Carta?

King John made a lot of people mad: lost land, taxed barons, ignored their rights, fought w/ church and took their $. 1215, Angry barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta. Agreed to observe common law and rights of barons and church. No free man could be jailed w/o habeas corpus. Who does the Magna Carta Protect? Protected the rights and liberties of the people.

What Was Model Parliament?

In 1295, King Edward created the Model Parliament which was a law-making body that included commoners and lower-ranking clergy as well as church officials & nobles. Who gains power and who loses power here?

What Were the Impacts of Political Developments in England?

They led to the decline of feudalism in 2 ways What are they? 1. Strengthened power of monarch at expense of nobles. 2. Shifted power to commoners. How did the Magna Carta contribute to this? Henry IIs legal reforms? Model Parliament?

5.3 What Was the Bubonic Plague?

Disease that struck Europe between 1347 to 1410. If the disease began in China, how did it spread to Europe? Began in China and spread to Europe and North Africa by way of the Silk Road.

What Was the Black Death?

Filthy living conditions contributed to the spread of the disease. It was carried by fleas that fed on the blood of infected animals, but people had no idea how it spread. Who do you think got blamed? France ordered all Jews out of the country in 1394 (as well as many German cities).

What Was the Impact of the Plague?

About 24 million (or 1/3 of all) Europeans died b/c of the plague. With so many deaths, what happened to the need for workers? Need for workers was xt. high. What could workers demand? They could demand more money and rights. After the plague, many peasant rebellions broke out. Why? What does all of this add up to? This all led to a shift in power from nobles to commoners; feudal lords lost a lot of power.

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5.4 What Was the Hundred Years War?

A series of wars between England and France between 1337 and 1453 over land. Philip VI of France claimed Edward IIIs fiefs were in France, and war broke out.
My fief! No, My fief!!

What Were the Early English Successes?

English were usually outnumbered and still managed to win. French had heavily armored knights on horseback, had swords and lances, and infantry had crossbows. What are the problems with this? English had lightly armored knights and archers armed with longbows. Whats the advantage to this?

How Did the French Fight Back?

After a long truce, Henry V invaded France again in 1415. French showed more resistance because they began using modern tactics and had a new sense of national identity thanks to Joan of Arc. She was later captured and burned at the stake and 22 years later the French drove the English out of France.

What Was the Impact of the Hundred Years War?

Both the French and English used tax money to pay commoners to fight in large professional armies. Guess who the king no longer needs for protection? Military technology rendered knights and castles obsolete. How? The war created a new sense of nationalism and patriotism on both sides. How did this lessen the power of lords? Commoners gained power because they were needed as soldiers and workers.