The Decline of Feudalism

Synopsis

There were many causes for the decline of feudalism, but the main three were political changes, deadly diseases, and a long series of wars known as the Hundred Years War. In England, several political changes helped to weaken feudalism, the disease known as the bubonic plague or Black Death swept across Asia and Europe in the 14th century, and France and England fought a series of wars for about 100 years.

Magna Carta

In 1199, Henry's youngest son, John became the king and soon made powerful enemies by losing most of the land that the English had controlled in France. He also taxed his barons heavily and ignored their traditional rights. John also quarreled with the church and collected a large amount of their profits. In June of 1215 the barons insisted that John put his seal to the Magna Carta, or Great Charter. The charter was an agreement between the barons and the king. The barons agreed that the king could continue to rule and observe common law and the traditional right of barons. This later lead to the English common law known as habeas corpus. In many ways, the Magna Carta protected the rights and privileges of nobles.

Model Parliament

Model Parliament

In 1295 Edward I, King John's grandson, took a major step toward including more people in government. Edward called together a governing body called the Model Parliament. It included commoners and lower ranking clergy as well as church officials and nobles. This later led to the creation of Parliament that is used today.

Impact of Political Developments

Impact of Political Developments

Some of the changes benefited royal authority others brought control to commoners. The Magna Carta made rights that even the kind could not violate. The Model parliament gave a voice to common citizens in the government. These ideas lead to the tradition of modern democratic institutions.

Legal Reforms

Legal Reforms

Henry ll made legal reforms the main concern during his reign. For example, he insisted that a jury formally accuse a person of a serious crime before the case appeared before a royal judge. These reforms strengthened the power of the royal courts at the cost of feudal lords. In time these new customs of judges and juries replaced trial by ordeal and combat. Henry's efforts to strengthen royal authority led to a serious quarrel with the church. In the 1164 Henry issued the Constitutions of Clarendon which spelled out the king's traditional rights, which sparked controversy among the church. Even after all of the conflict most of the Constitutions of Clarendon remained in force.

The Black Death

The Black Death

The name black death came from the black and blue blotches that appeared on the skin of victims. The dirty conditions that the people were living in at the time contributed to the spread of the plague. The disease was carried by fleas who fed on the blood of infected rodents such as rats.When the rats would die the fleas would move on to other animals or even humans. The streets of the towns were usually filled with human waste, dead animals, and trash. The people didn't know where the plague cam from so they blamed it on the planets of the Jews. In some German towns they forced the Jews to leave because of the plague.

The Impact of the Plague

The Impact of the Plague

.The black plague extremely affected Asia and Europe. Asia's population was almost half of what is was because of the plague. Travelers would said bodies littered the floor all across the continent. There is an estimated amount of 24 million dead europeans due to the bubonic plague. All trade slowed due to the deaths. Nobles started to lose control and commoners took over. After the plague was over many rebellions broke out. The rebellions fought back all legal rulers. This soon brought the fall of feudalism.

Early English Successes

Early English Successes

Despite almost always being outnumbered the English won many early battle of the war. At the Battle of Crecy, The French relied on horses or knights. Their weapons were swords and lances. The English army was made up of lightly armored soldiers and archers. Some common people were also paid to fight. Their crossbows had many advantages against the French. The longbow helped the English to defeat the French at Crecy.

The French Fight Back

The French Fight Back

The French slowly lost control of territory since the English had won the early wars. After a truce King Henry V decided to invade France again. The king payed commoners to fight for his army to make him stronger. France was inspired by a 17 year old girl who claimed the saints were telling her to save France. The girl put on a suit of armor and went to fight. Joan led the French army to victory in the battle of Orleans. Then English then accused Joan of being a witch and burned her on a stake. Joann's heroism changed the way the French think about their nation. 22 years later the french drove the English out of France.

Impact of the Hundred Years War

Impact of the Hundred Years War

The Hundred Years War contributed to the decline of feudalism by helping shift the power from feudal lords to monarchs and the common wealth. During the war, monarchs on both sides had collected taxes and raised large professional armies. As a result, kings no longer relied on nobles to supply knights for the army. In addition, changes in military technology made the noble's knights and castles less useful. The new feeling of nationalism also shifted power away from lords. Previously, many English and French peasants felt more loyalty to their local lords than to their king. The war created a new sense of national unity and patriotism on both sides.