The Reinissance

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The RenaissanceThe late medieval age was the period after the high middle age and preceded the modern ages. Although the high middle ages had been marked by improved agricultural production and farming practices, the late middle ages started with crises. Poor climate and soil degradation reduced agricultural production immensely. The crisis was worsened by the bubonic plague/the black death which killed a significant portion of the population. The endemic wars between England and France and the invasion of eastern Europe by the Mongols were also significant events that changed society in the late middle ages.
The black death struck Europe between 1347 and 1353. It is estimated that it killed 1/3 of the European population. The black death set forth a lot of cultural and economic changes in Europe. Following the rapid decline in population due to the plague, the labor declined, and farms were abandoned. This resulted in a very high cost of labor. The black death resulted in changes in medical and public health that lay the basis for modern medical practices. Emphasis was made on clinical practices based on physical science. As a result, there was an increase in higher education in Europe at the time. Additionally, out of the misery of the death’s people in Europe begun to turn to superstition and astrology. People lost faith in God feeling they had been abandoned. Overall, the black death had a great effect on the economy and culture of Europe in the late medieval ages.

The hundred-year war was one of the most significant events on the late middle ages. It was a series of conflicts between kings and nobles of France and England between 1337 and 1453. In France, the hundred years of war resulted in a disorganized economy. Additionally, there were several peasant revolts in France during the time of the war. In England, the war strengthened the monarchy and gave rise to the parliament. In both France and England, there a decline in feudalism due to the war. The hundred years also brought social change in that the war allowed movement in social classes. In the middle ages, soldiers who did not earn nobility through birth could earn it through war. The desire for honor, fame, and renown enticed many onto fighting. It also resulted in soldiers becoming wealthy through robbing and ransoming civilian populations.
The third major event of the middle ages was the invasion of Europe by Mongols. Beginning 1236, Oggedei the son of Genghis Khan conquered eastern Europe and by 1240 Mongols had occupied Russia, Ukraine Romania Bulgaria, and Hungary. The Mongols wiped out cities in their conquest. This spread panic resulted in refugees fleeing from eastern Europe to the west. The Mongol occupation allowed peace to prevail and this resulted in an improved trade. The silk road was reopened increasing wealth and cultural exchange. Finally, the Mongol occupation of Russia led to the unification of Russian speakers to form modern day Russia.
The late medieval ages were a time of great cultural diversity. The cultural changes taking place during this time ushered in the modern age. The main occurrences that shaped the culture of the late middle ages were the black death, the hundred-year war and the Mongol invasion of eastern Europe. The black death caused a significant decline in population, increase in the cost of labor, promotion of higher education, reduction in faith and rise of superstition. The hundred years war disorganized French economy and caused peasant revolts. It strengthened the English monarchy and caused some soldiers to gain wealth through plunder and nobility from chivalry. The Mongol invasion of eastern Europe led to the destruction of towns, migration to western Europe and the unification of Russia.