The document provides an overview of developments in the late medieval Christian church between 1300-1500 CE. It discusses: 1) Weakening of the papacy's power under Pope Boniface VIII due to conflicts with French King Philip. This led to the "Babylonian Captivity" period from 1309-1377 when the pope resided in Avignon under French influence. 2) The Great Western Schism from 1378-1417 which resulted from the disputed papal election and led to up to three rival popes claiming authority. 3) Heresies promoted by John Wyclif and Jan Hus who were critical of church practices. Hus was tried and executed at the Council of

1. History of Christianity-II
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3. The Late
Middle Ages
(ca. 1300-1500)

4. The Church and Christianity
Pope Boniface VIII (r. 1294-1303)
 Limits of Papal Power
– King Philip taxed French
clergy  Boniface VIII
protested
 King’s response: economic
pressure
– Philip arrested bishop for
treason  Boniface
outraged
 King’s agents invaded
papal palace
 Boniface died soon after
– Papacy now weaker than
monarchs

5.  The “Babylonian
Captivity” (1309-1377)
– French pope elected to
papacy
– Moved to Avignon (1309)
 French popes
 Corruption?
– Many unhappy Christians in
Western Europe
– Papacy returned to Rome
(1377)
The Avignon Papacy, also known as the
Babylonian Captivity, was the period
from 1309 to 1376 during which seven
successive popes resided in Avignon (then
in the Kingdom of Arles, part of the Holy
Roman Empire, now in France) rather than
in Rome.

6.  The Great Western Schism (1378-1417)
– Returning pope died (1378)
– Turbulent election  new, Italian pope
– Dissatisfaction  schism
 Two popes!
 Spiritual and political crisis!
– Council of Pisa (1409)
 Deposed both popes, elected new one
 Unsuccessful  3 popes!

7. The Church and Christianity
 Late Medieval Heresy
– JOHN WYCLIF (ca. 1330-84)
 Advocated state role in
church matters
 Bible!
 Criticized transubstantiation
– Lollards
– JAN HUS (ca. 1370-1415)
 Influenced by Wyclif
 Preacher
 Critical of church hierarchy
and “abuses”

8. The Church and Christianity
 The Council of Constance
(1414-17)
– Summoned by emperor
– Response to Heresy
 Hus tried, condemned
(1415)
 Wyclif’s remains destroyed
– Schism resolved
 Three rival popes deposed
 Martin V elected
Execution of Hus

9. The Church and Christianity
Roettgen Pietá
Early 14th cent.
 Late Medieval Mysticism
– Mysticism: spirituality
seeking intimacy with God
– Very common among
women
– Increased devotional
literature
– Increased focus on Passion
of Christ, devotion to Virgin
Mary

10. The Church and Christianity
 The Seven Sacraments
– Essential to salvation
– Performed by clergy alone
– The Sacraments
 Baptism
 Confirmation
 Penance
 Eucharist
 Ordination
 Marriage
 Last Rites

11. The Church and Christianity
 Questions?

12. Society and Economy
 Population growth  overpopulation
(14th cent.)
– Less land to cultivate
– Wages decreased
– Famines

13. Society and Economy
 The Black Death
(1347-1350)
– Deadliest disaster of
Late Middle Ages
– Nature of the plague
 Epidemic
 Spread rapidly,
contagious
 Noticeable, painful
symptoms
 Very quick death

14.  The Plague’s Origins
– Began in Far East, traveled westward along trade routes
– Carried by fleas on infected rats
– Arrived in Europe at Mediterranean ports

15.  The Black Death
– Cause debated
– Why???
– Aftermath
 Death of up to 1/2 of
Europe’s population
 Obsession with death
 Recurred until 18th
century
The Black Death was a bubonic plague
pandemic occurring in Afro-Eurasia from
1346 to 1353. It is the most fatal
pandemic recorded in human history,
causing the death of 75–200 million people
in Eurasia and North Africa, peaking in
Europe from 1347 to 1351

16. Society and Economy
 Economics in Italy
– Trade
 Location  focal point
 Contact between
Europe and East
– Banking
 Lots of bankers
 MEDICI
– Florence
– Bank founded 1397
Medici Bank

17. Society and Economy
The Hanseatic League
 Northern Economics
– Numerous financial
centers
– Hanseatic League
 Competition for Italians
 Conglomeration of
100+ northern
mercantile cities
– Wool industry

18. Society and Economy
 Questions?

19. Political Issues
 The Fall of Constantinople
– Byzantine Empire
threatened by Turks
– Siege of Constantinople
(1453)
 Walls breached
 City taken May 29, 1453
 Became Istanbul
– Ottoman Empire: threat to
Western Europe
Siege of Constantinople

20. Political Issues
 The Hundred Years War (1337-1453): Causes
– Last Capetian monarch died (1328) – who succeeds?
 English king was a relation
 Philip VI elected by French nobility
 Neither candidate conceded claims  war!
– English claims to French lands

21. Political Issues
 The War: Initial
English Success
– Strategy: raids
– New technology
 Longbows
 Cannons
– Territorial gains!
– English king: new heir
to throne (1420) Battle of Créçy (1346)

22. Political Issues
 Ultimate French
Victory
– Northern
France
reconquered
– English driven
out by 1453

23. Political Issues
Ferdinand and Isabella
 Spain: Ferdinand and
Isabella
– Unified Spanish crown
 Ferdinand: heir of
Aragon, Catalonia
 Isabella: heir of Castile
– Married (1469)
– Completed
Reconquista (1492)

24. Political Issues

25. Political Issues
 Religion in Spain
– Fervent Catholicism
– Expulsions
 Muslims (1504)
 Jews (1492)
– SPANISH
INQUISITION (1478)
 Tool of State
 Principal goal: attack
“judaizing” traditions
among conversos

26. Political Issues
 Questions?