HOW DID THE MEDIEVAL WORLD COLLAPSE? - HISTORY - 2024

The collapse of the medieval world began in the 14th century and ended in the 15th century when the Modern Age began through the Renaissance. In these centuries a series of adverse conditions generated instability and put an end to the Middle Ages.

The main causes were the spread of the Black Death and religious and monarchical wars, conditions that plagued Europe and disrupted feudal progress. On the other hand, the globalization process was already beginning with the trade of Europe and the East, increasing with the arrival of Columbus in America.

Several events coincided between 1452 and 1453 to mark the end of the Middle Ages. These events were the discovery of America, the fall of Constantinople, and the end of the Hundred Years War.

However, the collapse that accumulated for two centuries was the determining factor in the end of the medieval lifestyle.

Causes of the collapse of the medieval world

1- Demographic crisis

In the first place, there was a depletion of soils and agriculture, which became a generalized famine. This, added to disease and wars, produced a setback in population growth.

Epidemics such as malaria and tuberculosis began to threaten the continent. But the most devastating was the bubonic plague, also known as the black plague. As a result of the plague, almost a third of the European population died.

This great mortality had its consequences in the economy, since the field had less manpower.

2- Economic transformation

As a result of the little harvest and the decrease in population, the villages were abandoned in the countryside, and the peasants preferred to take refuge in the cities. In addition, major rebellions and uprisings broke out in rural areas.

The peasants could no longer pay the new tax demands of the feudal lords and the church, due to the effects of the crop crisis. Thus, little by little the land ceases to be the basis of wealth.

Instead, commerce takes over as a primary activity, begins to work with money, and the beginnings of capitalism emerge.

3- Emergence of the bourgeoisie

In the social sphere, the ruling classes of the nobles and the clergy lose power. Its dominance changes when the bourgeoisie arises with the rebirth of urban life in Europe, after the crusades.

In addition, society begins to “corporatize”, that is, groups of artisans, merchants and teachers are associated in corporations that will mark a new weight.

This not only weakens the ruling classes but creates a new social structure.

4- Origin of national monarchies

In the political panorama, the prevailing model until then, feudalism, decays. In their place, centralized governments are formed, as a new modality of medieval City-States or Republics.

Other small independent states confederated into empires are also formed, such as the Holy Roman-Germanic Empire.

And finally there is a third form of organization that will be the nation-states such as Spain, France or England. This happens after the 100 years war, when the English retreat and the French begin to unify their territory. This war brought devastation to the region.

Culturally, national languages ​​emerge in the new centralized states that will have a language unit.

5- Loss of Christian power

The church begins to suffer problems that announce the later reform.

The papacy enters a time of corruption and the kings want the church to stop imposing itself on their territories. This produced a confrontation between Pope Boniface VII and King Philip IV of France.

The dispute led to a conflict. For this reason, the Pontificate begins in Avignon, as a parallel structure to that of Rome, and the so-called Western Schism begins.

The church ended up splitting up and even having two popes.

6- Fall of Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire was of profound importance for the maintenance of the feudal and Christian system of the Middle Ages and its expansion in the East.

When it fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks, it interrupted trade and communication to the east.

References

1. Borrero Fernandez, M. (2007). THE rural world and the crisis of the 14th century. University of Valladolid. Recovered from dialnet.unirioja.es.
2. Cartelle, E. (1985). The medieval world in The name of the rose by Umberto Eco. Recovered from magazines.ucm.es.
3. Casialca, N. THE COLLAPSE OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD. Recovered from powtoon.com.
4. The end of medieval history in the New World. Recovered from mnh.inah.gob.mx.
5. Yepez, A. (2007). Universal History, Basic Education. Editorial Larense.