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The Renaissance. An Introduction. Background . Sailors caught diseases when they sailed to different sea ports around the world They were trading spices and skins for goods The Black Plague killed more than 25 million people
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The Renaissance An Introduction
Background • Sailors caught diseases when they sailed to different sea ports around the world • They were trading spices and skins for goods • The Black Plague killed more than 25 million people • They believed that faith would heal them as they didn’t know about modern medicine • Knights in armor were the primary defense line • Kings and queens still held power • Roughly year 1340 to 1345
Medieval Country Life • Many people lived in rural areas • Land was too expensive for many to own • Each peasant family was assigned a strip of land to work • Open your textbook to page 18 to see the picture • In order to continue to work the land, the peasants had to give a portion of their earnings back to the landowners • This was the beginning of taxes and our system of taxation • This is the MANORIAL SYSTEM
Hierarchy of People • Lord of the manor or noble man- land owners • Freemen- those who were able to rent land or work for pay • Serfs- uneducated and illiterate, could not afford land
Town Life • Centers for farm communities • Unlike the towns we know now, these towns were more like local farmer’s markets • Towns offered freedom to many that they couldn’t find in rural areas • They were free to marry who they wished, make money and do as they wished
This way of life was known as… • The Feudal System
The Peasant’s Revolt • War broke out in 1377 between England and France • This was known as the Hundred Years’ War • The peasants in both countries were furious that their taxes increased to fund the war • Though they were brutally shut down, the peasants issues were not resolved • They banded together to burn down manors and houses
The Plague • The peasants revolted because taxes were too high • The Black Plague came and killed more than half the population • Taxes, unfortunately, were raised again because now there was no population to support the increased demands for funds • Ring Around the Rosie (the children’s song) is said to be based on the Plague