01A Fourteenth Century Europe 1


Uffizi: official site

Orientations-1

Orientations-2

 

Introductory points

  • Our chronological span:  ca 1300-1600. Today: ca 1300
  • Orientation: what is the political world in Europe ca 1300?

Europe’s political units

  1. kingdoms
  2. Holy Roman Empire
  3. City-states
  4. Other

Kingdoms: 14th c

Exx: England, France;  Naples

kingship: hereditary BUT may include election

Nobles

Income

    • a. lands that the king holds directly
    • b. services (or cash equivalent) provided by nobles
    • c. taxes
    • d. income from courts, etc
    • e. less income than we expect to see now

sources of tension
England:
ties to France
Barons and the king

Beaumaris

Beaumaris Castle, Wales (Anglesey)

Economy

subsistence agriculture
commodity agriculture (wool)
peasants
London

London

London, Tower and Bridge, 14th c (British Library)

France

3r
The king and his nobles

The Holy Roman Empire: Central Europe

Definitions and origins
heirs of W. Roman  empire established by Charlemagne
Several parts to imperial identity
a. Emperor is Lord over many smaller groups & tribes
b. Lord over Regions that included old W. imperial holdings
legitimacy
a. elected to kingships
b. crowned by pope
— Donation of Constantine
Trends and developments: what centralizes?
Basic features:
Emperor, chancery, Diet (Reichstag), small court

p

Prague Castle and Charles Bridge (begun 1357)

Italian politics

Regional variation

Economic, cultural dominance

3 big regions: N./Central Italy; Papal States; Kingdom of Naples

Northern/Central Italy

  1. terms: contado; signore
    2.  Major cities: Genoa, Milan, Venice, Florence
    3. Economy
    trade: Mediterranean to Europe
    industry: textile production

 

l

Ambrogio Lorenzetti, ca 1328

Central Italy: Papal States

Pope’s dual role

csta

 

Southern Italy; Naples and Sicily

13th c, first half: Home of Emperor
13th c, second half: succession wars
by 1300:  distinct from HRE
Kingdom: papal legitimacy

 

r

Robert of Anjou ( 1278-1343) King of Naples, from a Prato ms to Robert, British Library