Causes of the

Renaissance
THE LATE MIDDLE AGES (1300S 1400S)
Black Plague
Arrived in Italy in 1347
Quickly spread across Europe
Followed trade routes
Many theories concerning transmission of the disease
Fleas living on rats
War with Mongols
Merchant ships
Impact of the Black Plague
1/3 2/3 of European population died
Labor Shortages fewer workers
New job opportunities for those who survived
Decline of Feudalism new social/economic opportunities

The Hundred Years War
1337 1453
Conflict between England & France
Struggle over territory in France
French confiscated the English holding of Aquitaine
Dispute over who could lay claim to the French monarchy
English King claimed to be the rightful King of France
The English had several early victories
Joan of Arc helped lead French forces to victory but was later
captured/executed by English
England lost the war
Impact of Hundred Years War
Tremendous debt and political turmoil in France and England
Growth of Nationalism
End of war allows Renaissance ideas to enter France and England
Aided in decline of Feudalism

Declining Power of the Roman
Catholic Church
The Babylonian Captivity (1309-1376)
Papacy moved to Avignon, France and came under control of the
French monarchy
Papacy restored to Rome in 1377 by Pope Urban VI
The Great Schism (1378-1417)
Conflict within the Church
Disunity and divisions caused many to question Church authority
Who was the rightful pope?
Division deepened growing decline in the power of the Church
Early Church Reformers
John Wycliffe, John Hus
Impact of Declining Power of
Roman Catholic Church
Development of Humanism
Growing interest in expanding knowledge and learning
Greater willingness to challenge and question the power/authority
of the Church
Rise of Humanism
During Middle Ages, Christianity dominated Europe
Theology, the study of God, was most important type of learning
Most people focused on working to reach heaven
Most people didnt question the Church
Mid-1300s, a few scholars challenged this way of thinking
Focus more on living rather than life after death
Used religious ideals to look for solutions to human problems/concerns
Petrarch & Boccaccio
Looked to classical texts of ancient Greece and Rome

Impact of Humanism
Humanist goal of improving life led to advances in science,
literature, architecture, and art.
Emphasized the importance of free inquiry and criticism

Fall of Constantinople
Byzantine-Ottoman Wars (1265-1453)
Constantinople the capital city of Byzantine Empire
Seen as important in trade between Europe and Asia
Ottoman Empire wanted control of the city
May 29, 1453
Ended Byzantine Empire
Impact of Fall of Constantinople
Greek and non-Greek intellectuals flee to Italy
Take manuscripts and literature with them
Fuels thirst for knowledge in the West
End of the Middle Ages
Severed European trade links with Asia
Begin seeking other routes by sea (Age of Exploration)
Impact of the crises of the Late
Middle Ages and rise of the
Renaissance
New economic and social opportunities
Decline of feudalism
Economic Growth
Expansion of trade and business banking
Growth of the middle class
Growing interest in expanding knowledge and learning
Greater willingness to challenge and question the power/authority
of the Church