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Rachel Bacchus

Dr. Robert Grant

HIS 101-001

4 November 2019

Crisis Dominoes in Medieval Europe

History often falls like dominoes, one event leading to another which sets off a long line

of outcomes. In some cases, occurrences build each other up into an incredible climax. Other

times, such as the multiple crises of Medieval Europe, with the falling of a couple integral blocks

comes the fall of an entire civilization. It is up to the society themselves to pick themselves up

and build a new structure, and it is important that it is different so as not to repeat the same

mistakes. Western Europe was given this opportunity after they experienced falls with the

famine, plague, war, and religious schism.

The series of crises began in the early fourteenth century with the emergence of great

famines. Around 1315, famine arose as a result of “colder summers and abundant rain during the

growing and harvest seasons,” the ever-changing climate (239). This one stretched from Ireland

to Russia and as far south to Italy; nearly all of Europe was wounded by its uproar. Famines were

not unheard of within Europe, but the two-year reign of this devastation left the economy in

disarray as crops had severely diminished. Due to the vast scarcity, prices for simple and

necessary goods like bread and salt rose drastically (242). Parents struggled to feed their

children; infant mortality grew significantly, and there were even some cases of reported

cannibalism. Peasants struggled to afford food at all. Furthermore, only the wealthy could afford

to live, deepening the socio-economic divide between social classes. As individuals became
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physically weaker as the famine effects lingered, the whole continent of Europe as a whole was

weakened by their differences too. 

With the weakened state of Europe, the plague better known as the “Black Death” was

able to dismantle and demolish much of the continent. It began in 1347, just decades after the

devastating famines occurred, and it spread around the majority of Europe. The plague was

transported into Europe from Asia from fleas that travelled on the backs of rats (247). As

merchant sales expanded across the western world, unknowingly did the disease as well. The

Black Death moved quick and killed millions; it was absolutely gruesome. Symptoms included

vomiting of blood, fever, tumors, sores, and blackening of the limbs. Even though the disease did

not spread and affect countries evenly (in some areas only ten percent of the population were

affected, while in other areas up to ninety percent were wiped out), Europe was reigned by death.

The plague had many lasting consequences on Europe, including altering the balance in

the social classes. As the Black Plague extirpated much of the population, the agriculture

industry now faced labor shortages (251). As a result of the shortages, peasants working for lords

and landowners were upset with the change of customs, so they revolted. However, the peasantry

was not demanding liberation from the lords and landowners. They simply wanted their

conditions to remain as they were before the Great Plague. They were unhappy with the added

pressures to produce the same amounts amongst fewer people due to the devastation the plague

caused. Nevertheless, there was a growing tension and sense of dissatisfaction between the

widening social classes. 

Along with the societal consequences, the Black Plague also disturbed the faith of the

church. Religion was a vital part of western culture, but when prayer did not save Europe from

the plague, much of the Catholic church was shaken. The church did not know how to manage
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such an “extraordinary high level of morbidity” (253). One approach amongst the church was to

believe the plague was a punishment sent by God himself. They thought they could end it sooner

by punishing themselves. Flagellants would walk down the streets whipping themselves in

efforts to end God’s supposed judgement. Moreover, the plague killed off many of the clergymen

that were learned and literate in Latin. Once they died, the art and sacredness of the church was

lost since fewer high religious figures could read the ancient writing. This led to the promotion

of untrained clergymen and priests into the church. 

But the religious crisis had begun even before the plague. In 1309, the college of

cardinals elected Pope Urban, but they did not know his intentions to reform the college as it had

become corrupt. When they discovered his intentions, they tried to elect a new Pope, but Pope

Urban refused to step down from his position; neither would the new Pope. By the late

fourteenth century, Europe was conflicted with the prospect of two Popes. No one knew who to

follow, and in the matter of personal salvation no one could afford to be wrong. Additionally, the

Papacy was moving back and forth between Rome and France and people were being forced to

choose sides. By 1378, western Europe had entered the Great Schism. 

The Great Schism was primarily due to Europe’s inability at this time to separate the

powers of church and state. The Papacy held authority that rivaled the kings of other countries

and the Pope became an object of high power coveted amongst countries instead of the sole

religious authority he was meant to be. France and Rome battled over where the Pope should

inhabit as his capital land and at the time of two Popes, the church had been greatly divided

(254). The general counsel of the church was called upon to elect a new, singular Pope, but this

only made matters worse. The other two feuding Popes did not step down even after the

appointment of a “singular” Pope. There were now three Popes dividing western Europe. In
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1414, another new Pope emerged, but this time with the support of the Holy Roman Emperor.

Thus, the other Popes reigned and were given the title of “anti-popes”. This ended the official

dispute over the authority of the Popes, but unofficially, private sects to follow the anti-popes

still existed. The Great Schism had ended, but the Papacy had been weakened. 

All during this time, France and England had been in the middle of the Hundred Years’

War. Beginning in 1337, ten years before the Black Plague, France and England came to a

dispute over who should rule the region occupied by France. When the French king died without

an heir, the English king assumed the right to take power (244). France and England went back

and forth, alternating which country was stronger. The Black Death significantly affected the

armies and their ability to pursue fighting, but neither country gave in yet. Despite its name, the

war lasted a total of 116 years, ending with French victory in 1453. The Hundred Years’ War

was the first instance of a major weaponry change with the introduction of gunpowder and

longbows, described as “nasty new weapons” (245). As fighting became a serious profession to

some people, the socio-political climate shifted. Those who fought gained a level of status that

had not previously been acknowledged or rewarded. 

By the middle of the fifteenth century, Europe found itself in a completely different

civilization than it was 150 years prior. The social classes had further divided into the extremes

instead of growing closer to dissolving its class disparity. However, the unrest over this issue

was insignificant compared to what we expect. Economically, however, Europe had suffered

through some hard years. The devastation of the widespread famine in addition to the upheaval

of the Black Death had greatly abused the economy as people struggled to provide and costs for

goods raised exponentially. Religion was shaken temporarily, but even when it seemed to be
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contained in the early 1400s, there were deviations from the church in the works. The Papacy

was not done struggling to maintain corruption and discord among the church and state. 

In the end, Europe experienced death to a great extent: death of crops from the famine,

death of individuals during the plague, and death to the harmony of the Papacy. The crises on the

fourteenth and fifteenth centuries provided a plethora of negative consequences, but with more

time, positive ramifications appeared. While the crises could have left an entire civilization in

ruins, Europe was in the perfect position for what was to come. Europe embraced the death of

their old civilization and sprinted into an era of rebirth: The Renaissance.

I pledge that I have acted honorably. 

 
 

 
Signed: _________________________________
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Work Cited

Winks, Robin W., and Teofilo F. Ruiz. Medieval Europe and the World: From Late Antiquity to

Modernity, 400-1500. Oxford Univ. Press, 2005.