The Late Middle Ages were age of crisis and transformation in Western Civilization. Plague, warfare, and decline of the authority in the Catholic Church led to an unsettled time as compared to the prior two centuries of history. Many historians would argue that the modern world, a world that questions authority and pushes for new ideas, was born out of the crisis of the fourteenth and fifteenth century.

The Late Middle Ages were age of crisis and transformation in Western Civilization. Plague, warfare, and decline of the authority in the Catholic Church led to an unsettled time as compared to the prior two centuries of history. Many historians would argue that the modern world, a world that questions authority and pushes for new ideas, was born out of the crisis of the fourteenth and fifteenth century.

Chapter Eleven also reviews the origins and impact of the Black Death that swept through Europe and appeared, for a time, that is would extinguish the fire of Western society. When we think of great plagues and apocalyptic ideas, it is often with a mind toward this time period of history (television shows and movies based around the zombie theme would have a hard time competing with the terror and insecurity that great plagues brought in the Late Middle Ages. Persistent warfare and a changing social order also led to a more uncertain time period.

Despite these significant problems and challenges, this time period in Western society continued to see both technological innovation and new styles of literature. Indeed, the invention of moveable type and the printing press would lead to a new growth of information and, in turn, challenges to the established ideas of the church and monarchy. These innovations would also allow Europe to begin to take another shot at forging empires overseas. While China had already produced the most massive maritime exploration the world had seen to this point (the voyages of Zheng He), the explorations of the late fifteenth century would result in a New World.

Read Chapter Eleven in the textbook (pages 382-417) and answer ONE of the following questions. There is also a bonus question worth three points that deals with a podcast from the chapter below.

Your response to the question you choose should be approximately 600-800 words in length and double-spaced. The essay should rely on ideas from the textbook and the documents contained within Chapter Eleven. The essay should not use direct quotations from outside sources.

Again, please answer ONE of the following questions

In what ways did the Black Death have a catastrophic impact on Afro-Eurasia? In what ways did the Black Death increase political turmoil around the globe in the fourteenth century? Use specific examples in your essay. (pages 382-402)

Review Map 11.1 concerning the spread of the Black Death and page 390 on mortality rates. What are some of the reasons given (and implied) for why population loss was greater in Europe than in Asia?

In what ways did Ottoman achievements such as the Topkapi Palace and the devshirme system help to consolidate their power? In what ways did European leaders use inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman institutions to produce new art and new scholarship such as humanism? (pages 391-404)

Review Map 11.1 concerning the spread of the Black Death and page 390 on mortality rates. What are some of the reasons given (and implied) for why population loss was greater in Europe than in Asia?

BONUS QUESTION – VIDEO PODCAST ON LAW AND ORDER

Please view the following mini lecture by Professor Alan Karras concerning “Good Laws and Good Arms”

https://wwnorton.com/common/mplay/6.11/?p=/college/history/worlds-together-concise/01/vid/&f=ch11-good-laws-good-arms-web&ft=mp4&cdn=1&cc=1&a=0

For three bonus points, answer the following questions in two solid paragraphs.

How does Professor Alan Karras describe how China and the Ottoman Empire practiced either “Good Laws” or “Good Arms”? How does the Spanish Inquisition show another, more brutal, path toward “law and order”? Do we see these types of debates and methods in our own society today?