Feudalism - The fall of Napoleon

Feudalsim Develops

Jan 1, 1000

Feudalism developed in as early as the tenth century. Feudalism reached Europe when the Roman Empire fell. Europe had become the new target, many invasions were taking place from every angle and Kings were not able to defend their land. This caused much disorder and suffering throughout Europe and resulted in people looking for a central ruler for security, rulers with armies. These ideas spread. Kings began giving land to nobles or lords in exchange for loyalty and protection,

Feudalism - The Fall of Napoleon

Period: Jan 1, 1000 to Jan 1, 1821

Feudalism Develops

Jan 2, 1000

Knights gave protection to the nobles in exchange for food and a place to live, and serfs grew crops in exchange for a home and protection. Thus, Feudalism was born. But not everyone followed is path.

Rise of the Guilds

Jun 1, 1000

The guilds were an important part of city and town life. Guilds were a group of merchants that had certain common interests. Merchants formed organizations for mutual protection of their horses, wagons, and goods when traveling. Guilds were distinct from the civic government and also founded some of their own lands. This took them away from the Feudalism atmosphere, leading on to the next part of history.

Renaissance

Jan 1, 1300

During the Middle Ages many people suffered and died from war and the plague. However the survivors wanted to begin celebrating life and enjoying it. In northern Italy writers and artists began to do this, spreading ideas and creating the Renaissance. City-States were also created in northern Italy, making it urban while Europe was still mostly rural. The study of classical texts then led to humanism, a movement that focused on the potential and achievements of people.

Renaissance

Jan 5, 1300

The Renaissance also revolutionizes art and completely changes literature. Making art more realistic and literature more about the present time. The Renaissance then moves throughout Northern Europe, changing more and more. This included the church.

Reformation

Jan 1, 1512

Martin Luther was a monk and teacher that taught scripture in Saxony. He stood against a man named Johann Tetzel. Tetzel was raising money to rebuild St. Peter's Cathedral by selling indulgence. By doing this he gave the impression that people could buy their way into Heaven. Luther in return wrote 95 statements attacking the "pardon-merchants", which were copied and spread.

Reformation

Jan 2, 1512

The Reformation was a movement for religious reform that led to the founding of the Christian churches that didn't accept the pope's authority. Many were unhappy with the Church and began following Luther, becoming a separate religious group called Lutherans. Reformation was then spread and led by many others. This opened up the ideas for change and exploration.

Exploration in the New world

Jan 1, 1550

European sailors took off to sea in the mid 1500’s in exploration of the world. The New world was originally called the other world but the name developed throughout time. There were many risks and dangers when travelling, but it was worth it. Entire continents were discovered throughout these journeys. European explorers also came upon natives in the lands they reached.

Exploration in The New World

Jan 2, 1550

Their ultimate goal was to befriend the natives, that is until the discovery of gold and silver, which begun European exploitation.
This led to people wanting more and more of everything, including power.

Absolutism

Jan 1, 1600

Phillip II was a king of Spain who was forceful and tried to control almost everything in his empire. There were many other rulers who were also like this and wanted to become absolute monarchs. Absolute monarchs were kings/queens who held complete power within their countries boundaries, controlling every aspect of society. These monarchs believed in divine right, the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God's representative, answering only to God.

Absolutism

Jan 2, 1600

Absolute rulers regulated everything from religious worship to social gatherings. Their main goal was to free themselves from the limitations imposed by the nobility and representative bodies, as did Louis XIV of France.

Achievements of Louis XIV

Jan 1, 1643

Louis XIV is known as the most powerful ruler of France. He took control of the government and weakened the power of the nobles by excluding them from his councils. Louis devoted himself to helping France attain economic,political, and cultural brilliance. Versailles, the palace where Louis lived, was a center of the arts during his reign. He made opera and ballet increasingly popular. He created street lights and the idea of the "night life" as well. Giving him the title, Sun King.

Achievements of Louis XIV

Mar 2, 1643

During part of his reign France was the most powerful country in Europe, having around 20million people and an advanced army. But not all of what he did was great.

Weaknesses of Louis XIV

Mar 1, 1660

After the death of Jean Baptiste Colbert, Louis' minister of finance, Louis announced a policy that slowed France's economic progress. He also cancelled the Edict of Nantes, which protected the religious freedom of Huguenots. This made many Huguenots flee the country, taking away many skilled workers. Louis almost spent enormous amounts of money in luxury. A huge investment going into Versailles which was practically a small city of royalty engulfed in furnishing.

Weaknesses of Louis XIV

Mar 2, 1660

Louis also spent a good amount of money just in food, making every meal a feast. King Louis invested money into wars as well, but by the end of the 1680's a European alliance had formed to stop France. Thus a great debt was left for France after his death, leaving people looking for reform. The huguenots also left France, spreading the ideas of the advanced society.

Scientific Revolution

Mar 1, 1680

(1500s) Scholars began publishing writings that challenged the ideas of ancient thinkers and the church, replacing them with new theories. Many new discoveries were also made when European explorers traveled around the world, opening Europeans to the possibility that there was even more to be discovered. All this together created a change called the Scientific Revolution, a new way of thinking about the natural world. This Revolution questioned beliefs that were accepted by many.

Scientific Revolution

Mar 2, 1680

The printing press was also invented around this time period, making information more spreadable. Throughout this revolution many discoveries are made such as the law of gravity and the heliocentric theory. Many inventions are also created like the microscope, barometer, and the mercury thermometer. This gave people the hunger for knowledge, spurring enlightenment.

Enlightenment

Mar 1, 1750

Enlightenment was a new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems. The Enlightenment started from a few key ideas put forth by two English political thinkers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, who came to very diverse conclusions about government and human nature. These two had a big impact on the view of life. Enlightenment reached its height in the mid-1700's.

Enlightenment

Mar 2, 1750

Philosophers in France believed that five concepts formed the core of their beliefs, reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty. Many great philosophers come from this, molding France in their own ways. Although the philosophers challenged assumptions about government and society, women were rarely brought up. Women took it upon themselves to change their status, writing books and spreading enlightenment ideas in social gatherings.

Enlightenment

Mar 3, 1750

Enlightenment ideas leave a great impact on the world and change the views of a lot. But not everyone seemed to like the enlightenment ideas.

French Revolution

Mar 1, 1770

France was divided into 3 social classes, or estates. Two of these estates had privileges. One of the main privileges being exemptions from paying taxes. A majority of the clergy and nobility scorned Enlightenment ideas as radical notions that threatened their status and power. The third estate held about 97% of people. Many of these people were peasants and suffering from hunger. They wanted change but King Louis XVI was indecisive and paid little attention to his government advisors..

French Revolution

Mar 2, 1770

His wife, Marie Antoinette, was also no help and did extravagant spending. Nothing was being done.

National Assembly

Jun 17, 1789

The debt had increased so much that the second estate forced Louis to call a meeting of the Estate-General, where the National Assembly was created. The National Assembly was a name for the third estate delegates. They were to pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. After everything seemed to be finally changing, the third estate delegates find themselves locked out of a meeting room, they then break into an indoor tennis court, pledging to stay until a new constitution was made.

National Assembly

Jul 14, 1789

On July 14th a mob stormed Bastille, a Paris prison, killings several guards and the prison commander. Rebellion also began spreading into the countryside. Rumors flew and a panic called the Great Fear stormed France. Many attacks took place during this time, including riot that forced the king and family out of Versailles. But soon a new ruler would come into the picture.

Reign of Terror

Mar 1, 1793

Maximilian Robespierre was a Jacobin leader. Him and his followers wanted to build a "republic of virtue" by completely getting rid of the past of France so that there was not a single trace left. One step in doing this was remaking the calendar, renaming months and having them only contain 30 days, with no Sundays. They also closed all churches in Paris, more cities began following this pattern. In July Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety, ruling France as a dictator.

Reign of Terror

Mar 2, 1793

This period became known as the Reign of Terror. The Guillotine was a popular use of murder. Many of the revolutions "enemies" were tried in the morning and guillotined in the afternoon. A lot of people who actually led the revolution received death sentences as well. Thousands of people, including the king and queen, were put to death by the guillotine, a majority of these people having done nothing wrong.

Reign of Terror

Jul 3, 1794

In July 1794 members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre fearing for their own life and on the 28th Robespierre was sent to the guillotine. France was left without a ruler but soon found Napoleon Bonaparte, the right general to command France's armies.

Napoleon's Rise to Power

Mar 1, 1795

Napoleon was one of the world’s greatest rulers. In 1795 royalist rebels marched into the national convection. Government officials told Napoleon to defend the delegates so his army shot a cannonball, causing the royalists to flee. This is what started it all. Napoleon led many French wars. In 1799 directory lost control of the political and confidence of the French people and Napoleon quickly took action, his troops drove out the members and the remaining lawmakers voted to dissolve directory.

Napoleon's Rise to Power

Mar 2, 1795

From there they established a group of 3 consuls (one was Napoleon), later on a plebiscite gave real power to Napoleon. Napoleon got the economy solid, ended corruption and inefficacy in the government he set up lycées (public schools) to train officials he also brought back religion. In 1804 he was crowned as emperor. He sold the Louisiana territory to the U.S. for 15 million dollars and also creates a French empire. But Napoleons excessive efforts to end Britain would lead to his destruction.

Napoleon's Fall

Mar 1, 1806

Napoleon overestimated his ability and made many accidental moves, bringing the downfall upon him. The Continental System was his first major mistake, blocking England, an enemy, from trade. This was a wrong move because no one obeyed these rules. In order to attempt to enforce his regulations he invaded Spain, but lost and ended up weakening the French empire. His poorest mistake was invading Russia. The lack of a proper army made Napoleon weak, losing the battle and forcing him into exile.

Napoleon's Fall

Mar 2, 1806

A little while later France again had a monarchy put in place. Napoleon then returned to France and regained control but old enemies united, defeating him once again. They sent him into exile and he died in 1821.

Citations

Mar 1, 2013

Mcdougal, Holt. Modern World History. Orlando: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. Print.