Age of Progress essays

Age of Progress essays During the time period of 1200 to 1500, a vast society in Europe was emerging from the Middle Ages and was beginning to grow towards the period of the Renaissance. This period encountered numerous problems, such as in lifestyle, growth, disease, and environment. Despite these problems, however, Europe was able to flourish and experienced achievements, such as new inventions, rights for lower classes, and great learning. Although Europe underwent many significant problems, it was able to thrive with accomplishments. Europeans endured problems and achievements in lifestyles and population. In the beginning of the Renaissance, around 1200, most peasants were serfs on manors to wealthy lords. Because serfs only got a portion of the harvest they reaped, so there was little desire for new technology that would bring in more harvest. However, this lead to a lack of food as population grew. The Great Famine of 1315-1317 led many to lead lives with starvation. Along with starvation, the Black Death started to take its toll in the struggling European area. Originally developed in the area of the Mongols and carried with their invasions into China, the Bubonic Plague was then spread into Europe by traders, and then from city to city by fleas and rats. This wiped out large portions of the population. Because of the epidemic, there were fewer laborers, and they were able to demand higher pay. There were numerous peasant revolts, and slowly serfdom was mostly eliminated. Wages were raised and gui lds were formed. People also had to find technology to replace laborers. Common developments include the water wheel and the windmill. Problems in lifestyles and populations were strong but helped bring about great accomplishments. The population change that Europe endured affected the environment. More people needed more land to live and farm on. To create this farmland, swamps were drained and many forests were c ...