US History › Section A · Worlds meet › Topic A.2
Europe on the brink of change
In 1400, western Europe was a poor, plague-scarred corner of a world whose great powers and richest markets lay to the east. This topic explains how its society worked and why, within a century, Portugal and Spain were sending ships into the open Atlantic.
In this topic
- A small corner of a larger world
- Lords, knights and serfs
- The Church at the centre
- The Black Death
- Worked example: how the plague loosened old bonds
- Islam and Christendom
- The Crusades and the lure of the East
- New tools and new ideas
- Iberia takes the lead
- Worked example: weighing Columbus's plan
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…