Download Chivalry

9/13/2008
The Fall of the Roman Empire
• After the “fall” of the Roman Empire there were two distinct “Europes”,
each with their own characteristics, cultures, and societies.
 Eastern Europe– flourishing, literate, influenced by both Christianity and
Islam
 Western Europe– experiencing a “dark age.”
Periodization
Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000
High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250
Late Middle Ages: 1250 – 1500
(Renaissance) : 1350-1500
Chivalry
Political System
Feudalism
Code of
Behavior
=
Chivalry
Economic
System
Medieval
Society
Manors
Manorialism
• Code of behavior for medieval society.
–Be brave in battle.
–Fight fairly.
–Be loyal.
–Defend the Church.
–Treat women in a courteous
manner.
Belief System
The Catholic Church
Chivalric Code
• Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe
all its directions.
• Thou shalt defend the Church.
• Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born and be loyal
to thou Lord.
• Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
• Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and
without mercy.
• Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not
contrary to the laws of God.
• Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged
word.
• Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right
and the Good against Injustice and Evil.
Chivalry: A Code of Honor and
Behavior
King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table—
legend to promote Chivalry
--Monty Python and Search for the Holy Grail
clip
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Medieval Situation
Feudalism
• The Roman Empire has fallen—overtaken by barbarian tribes
from the north. You are 22 years of age. You are a peasant (serf).
You are poor. You have 4 children!!! You have no protection from
these barbarians. You are hungry. You need farm land but cant
afford to but any. You are desperate.
• Now, the King of your region has control and rights over all of the
land around you. However, his power depends on having a large
army to fight for him. He has an average size army but the would
like to expand it. He has about 20 lords under him that live in his
region.
• Think of a solution whereby the Peasants, King, and Lords can live
together, while also helping each other out. What should be
done so that everyone is happy?
Feudalism developed in Europe following the fall of the
Roman Empire. It arose as a response to the uncertainty the
prevailed under both the Barbarian and Islamic invasions of
the 5th-9th century.
Feudalism can be simply defined as– (1) fragmentation and
decentralization of political power; (2)A political,
economic, and social system based on loyalty and military
service, and mutual obligations.
At the core of Feudalism was a system designed to maintain
a static class society with rigid social, political, economic,
and religious orders.
Feudal hierarchy
Fiefs
Vassal
• The fief might be any object of value that
reflected the vassal’s social status and the
lord’s respect for his services. A fief could be a
war horse, sword, a suit of armor, a public
office, a right to collect tax
• The most sought after fief was a land grant
Vassal
Advantages
KING
Lords
KING
LORD or
VASSAL
(Knights)
Power, Military Control,
Wealth
Fief, Some Power,
Wealth
Disadvantages
Dependent on Lords below
him for loyalty
Need to pledge loyalty to King and
provide him with money/resources
Knights
PEASANT
Safety/Security,
Land to work, Food
No ownership, no ability to improve
condition, need to fight for
Lord/King when called upon
Serfs
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Feudalism
MP clip
MANOR SYSTEM
Chess
The Medieval Manor
ECONOMIC LAND SYSTEM OF THE
MIDDLE AGES
•GOAL OF THE
MANOR WAS TO BE
SELF SUFFICIENT
•MOST MANORS
WERE PROTECTED
BY A CASTLE AND
A WALL
A Medieval Castle
Life on the Medieval Manor
Serfs at work
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The Medieval Catholic Church
 filled the power vacuum left from the
collapse of the classical world.
Inquisition: Institution of the Catholic
Church designed to investigate heresy.
Malleus Maleficarum
Latin for "The Hammer of Witches",
• The main purpose of the
Malleus was to “prove” the
reality of witchcraft and to
“prove” that witches were more
often women than men,
• It also served to educate secular
and religious rulers on the
procedures that could be used
to “out” them.
• MP Witch clip
The Latin title is "MALLEUS MALEFICARUM,
Maleficas, & earum hæresim, ut phramea
potentissima conterens." (English: The
Hammer of Witches which destroyeth
Witches and their heresy like a most powerful
spear.)
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