Date post: | 21-May-2015 |
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THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
Power and Society in the Middle Ages
Images of the Middle Ages ~ 1
Images of the Middle Ages ~ 2
Images from the Middle Ages
Images of the Middle Ages
Medieval Lives
Medieval Beliefs
The Feudal Society
Hierarchical Based on land distribution
King at top Tenants-in-Chief Sub-tenants Freemen Villeins, Cottars, Serfs
Military Everyone owed allegiance
and service to those above them; to protect those below them Service might include military
duty, providing fighting men or working on your lord’s land
Land could be forfeit if you did not serve your lord as required
The King ~ Gaining Power King by will of God
Primogeniture Not an absolute guarantee of success
Winning battles “Might is right” Support of powerful men – barons
Coronation Anointing – separated out from ordinary
men Crown – symbolic Oath – threefold :
Preserve the peace of the Church and Christian people
Prohibit crime and looting Maintain justice and mercy in judgments
Also duty to protect lands and borders
The King ~ Maintaining Power Once in power had to stay in power
Distribute offices and lands wisely Controlling barons and nobles
Avoid favourites Strong leadership, in war and peace Dispense justice Maintain the apparatus of power
Armed men Treasure / revenue Courts Lands Officials Secretariats
Protect realm from foreign foes Marry well
Provide male heir Cement alliances
The Church ~ 1 Moral authority Save immortal souls Roman Catholic
Pope in Rome Another “prince” in the realm?
Clergy Hierarchical
Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop, Abbot Deans Priest, monk, Friar Clerics
Educated Often dual role – Church and Government Dual allegiance?
The Church ~ 2
Large, wealthy, powerful international organisation. Landowners Educated / educators Government officials Important clergy often
from important families Clergy had special
status in society Own courts and legal
system Tithes
Monasteries Generally secluded Life of prayer
Purgatory Also teachers Helped poor Provided jobs on their land
Friaries spreading More active in the world
Both countries with great regional differences Dialect, tradition, customs could differ; even
language Made governing problematic Border lands (Marchers) dangerous areas
Welsh, Scottish borders Rebellion and unrest
France harder to govern Regions even more diverse Some semi-autonomous Many barons wealthier and stronger than king
Countries linked since 1066 Duke of Normandy = King of England
England – And France
England France