Short Answer Hand Out

Short Answer Hand-outShort Answer Hand-out

Feudalism, the Church in the Middle Feudalism, the Church in the Middle Ages, and the Byzantines (?)Ages, and the Byzantines (?)

Questions and their page numbersQuestions and their page numbers

#1-6 pp.186-90#1-6 pp.186-90 #7-12 pp.191-96#7-12 pp.191-96 #13-16 pp.197-201#13-16 pp.197-201 #17-20 pp.234-39#17-20 pp.234-39

#1. Feudal rankings#1. Feudal rankings

I rank the lord above the vassal, because the vassal I rank the lord above the vassal, because the vassal received his fief (parcel of land to oversee) from the received his fief (parcel of land to oversee) from the lord. Becoming a vassal meant that you became lord. Becoming a vassal meant that you became someone’s lord by giving that person a vassal of his someone’s lord by giving that person a vassal of his own. Each of these men was a noble.own. Each of these men was a noble.

And, only a noble became a knight! Knighthood And, only a noble became a knight! Knighthood often was imparted by an older noble prior to the often was imparted by an older noble prior to the youth obtaining his own land.youth obtaining his own land.

So far, we have lord, vassal, knight…So far, we have lord, vassal, knight…

More #1. More #1. I rank next the troubadour because he roamed about freely but I rank next the troubadour because he roamed about freely but

did not own any land.did not own any land. The serf also owned NO land, but he was tied to the land and The serf also owned NO land, but he was tied to the land and

followed the land through transfer of ownership. The serf was followed the land through transfer of ownership. The serf was not a slave because he was tied to the land. The serf was a not a slave because he was tied to the land. The serf was a peasant, but a peasant was not a serf. Peasants worked their peasant, but a peasant was not a serf. Peasants worked their parcel of land assigned them by the lord. The peasant parcel of land assigned them by the lord. The peasant improved his standard of living by the quality of work he improved his standard of living by the quality of work he performed. Peasants mended fences and repaired roads. By performed. Peasants mended fences and repaired roads. By contrast, the serf had no means of advancing his station. He contrast, the serf had no means of advancing his station. He worked, and, in return, he received food, shelter, and worked, and, in return, he received food, shelter, and protection.protection.

So, lord, vassal, knight, troubadour, peasant, serf.So, lord, vassal, knight, troubadour, peasant, serf.

2. Fief vs. Manor2. Fief vs. Manor

Fief was an estate of land of varying sizesFief was an estate of land of varying sizes Included peasants and towns and buildings on Included peasants and towns and buildings on

the propertythe property Fief was the estate granted from lord to vassalFief was the estate granted from lord to vassal Manor was the lord’s estateManor was the lord’s estate Such self-sustaining estates included small Such self-sustaining estates included small

villages whereby peasants provided for all of villages whereby peasants provided for all of their basic needs by exchanging goods. No their basic needs by exchanging goods. No currency was involved.currency was involved.

3. Who earned a fief?3. Who earned a fief?

Why, of course, the vassal earned his fief from Why, of course, the vassal earned his fief from his lord! The implication is that the vassal his lord! The implication is that the vassal must have been once a peasant OR a lord must have been once a peasant OR a lord having fallen on hard times. Nowhere did the having fallen on hard times. Nowhere did the textbook say that a peasant did not have the textbook say that a peasant did not have the opportunity to work his way into the status of opportunity to work his way into the status of vassal. Only the terms “tradition” and vassal. Only the terms “tradition” and “custom” dictated the dispersal of fiefs.“custom” dictated the dispersal of fiefs.

4. Knight’s Code of Conduct4. Knight’s Code of Conduct

Ahhh… chivalry entailed placing ladies high Ahhh… chivalry entailed placing ladies high upon a pedestal to be courted and admired and upon a pedestal to be courted and admired and respected and protectedrespected and protected

Further, knights held fellow knights in respect Further, knights held fellow knights in respect out of bravery, loyalty, and their wordout of bravery, loyalty, and their word

We’ll discuss the chivalric code when we look We’ll discuss the chivalric code when we look more closely at Eleanor of Aquitaine more closely at Eleanor of Aquitaine

5. All of feudal society benefited5. All of feudal society benefited

Knights protected the lord’s estate and often Knights protected the lord’s estate and often fought for the monarch over a lord’s holdingsfought for the monarch over a lord’s holdings

Thus, ladies, peasants, serfs, troubadours, Thus, ladies, peasants, serfs, troubadours, vassals, and other knights benefited from a vassals, and other knights benefited from a knight adhering to the code of chivalryknight adhering to the code of chivalry

I lean to thinking that a lady might be the I lean to thinking that a lady might be the MOST benefited from a knight’s behavior MOST benefited from a knight’s behavior because of the love, honor, protect trainingbecause of the love, honor, protect training

6. Power, influence, and control6. Power, influence, and control

LAND!!!!!!LAND!!!!!! Power: distribution of fiefs from lord to vassal Power: distribution of fiefs from lord to vassal

(land, again)(land, again) Influence: leading knights to defend residents Influence: leading knights to defend residents

of the estate/manorof the estate/manor Control: serfs followed land, not ownerControl: serfs followed land, not owner

7. Franciscans7. Franciscans

MissionariesMissionaries Who else would leave the comforts of home to Who else would leave the comforts of home to

tell others in distant places the Gospel?tell others in distant places the Gospel?

8. Benedictines8. Benedictines

Denominational leaders – like within the Denominational leaders – like within the Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist Convention

Any rule-making, governing “body” within or Any rule-making, governing “body” within or as part of a church assemblyas part of a church assembly

9. Dominicans9. Dominicans

Pastors – they hold the party line, so to speak, Pastors – they hold the party line, so to speak, of what the denominational people agree toof what the denominational people agree to

““Preachin’” outside of accepted doctrine or Preachin’” outside of accepted doctrine or biblical understanding led to disorganization biblical understanding led to disorganization and a loss of unityand a loss of unity

10. Beguines (G not Q, thanks, Ellie)10. Beguines (G not Q, thanks, Ellie)

Women of the ChurchWomen of the Church WOW (Women of the Word)WOW (Women of the Word) Lady Deacons, Deaconesses (with apologies to Lady Deacons, Deaconesses (with apologies to

Wake Forest sports and John MacArthur) Wake Forest sports and John MacArthur)

11. Canon law, interdict, 11. Canon law, interdict, excommunicationexcommunication

““The noble infringed upon canon law, or the body of laws The noble infringed upon canon law, or the body of laws imposed by the Church. He faced the priest’s interdict, or imposed by the Church. He faced the priest’s interdict, or exclusion of the noble’s entire estate from taking the exclusion of the noble’s entire estate from taking the sacraments of the bread and grape juice or from receiving sacraments of the bread and grape juice or from receiving Christian burial. Such methods of the Church influenced Christian burial. Such methods of the Church influenced nobles to act rightly and care for their land and people.”nobles to act rightly and care for their land and people.”

““Excommunication dealt the individual the heaviest blow.”Excommunication dealt the individual the heaviest blow.” ““The interdict, by contrast, punished an entire region for one The interdict, by contrast, punished an entire region for one

man’s transgressions. So, the occupants of that fief had to man’s transgressions. So, the occupants of that fief had to return in kind proper support to their noble or lord. Such return in kind proper support to their noble or lord. Such support encouraged the lord to live in obedience to the will of support encouraged the lord to live in obedience to the will of the Church.”the Church.”

12. Papal supremacy, tithe, 12. Papal supremacy, tithe, sacraments, simonysacraments, simony

““In time, there came to be conflict between religious rule and In time, there came to be conflict between religious rule and secular rule. Sounds a lot like church and state issues, huh? secular rule. Sounds a lot like church and state issues, huh? Well, the Pope said that the Church ALONE had authority to Well, the Pope said that the Church ALONE had authority to appoint bishops and archbishops. They called this, papal appoint bishops and archbishops. They called this, papal supremacy. You see, the practice of simony – or the selling supremacy. You see, the practice of simony – or the selling of church offices – was evidence of the sinful nature of Man. of church offices – was evidence of the sinful nature of Man. Monarchs and other highfalutin nobles were giving away Monarchs and other highfalutin nobles were giving away church titles in exchange for even greater authority. Wealth church titles in exchange for even greater authority. Wealth and privilege had replaced meekness and humility in Christian and privilege had replaced meekness and humility in Christian life.life.

““The tithe under local priests was seen a a tax to be collected The tithe under local priests was seen a a tax to be collected from parishioners in order to support the goings-on of the from parishioners in order to support the goings-on of the Church. A tithe is ten percent of one’s income.”Church. A tithe is ten percent of one’s income.”

Finally, I touched on sacraments in the last slide!Finally, I touched on sacraments in the last slide!

13. Partnership13. Partnership

Businessmen pooled the resources of all Businessmen pooled the resources of all investors in order to afford a larger scale investors in order to afford a larger scale venture that one man could not undertake venture that one man could not undertake alonealone

Capital (money for investment) became more Capital (money for investment) became more easily availableeasily available

Risks were minimized under partnership Risks were minimized under partnership because you didn’t invest ALL you ownedbecause you didn’t invest ALL you owned

14. Bill of Exchange14. Bill of Exchange The merchants, traders, and artisans of the middle The merchants, traders, and artisans of the middle

class used the bill of exchange most often.class used the bill of exchange most often. Trading from one town to the next was safer and Trading from one town to the next was safer and

easiereasier Merchants weren’t required to keep gold or coin on Merchants weren’t required to keep gold or coin on

hand hand Bankers ultimately saw the potential for lending Bankers ultimately saw the potential for lending

money via such a “note” money via such a “note” The arrival of currency brought a means to liberty for The arrival of currency brought a means to liberty for

peasant classes; peasants could now sell farm produce peasant classes; peasants could now sell farm produce and pay cash to their lordsand pay cash to their lords

15. Journeyman, apprentice, master15. Journeyman, apprentice, master

Surely, the master is the most important skilled Surely, the master is the most important skilled craftsman of the three types. He holds the key craftsman of the three types. He holds the key to the economic drive to improve one’s lotto the economic drive to improve one’s lot

While the journeyman was not allowed to While the journeyman was not allowed to attain the standing of the master, he was attain the standing of the master, he was allowed to roam about, ply his trade, and allowed to roam about, ply his trade, and provide at best a meager income for his familyprovide at best a meager income for his family

The lowly apprentice was at the behest of the The lowly apprentice was at the behest of the master until his time of training came to an master until his time of training came to an endend

16. Craft vs. Merchant guilds16. Craft vs. Merchant guilds Merchants and artisans looked out for their own self interests in business; Merchants and artisans looked out for their own self interests in business;

their symbiotic relationship led to conflicttheir symbiotic relationship led to conflict Making money became the driving force to decision-making in the towns Making money became the driving force to decision-making in the towns

and villages, so it made perfectly greedy sense to organize with others of and villages, so it made perfectly greedy sense to organize with others of your own ilk so that together you might acquire greater power, influence, your own ilk so that together you might acquire greater power, influence, or controlor control

Since merchant guilds appeared first, we’d have to say that the artisans Since merchant guilds appeared first, we’d have to say that the artisans acted in self-defense: not only did merchants have the ability to be tyrants acted in self-defense: not only did merchants have the ability to be tyrants in the affairs of the city but also in the exchange of goods by means of in the affairs of the city but also in the exchange of goods by means of collusion collusion

Collusion is a secret means of one group deceiving another; merchants Collusion is a secret means of one group deceiving another; merchants could agree not to buy from a particular artisan or pay only a below market could agree not to buy from a particular artisan or pay only a below market price for certain productsprice for certain products

If you had the talent to construct a rocking chair, then you ought to make If you had the talent to construct a rocking chair, then you ought to make fair profit for your improvement to that bundle of sticks; surely it seemed fair profit for your improvement to that bundle of sticks; surely it seemed unfair that the group making the most money had the least skills but the unfair that the group making the most money had the least skills but the most capitalmost capital

17. Justinian’s Code17. Justinian’s Code

Corpus juris civilis: body of civil lawCorpus juris civilis: body of civil law We thank Rome for its principles in the arena We thank Rome for its principles in the arena

of lawof law Justinian’s Code served the east and eventually Justinian’s Code served the east and eventually

the westthe west

18. Byzantine’s language18. Byzantine’s language

It’s all Greek to meIt’s all Greek to me Recall the influence of Alexander the Great in Recall the influence of Alexander the Great in

those regions; Hellenistic learning and the those regions; Hellenistic learning and the language of Paul made Greek a simple choicelanguage of Paul made Greek a simple choice

19. Anna Comnena19. Anna Comnena

An educated woman with the liberty to be An educated woman with the liberty to be critical of those in power and authority over critical of those in power and authority over her… wow! her… wow!

Historian and critic of Emperor Alexius I (so Historian and critic of Emperor Alexius I (so what if he was her father!)what if he was her father!)

20. Procopius20. Procopius

Precocious Procopius – another historian with Precocious Procopius – another historian with a critical eye for how rulers could have and a critical eye for how rulers could have and should have made other decisions in leadershipshould have made other decisions in leadership

His primary works contain battle histories of His primary works contain battle histories of the Byzantine campaign against the Persians the Byzantine campaign against the Persians and ruthless attacks upon Emperor Justinian and ruthless attacks upon Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodoraand his wife Theodora