Friday, April 30, 2010

What do you 'think'? How did people of different classes 'think' differently?

What do “you” think? Why do people think differently and what does their social class have on their opinion? People think differently because social classes are what separate people from thinking in unison. In Medieval times, after the Roman Empire fell, the people were divided into social classes. Here is a short video clip of the feudal system in the middle ages: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SVHuTfiDTs&feature=related. There were peasants, merchants, knights, clergy, barons, and a lot more. The peasants and serfs were the lowest on the social scale while the knights, clergy, and barons held higher positions. The king had ultimate power. Since there was no way out of your social class, the thoughts of one person were passed down to their children and family members. If you were born a serf, your thoughts would be cruel and unjust because serfs were treated like slaves. In contrast, a king’s thoughts would be in high spirits because he reigned over several groups of people. A person’s level of social status determined their every day thoughts, how they were treated, as well as the actions they preformed.

Peasants and merchants were classified into the same working class. Peasants were just seen as worthless but in reality they were needed to harvest the farmland and sell goods to the nation. Merchants had conjured up a thought in their minds that if they made a plethora of money, they could move up on the social scene although that was false. They couldn’t move up in rank, but they could make large sums of money. A story in the Canterbury tales, explains this with a carpenter. It says, “A wealthy lout who took in guests to board, And of his craft he was a carpenter. A poor scholar was lodging with him there, Who’d learned the arts, but all his phantasy, Was turned to study of astrology”. (http://www.canterburytales.org/canterbury_tales.html) The carpenter could not move up in rank, even though he possessed the skills and money to do so. Merchants made even more money when they joined together. Different types of merchants included butchers, bakers, dyers, shoemakers, masons, tanners, and some other kinds.Merchant guilds were formed because merchants found that they could get more quality work accomplished when they collaborated” (http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/guilds.html) Each different type of merchant had its own guild. Therefore, peasant’s and merchant’s opinion on the world was that it was unfair that they could not move up in rank even though they made good money and had the skills to be successful.

A knight was a member of the warrior class in the Middle Ages, who followed a code of chivalry. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight) Knights were gentlemen, and they practiced chivalry, which means that they were honorable, loving, and loyal to their people. “What with his wisdom and hid chivalry, he gained the realm of femininity that was of old time known as Scythia. There he wedded he the queen, Hippolyta” (http://canterburytales.org/canterbury_tales.html). Knights of medieval times were asked to "Protect the weak, defenseless, helpless, and fight for the general welfare of all”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight) At the age of 7 years old, a boy was sent off to live with another knight or lord, often a friend of his fathers. The boy would serve as a page to the lord, learn “good manners, reading, writing, numbers, singing, dancing, strumming the lute, reverence for God, how to use a sword, and how to ride a horse” (http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/knighthood.html). Knights were highly respected so their thoughts would be positive and affirmative. They would see the world as a fair and wonderful place because they had a great life ahead of them filled with honor, glory, and grandeur.

Clergy in middle ages included priests, nuns, monks, and other clergy. Nuns were the women who devoted their lives to God. “She never ceased, as written do I find, to pray to God, and love Him, and to dread, beseeching Him to keep her maidenhead” (http://www.canterburytales.org/canterbury_tales.html) Clergy were important to the Middle Ages and Medieval times because they were not only close with God but they were scholars. People respected the clergy and held them on a pedestal because the churches and monasteries were centers of learning. During the later middle ages, clergy instituted religious vows which required knights to use their weapons chiefly for the protection of the weak and defenseless, especially women and orphans, and of churches. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight#Military.E2.80.93monastic_orders) The social class of clergy had thoughts of stability and order because their lives were orderly and stable. As long as everyone remained faithful to God and the church, the clergy’s outlook on life and the social system was tolerable.

All in all, people think differently because we are all unique in a certain way. Everyone has a different brain that works the same but thinks differently. Even if serfs were classified with other serfs, they were all individuals. People of the Middle Ages certainly had opinions about life and the world but it never changed the rules. Social classes were their way of life. The way the people thought about their particular class was based on their treatment, and how their rank was respected. If a person was a peasant or merchant their opinion on life would be dreary and depressing. If a person was a knight or king their opinion would be much more full of life and joyful because they were higher up on the social scale. A social class depicted every aspect of life why not influence every one of a person’s thoughts as well?

Image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Vertebrate-brain-regions.png
Citation:
"Chaucer's Canterbury Tales ~ Presented by ELF." Chaucer's Canterbury Tales ~ Presented by The Electronic Literature Foundation. Web. 03 May 2010. .
"Chaucer's Canterbury Tales ~ Presented by ELF." Chaucer's Canterbury Tales ~ Presented by The Electronic Literature Foundation. Web. 03 May 2010. .
"Guilds." Web. 03 May 2010. .
"Knight." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 May 2010. .
"Knight." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 May 2010. .
"Knighthood." Web. 03 May 2010. .

Thursday, April 29, 2010

What was the 12th Century Renaissance?


The 12th Century Renaissance was a rebirth of knowledge that was lost by the Europeans in Europe. All the knowledge of the ancients was stored in the western parts of the roman empire. After the fall of the empires, the Muslims gained control. The knowledge was lost from Europe and they fell into an age of darkness, the Dark Ages. Later during the 12th century after many Crusades to the Holy Land and other Muslim ruled countries some of the knowledge was brought back. Old texts, especially from the writings of Aristotle were brought back to Europe and shared among the people. Before the Crusades, knowledge was not being shared because people were fighting and not communicating. Europe was reborn with the gain of its lost knowledge. Also some texts were collected from Spain and showed among the Europeans. Scientific knowledge spread throughout Europe and it was a mini-Renaissance of its own.

Citation: "Renaissance of the 12th Century." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 May 2010. .


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Kings of England and Crusade Notes:

  • 1066-1087 william the conqueror
  • 1087-1110: King Rufus. He invades Wales and builds castles along the coast
  • 1100-1135: King Henry I - brother of Rufus
  • 1099 THE FIRST CRUSADE!
  • Pope Urban II is urging Europeans to fight the Muslims
  • The knights of Templar founded to protect Jerusalem (warrior monks)
  • 1154-1189: King Henry II 1184: Inquisitions - convert Jews and find Heretics. Heretics were tortured
  • 1190: King Richard. Third Crusade - Saladin unites the Muslim world to fight against the European world
  • 1200: King John. Fourth Crusade embarks and eventually sacks Constantinople
  • 1212: Children's Crusade
  • 1214-1215: Barons revolt! England blames the King.
  • 1215 (important date)- SIGNING OF THE MAGNA CARTA "The Great Charter" - forced King John to accept that the monarchy had to follow the law
  • Foundation of a constitution of a democracy
  • 1216-1272: King Henry III
  • 1272-1307: King Edward. 1274:Thomas Aquinas publishes Summa Theologiae. 1295:Marco Polo publishes his tales of China.
  • 1307-1327: King Edward II. Knights of Templar are rounded up and murdered by Philip the Fair of France with the backing of the Pope. 1311-1315 The Great Famine
  • 1327-1377: King Edward III. Hundred Years War starts between England and France, the year literally lasts 116 years. Italy remains city states
  • Three parts of the war: 1. Edwardian War (1337-1360) 2. Caroline War (1369-1389) 3. Lancastrian War (1415-1429)
  • 1377-1399: Richard II. 1381 Peasants Revolt in England, peasants are doomed. 1382 the Bible is translated into English by John Wycliffe. Old French and Latin created Old English
  • 1399-1413: King Henry V greatest king in england. Defeats the French at the Battle of Agincourt. He is hailed as a great leader.
  • 1422-1461: Henry VI. Joan of Arc lifts the siege of Orleans but is burned at the steak. 1434-Medici family rises to prominence in Florence. 1452-Leonardo da Vinci is born. 1453-the hundred years war ends. 1455-Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press and prints the bible.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

My topics: Knights, Architecture, Social Classes. reate a 30 sec Animoto visual project for each of the three you choose.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.



Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.



Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Images from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lovis_Corinth,_self_portrait,_1911.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Henry_V.jpg

Monday, April 26, 2010

Find examples of French Gothic influence on British architecture.


This is the Chester Cathedral in England. French Gothic architecture is shown through in the flying buttress which aided in inserting more windows to bring in more light. The stained glass windows are a touch of Gothic architecture as well. The image above this is showing the definition of French Gothic cathedrals and their flying buttress.

This is the Durham Cathedral in England. It shows French Gothic architecture through its stained glass window in the front of the Cathedral. The towers extended up high in the air symbolizing being closer to God and reaching the Heavens. The image above this one shows how the ceilings were high, therefore the towers were high.



This is Exeter Cathedral in England. There is definite evidence of French Gothic architecture as it is shown in the large rose window above the entrance of the Cathedral. This rose window is letting in light, therefore demonstrating how Gothic style wanted to be the light of the world. The photo above is of a French Cathedral and there is a rose window as well, which it symbolizing light.

The Crusades Notes:

  • The crusades started in the 11th century
  • the kingdom of the Franks, became the kingdom of France.
  • It was named after the Capetian dynasty
  • until the rise of steward kings, england was ruled by French families
  • Spain was occupied by the Islamic people
  • Morocco was a center of Islam
  • Moors rule the country of Spain for 700 years.
  • The Moors were of Muslims, non-Muslim, and African descent
  • The Crusades are the worst thing that could happen politically at this time
  • the mistake was that the goal would be getting Jerusalem back. Those for the Crusade made the Muslims enemies when they didn't need to be enemies.
  • While the Europeans were going through a dark age, Islam was going through a Renaissance
  • The Muslims were taking off in every subject of life
  • The French led a Crusade into Spain (ruled by Moors)
  • They realized Spain was a budding country full of life and knowledge
Importance of Aristotle:
  • Virtually every knowledgeable information was discovered and brought back
  • Random fact: Aristotle suffered from heartburn
  • He believed everything works in a specific way
  • One discovery triggered another discovery you didn't know but logically had to believe
  • Spain is finding the writings of Aristotle
  • He is making himself available to the world but Crusades are going on and his knowlegde is not being talked about or shared
  • He demonstrated that logic defeats superstition

Friday, April 23, 2010

What's So Wrong With Social Orders?

What’s so wrong with social orders? What isn’t wrong with social orders? In Medieval times social orders were the way of life. It seemed natural but in reality it wasn’t. You were born into your class and it never changed. Nobody spoke up because they didn’t want to upset natural caste order. The people followed a caste system. A caste system caste is a combined social system of occupation, endogamy, culture, social class, and political power. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system) People were not regarded as equals therefore social orders were wrong and unjust.

The top of the caste system was composed of Lords. Lords had complete power and control over the land that he owned and all the people that lived on his land. At a young age the sons of the nobles began their training to become knights. The girls did not to go to school and were taught by their mothers how to cook, clean, and work in the house. Women were not treated as equals in any social class really. Women were owned by men all their life unless they went into religious life. The source also describes the ownership of slaves along with women, “his master is to have power, either through the president of the province or of his own accord, to correct with suitable punishment such a slave or bondsman, and to separate him from such a woman.”(http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/codexVIl-24-i.html) Again, people were not treated equally so social orders were wrong.

The lower class was made up of serfs and peasants. In England, during this time, peasants were considered free and serfs were not. The serfs were like the slaves of the town. The life of a serf was very hard, because they didn’t have much power. Serfs were treated like slaves. Nobody should be treated like slaves. God created everyone equal. Gregory of Tours stated, "but if the slave tried to cry out, or to move from one place to another, a naked sword threatened him; and he found great enjoyment in the man's tears." (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/575Rauching.html) Without serfs, the village would not survive because there would be no one to plant and harvest the food of the town. The serfs should have been treated well because the society depended on them. Serfs could marry but it caused trouble. The source says "the payment of merchet was exacted from serfs at marriage. When the serf married a woman from another estate the indemnity was called formariage, but if he neglected to pay, he suffered confiscation of his goods. Serfs under the jurisdiction of unscrupulous bailiffs suffered heavily by these fees". (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/600Merchet.html).

In social classes, there was no way to move from a class to another class. If a peasant family had a child, no matter what circumstances, that child would be a peasant for the rest of his or her life. It is the same with a king; their son will become the next king. Somebody eventually had to think, "why can't I be charge, why can't I be king?". Today, people believe if the concept that everyone is created equal. We all are one nation that unties together and every man and woman has equal rights along with chances to succeed. Martin Luther King Jr. gave us a prime example in his "I Have A Dream" speech, of how the concept of equality is important. He stated, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." (http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html)

Social orders put a damper on concept of equality. Medieval people, especially the peasants, didn’t know any better. Social orders weren’t wrong to the people of that time, but in today’s society we frown upon the concept of social classes that imply that one person is better than the other. At least the Medieval had order. That is the only good thing that can be credited to them.

citation: "The I Have a Dream Speech - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. .

Medieval Sourcebook: Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, C. 530 [Vll.24.i.]." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. .

"Caste." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.
"Medieval Sourcebook: Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, C. 530 [Vll.24.i.]." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. .

Medieval Sourcebook: Pope Gregory the Great: Payment of Merchet, C." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. .

Thursday, April 22, 2010

How did the Cistercian reform movement express itself in architecture?


The Cistercian reform expressed itself in its architecture. It clearly showed changes in the buildings and churches. Especially in the churches.The changes in the buildings went from exquisitely decorated to modest and plain. The reasons behind this is that the flashy designs took away from the spirituality of religion and the Church. Because of that thought, the buildings became drab and created solely for God. Monks were distracted by the most subtle decorations even if they were related to religious artifacts. The simple designs in the Cisterian reform were easy to create and maintain therefore the churches lost their trademark of being lavishly decorated. This bland technique of building was very soon abandoned and the Churches went back to creating remarkable, breathtaking churches.

"Cistercians - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistercians>.
image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Abteikirche_Marienstatt_1.jpg

"Cistercian Architecture - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistercian_architecture>.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

REQUIRED DAILY: Creative Writing Assignment -- write a short horror story about an invisible killer that devastates a community.

The year is 2666. A invisible killer strikes the entire world. Causing a disease so horrid that it makes even the strongest man scream bloody murder right before they die an inevitable DEATH. One malignant bug dropped on the planet by extraterrestrial beings was the cause of it all. Their plan? Destroy planet Earth. This bug bit one man. ONE man. Within one hour of being bitten, the venom that was injected into the man's blood stream, caused birth of new bugs inside his body. Their only way out? They had to eat their way out. This man was eaten alive from the inside. When the bugs made their way to his brain, thats when he let out his last blood curling scream. The bugs then crawled their way to find their next victim. These bugs were special because they could turn invisible. That way no one could see them coming. The move victims they bit, the more the bugs multiplied. No insect spray, or weapon could kill these bugs. They were indestructible and could swim, fly, and crawl their way over every inch of land and sea. They could not be stopped. Victim after victim became infested with these bugs on the insides of their bodies. You couldn't run, and you couldn't hide. They would find you. The Earth was then taken over by the extraterrestrial beings and the human race was obliterated from Earth. THE END.


The Black Death Notes:

THE BLACK DEATH VIDEO:
  • alter the course of European history.
  • in 1338, a violent earthquake altered the earth.
  • black death carried in the blood of black rats and the fleas that fed on them.
  • reached Crimea.
  • Muslims sought help from priests on how to deal with the war between them and the Italians.
  • the prince catapulted infected soldiers one by one over the walls
  • the rats were carried on a ship to Europe.
  • 1347 the merchants reached a port and tried to isolate the ship but it was too late, the rats made their way ashore.
  • Churches were centers of learning without question.
  • people looked to the church for support.
  • the houses of the bed were shut up
  • people were unaware that the plague was a huge threat.
  • blisters and boils appeared on the body. only lasted 3 days then the person was dead.
  • people thought it was the end of the world. they took it as a punishment for sin on earth.
  • HELL ON EARTH
  • bodies were buried in mass graves in plague pits outside of the city's walls.
  • ships with their cargo and infested rats was the way the plague spread the fastest. a blanket of death took Italy.
  • 1345 major conjunction of three planets which symbolized death.
  • the pope sat between two fires to protect himself from the Black Death for 4 months
  • Dishiliach survived the plague and recorded all of his symptoms and the way he curved himself.
  • The Flagulents tortured themselves in an effort to praise God and get him to take away the plague. After their failure, they revolted. Jews across Europe were massacred because they were blamed for poisoning the water.
  • killed a third of Europe. 20 million people died. Changed the face of Europe beyond recognition.
  • The cause of the plague remained a mystery until the 19th century.
  • The plague affected Europe every decade or so until the 17th century.
Black Death:
  • major result: the black death changed the minds of the people who believed in the Church. People lost faith in the Church and regretted making it the center of their life.
More Notes:
  • People emptied their dead on carts. The dead was wheeled off to be buried.
  • the dying were not respected.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Do human beings have an innate instinct to be free? (from Anonymous)


Human beings have an innate instinct to be free because of the philosophies and thoughts that have been implanted into our heads through certain events and happenings. Take the Revolutionary War for example. Americans wanted freedom from Great Britain because of our natural instinct to tell the difference between right and wrong. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War) In earlier centuries, a king or emperor had complete power of the people. Nobody questioned the authority because they didn't know of any other concept. Somebody eventually had to think, "why can't I be charge, why can't I be king?". I believe that humans had an innate instinct to be free all along, it just took us awhile to figure out how to use it. Over the years we learned how to use our instinct by going through times that sparked the discovery of "freedom."

Monday, April 19, 2010

Submission for The West Civ Proj - Medieval Equality and Power: By Olivia Difonso and Jordan Clarke

Medieval Equality and Power: How was the Medieval concept of power and equality different from our contemporary concept?

Olivia Difonso -

The Medieval concept of power and equality differ greatly from our contemporary concept. In Medieval times, your class was in your genes; if you were born a peasant, you died a peasant. The aristocrats owned all the land, because they could afford it and were born into that type of lifestyle. When serfs were forced to work under the aristocrats, they became property of the higher class. Serfs were treated poorly and sometimes tried to escape the slave life; however, Lords went to great lengths to capture runaway serfs. The rule of the Lords over the peasants was harsh; "If the slave tried to cry out, or to move from one place to another, a naked sword threatened him; and he found great enjoyment in the man's tears". (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/575Rauching.html) In contemporary times, there are many people groups and law forces that condemn the abuse of slaves, or any person for that matter. It is the civil law stated by the Thirteenth Amendment that, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States" (http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/13thamendment.html). This Amendment written in the Constitution abolishes acts of slavery or forced labor in the United States. From the time of the Middle Ages to now, the law of slavery has been modified greatly to support the freedom of people.


Jordan Clarke -

How was the Medieval concept of power and equality different from our contemporary concept?

The Medieval concept of power and equality was completely different from our concept today. They believed in a caste system. In a caste system no one is equal. Equality in Medieval times was non-existent. You were born into a class because it was in your genes. If you were born a peasant, you died as a peasant. Today, people believe if the concept that everyone is created equal. We all are one nation that unties together and every man and woman has equal rights along with chances to succeed. Martin Luther King Jr. gave us a prime example in his "I Have A Dream" speech, of how the concept of equality is important. He stated, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." (http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html)

A caste system resembles a triangle with the king at the top of the triangle. The king held all the power. It was great to be king. The peasants and serfs were at the base of the triangle showing that most of the population was made up of peasants and serfs. Therefore, they were the lowest rank in the social system. Serfs and peasants had to work on their lord's land that they were granted. A man was tied to the soil and if he tried to escape he was punished. Depression was existent and majority of the people were depressed because of the social situations they were in. Serfs were basically treated like slaves. Gregory of Tours stated, "but if the slave tried to cry out, or to move from one place to another, a naked sword threatened him; and he found great enjoyment in the man's tears." (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/575Rauching.html) Today, people are not slaves and nobody is owned by a another person. This is why Medieval concept of power and equality is different from the modern concept of it all.


Citation:

"13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .


"13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)." Library of Congress Home. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .


Migne, J. P. "Medieval Sourcebook: Gregory of Tours: Harsh Treatment of Serfs and Slaves, C."FORDHAM.EDU. Paul Halsall, Oct. 1998. Web. 14 Apr. 2010.

"Medieval Sourcebook: Gregory of Tours: Harsh Treatment of Serfs and Slaves, C."FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. .

"The I Have a Dream Speech - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .
image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Peasants_in_finland.jpg

Final Draft -

The Medieval concept of power and equality differ greatly from our contemporary concept. In Medieval times, your class was in your genes; if you were born a peasant, you died a peasant. Medieval folk followed a caste system. A caste system resembles a triangle with the king at the top of the triangle. The king held all the power. It was great to be king. The peasants and serfs were at the base of the triangle showing that most of the population was made up of peasants and serfs. Therefore, they were the lowest rank in the social system. Serfs and peasants had to work on their lord's land that they were granted. The aristocrats owned all the land, because they could afford it and were born into that type of lifestyle. A man was tied to the soil and if he tried to escape he was punished. Depression was existent and majority of the people were depressed because of the social situations they were in. Serfs were basically treated like slaves. Gregory of Tours stated, "but if the slave tried to cry out, or to move from one place to another, a naked sword threatened him; and he found great enjoyment in the man's tears." (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/575Rauching.html) Lords went to great lengths to capture runaway serfs.

In contemporary times, there are many people groups and law forces that condemn the abuse of slaves, or any person for that matter. It is the civil law stated by the Thirteenth Amendment that, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States" (http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/13thamendment.html). This Amendment written in the Constitution abolishes acts of slavery or forced labor in the United States. From the time of the Middle Ages to now, the law of slavery has been modified greatly to support the freedom of people. Today, people believe in the concept that everyone is created equal. We all are one nation that unties together and every man and woman has equal rights, along with chances to succeed. Martin Luther King Jr. gave us a prime example in his "I Have A Dream" speech, of how the concept of equality is important. He stated, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." (http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Jordan Clarke and Olivia Difonso: 1066

Romanesque & Gothic Era Notes:

  • Normans & franks
  • Lived throughout France and capital was Paris. Franks were in charge
  • The dynasty emerges, The Capetians.
  • They were responsible for supporting the Church.
  • Supporting the Church led to political success
  • Abbeys and monasteries were built.
  • Books were copied by hand in the centers of learning. IN THE CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES.
  • Manuscripts were written on animal hide.
  • 1095 - THE POPE URBAN ORDERS THE FIRST CRUSADE.
  • Jerusalem was the center of the world.
  • Muslims lived in Jerusalem.
  • Pope wants to eliminate Muslims but…EPIC FAIL.
  • Crusades were pretty much useless, and bloody, besides power along trade routes
  • Churches were built like fortresses
  • 12th Century = Gothic Architecture. Gothic is complete opposite of Romanesque.
  • Gothic cathedrals had many glass windows to let in as much light as possible
  • Romanesque - end of the world
  • Gothic - light of the world, hope
  • THEY COMPLIMENTED EACH OTHER

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Why do you think the Church and the monasteries became the centers of learning?


The Church and the monasteries became centers of learning because the Church ruled peoples lives. All Medieval people, including the king, believed in Heaven, Hell, and God. (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_church.htm) The Church was a stable establishment that gave hope to people in their state of depression. The churches and monasteries became centers of learning because it was the force that unified people. Medieval folk could gather in churches or monasteries to produce advances in art, literature, science, and medicine which paved the way for the coming Renaissance. (http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/) Knowledge could be shared among the people in a communal area. Therefore, learning could be easily done.



Citation: "The Medieval Church." History Learning Site. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. .

"Enter the Middle Ages." Web. 15 Apr. 2010. .

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

What would St. Benedict have thought of the monasteries that followed his rules by 800 AD?


St. Benedict was trying to stabilize the Roman area after the downfall of the Roman Empire. He wrote a book of rules on how to humble and obedient. He also wrote rules about how to be a helpful member of your community and how to run a ministry in the correct way. St. Benedict would have thought that the monasteries were humble and obedient if they followed the rules he wrote. He also would have thought that the people were good members of their community. He would have highly respected them. The Church had been entirely corrupted and destroyed the Lords who owned its land. The church reform needed to be put into effect for the laws that St. Benedict created could be imposed. He would have done everything he could to make the reform successful.

Citation: "Benedict of Nursia - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. .

Medieval Notes:

Medieval Time:
  • Churches have become the center of learning and primary authority.
  • 90 % of the people are employed in the service of lords and serfs and farmers.
  • if you were born a peasant you would die a peasant
  • boys were sold as slaves and girls were sold as maid servants mostly by their own families
  • a long revolution would change these social orders
  • their concept of equality was non existent
  • the common people were serfs. The social triangle went up to a point at which the kind stood.
  • early 11th century, inequality and depression were a part of the caste system.
  • a nobles life was 6 times that of a peasants
  • the word gentlemen came from the word gene meaning "well born". your class was in your genes.
  • serfs had to work on lord's land. working breeding stock. a man was tied to the soil.
  • if you tried to run away, you were punished.

Monday, April 12, 2010

How was the Medieval concept of power and equality different from our contemporary concept?


The Medieval concept of power and equality was completely different from our concept today. They believed in a caste system. In a caste system no one is equal. Equality in Medieval times was non-existent. You were born into a class because it was in your genes. If you were born a peasant, you died as a peasant. Today, people believe if the concept that everyone is created equal. We all are one nation that unties together and every man and woman has equal rights along with chances to succeed. Martin Luther King Jr. gave us a prime example in his "I Have A Dream" speech, of how the concept of equality is important. He stated, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." (http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html)

A caste system resembles a triangle with the king at the top of the triangle. The king held all the power. It was great to be king. The peasants and serfs were at the base of the triangle showing that most of the population was made up of peasants and serfs. Therefore, they were the lowest rank in the social system. Serfs and peasants had to work on their lord's land that they were granted. A man was tied to the soil and if he tried to escape he was punished. Depression was existent and majority of the people were depressed because of the social situations they were in. Serfs were basically treated like slaves. Gregory of Tours stated, "but if the slave tried to cry out, or to move from one place to another, a naked sword threatened him; and he found great enjoyment in the man's tears." (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/575Rauching.html) Today, people are not slaves and nobody is owned by a another person. This is why Medieval concept of power and equality is different from the modern concept of it all.


Citation: "Medieval Sourcebook: Gregory of Tours: Harsh Treatment of Serfs and Slaves, C."FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. .

"The I Have a Dream Speech - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .