Sources of Order in a Fragmented World

Manorialism

Questions:• Why did people's material

lives in general improve from about 1050 to 1300? What conditions made it possible for a surplus to exist? And in spite of the improvement, how would you describe the living conditions of medieval peasants?

• Where were there more free peasants, and where was there more extensive serfdom? What accounts for the difference?

• Peasant diet• Technological

advances• Changes in

organization, cooperation

• Variations in levels of domination

Peasant Life

Questions:• What were gender

roles and family life like? Attitudes toward sex?

• Characterize the religious life of the medieval peasantry.

Terms:• serf • free village • manor • villein • demesne • banalities

Trade in the North and the East

Questions:• What conditions allowed

for an increase in trade on the Mediterranian?

• Describe the growth of the Byzantine Empire and its influence during this time.

• How did life in Mediterranean cities contrast with the rural estates of northern Europe?

• Overthrow of Umayyad Dynasty

• Fragmentation of Islamic power

• Byzantine Empire turns northward and eastward

• Italian cities begin to dominate Mediterranean trade

• Technological advances in shipbuilding

• commenda contract• Prevalence of piracy

Feudal Society

• What does Backman mean when he says that feudalism never existed?

• If feudalism is a myth, what does he think was the actual case?

• fief, homage, fealty, investiture

• Subinfeudation, chivalry

• What were the obligations of a vassal to a lord?

• What was the purpose of tournaments? What were they like?

• Peace of God, Truce of God

Castles and castellans

• Vassalage: homage and fealty

• What were the three orders?

• What attitudes did the upper classes have toward the peasants?

• For source 4.6, what light does this source shed on the importance of castles for feudal warlords?

• What was a castellan? How did castellans affect the lives of peasants?

• What was primogeniture, and why did it emerge at this point?

• What was the role of bishops during this time?

Hugh of Lusignan

• Source 4.4, written from Hugh of Lusignan's point of view, seems to be an endless series of complaints against his lord, count William. What is William's (and other powerful lords') response when Hugh confronts him? What does this suggest about William's point of view? About feudal relationships in general?

• What does it mean to be a lord’s “man”?

• What are the meanings of “love,” “anger,” and “sorrow”?

• What is the importance of marriage? Of castle-holding?

• Could we write this document from William’s point of view?