Western Civilization Notes – David Underhill

 

Monday March 01: In-Class Notes

 

  • 3 orders of Medieval Society
    1. Fighters
    2. Workers
    3. Prayers
  • Dimensions of Feudalism (800 – 1000 CE) – response to ineffectual central authority; German warband tradition
    1. Fief (land) given for military service

·         Holder of grant: vassal; owes service and payment to Lord

·         Each fief has serfs to work land; bound to it

·         Serfs no bear arms; could not change class

o        Depend on Lord for defense; justice, food

·         Noble and peasant clergy

    1. Warfare and Feudalism

·         Dominated by one-on-one aristocratic conflict on horseback

·         Lord goal; keep vassals from fighting each other

·         Strategy to achieve goal

§         Chivalry

§         Duel and honor system (moral code of knights)

    1. Aspects of Feudalism
      • Class-oriented; only 1-2% were aristocracy
      • Feudalism economy avoided $ for military service
      • Promote regional autonomy and growth of factions
    1. Ways to improve trust in society: marriage, chivalry
    2. Feudalism – mutual obligations
      • Vassal: hospitality, taxes, supply knights, sit in court and judge cases, raise ransom for Lord
      • Lord: protect vassals, provide fief
      • Only renounced if contract not upheld
      • Feudal Law personal not universal
      • Vassals and higher view commerce as serflike (indescribable)
      • Serf bound to the land