Life of the PeopleLife of the PeopleChapter 12-4Chapter 12-4

MarriageMarriage

Most important consideration: EconomicsMost important consideration: Economics Marriages were arranged by parents for Marriages were arranged by parents for

ALL classesALL classes A girl who married without parental A girl who married without parental

consent was shunned by familyconsent was shunned by family Unwed pregnancies did happen but Unwed pregnancies did happen but

marriage was encouraged by all marriage was encouraged by all communitycommunity

Children were economically importantChildren were economically important

MarriageMarriage

Most married within their own village and Most married within their own village and within their own stationwithin their own station

Needed permission of the Lord of the manorNeeded permission of the Lord of the manor Needed to pay lord a fine: Needed to pay lord a fine: MerchetMerchet Parish priest had to publish Banns three Parish priest had to publish Banns three

weeks in a row (notifying possible objectors)weeks in a row (notifying possible objectors) Parents needed to make financial settlementParents needed to make financial settlement Dowries even for the poorDowries even for the poor

MarriageMarriage

Most marriages in the summer or harvestMost marriages in the summer or harvest Discouraged during the holy daysDiscouraged during the holy days Women expected to work in the fields Women expected to work in the fields

with husbands…were true partners in the with husbands…were true partners in the relationshiprelationship

Wealthy women had great Wealthy women had great responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Marriage age depended more on Marriage age depended more on economics than anything elseeconomics than anything else

MarriageMarriage

Men in the 30’s (had to AFFORD a wife)Men in the 30’s (had to AFFORD a wife) Women usually 20’s but some as early Women usually 20’s but some as early

as 12.as 12. Marriage was for life: no divorce, some Marriage was for life: no divorce, some

annulments (a Catholic sacrament) annulments (a Catholic sacrament) No big party: met at Church door with No big party: met at Church door with

witnesses and exchanged vows with witnesses and exchanged vows with Priest’s blessingPriest’s blessing

Private weddings occurred but rife with Private weddings occurred but rife with problemsproblems

ProstitutionProstitution Not respectable but considered necessary Not respectable but considered necessary

as many men had to wait to marryas many men had to wait to marry Legal and regulated by local authoritiesLegal and regulated by local authorities Large urban centers had red light districtsLarge urban centers had red light districts Rules: Rules:

Prostitutes had to live in certain areas, had Prostitutes had to live in certain areas, had defined hours of business, had to wear some defined hours of business, had to wear some identifying article of clothing, were barred identifying article of clothing, were barred from business if they had “the burning from business if they had “the burning sickness”sickness”

WorkWork

Most worked on collective land Most worked on collective land holdingsholdings

Called the Open Field SystemCalled the Open Field System Church calendar coincided with cycle Church calendar coincided with cycle

of cropsof crops Priests blessed landPriests blessed land Parish celebrations of good harvestsParish celebrations of good harvests Peasants had universal hatred of Peasants had universal hatred of

obligations to lord of the manorobligations to lord of the manor

GuildsGuilds

Had replaced the Hansiatic League Had replaced the Hansiatic League (during middle ages, German towns and (during middle ages, German towns and tradesmen monopolized trade in Northern tradesmen monopolized trade in Northern Europe)Europe)

1313thth Century Guildsmen in urban areas Century Guildsmen in urban areas better off than agricultural workersbetter off than agricultural workers

1414thth Century guilds still exclusive in spite Century guilds still exclusive in spite of lack of populationof lack of population

Most important thing: Most important thing: a monopoly of a monopoly of productproduct

GuildsGuilds

Had high initiation fees, long apprenticeships, Had high initiation fees, long apprenticeships, passed on to families, ethnic considerations, passed on to families, ethnic considerations, women usually excluded… BUT women usually excluded… BUT no age no age restrictionsrestrictions

Guilds took care of sick members, old, widowsGuilds took care of sick members, old, widows BUT journeymen put in many years before BUT journeymen put in many years before

becoming a Master (only then could they sell becoming a Master (only then could they sell their product. Had to create a masterpiece to their product. Had to create a masterpiece to certain high standards to be judged by other certain high standards to be judged by other masters AND there had to be an opening…#’s masters AND there had to be an opening…#’s were controlled by the guild)were controlled by the guild)

Guild ProblemsGuild Problems

As the population increased guilds As the population increased guilds grew too largegrew too large

Many masters did not even know their Many masters did not even know their won journeymenwon journeymen

Fewer slots for new mastersFewer slots for new masters = Frustration, strikes, riots= Frustration, strikes, riots Many in towns joined in with peasant Many in towns joined in with peasant

revoltsrevolts Also…ethnic issuesAlso…ethnic issues

CrimeCrime

After the Hundred Years’ War no more After the Hundred Years’ War no more lootinglooting

Nobles needed $. Entertainment was costlyNobles needed $. Entertainment was costly Many were on fixed incomesMany were on fixed incomes So they engaged in Fur Collar Crime: So they engaged in Fur Collar Crime:

generally nonviolent. Kidnapping, generally nonviolent. Kidnapping, robbery, robbery, extortionextortion

Juries and witnesses were intimidatedJuries and witnesses were intimidated Nobles were the local judgesNobles were the local judges

CrimeCrime

Abused peasants had no recourseAbused peasants had no recourse So riots and peasant revoltsSo riots and peasant revolts Central authorities not strong enough Central authorities not strong enough

to deal with peasant revoltsto deal with peasant revolts Peasants burned castles, raped, Peasants burned castles, raped,

looted, killed and DESTROYED looted, killed and DESTROYED RECORDS (who had paid special RECORDS (who had paid special taxes, fees, feudal obligations, etc.)taxes, fees, feudal obligations, etc.)

Biggest Peasant revolt in England Biggest Peasant revolt in England 1381: Lollards, Wyclif, Ball1381: Lollards, Wyclif, Ball

Peasant RevoltsPeasant Revolts

Nobles had to band together to crush revoltsNobles had to band together to crush revolts Were everywhere: England, France, Were everywhere: England, France,

Germany, Spain Eastern EuropeGermany, Spain Eastern Europe Underlying issues were never dealt withUnderlying issues were never dealt with After the Plague: peasants demanded (and After the Plague: peasants demanded (and

got) higher wages (Western Europe)got) higher wages (Western Europe) Parliament failed in an effort to freeze wagesParliament failed in an effort to freeze wages Statute of Laborers: an attempt to freeze Statute of Laborers: an attempt to freeze

wageswages

EntertainmentEntertainment

Everyone enjoyed bear baiting, bull Everyone enjoyed bear baiting, bull baiting, public drunkenness, public baiting, public drunkenness, public executionsexecutions

BUT BUT only the elite nobility: jousting, only the elite nobility: jousting, tournaments, archery conteststournaments, archery contests

Church holidays and festivalsChurch holidays and festivals

Laity took increasing control over Church Laity took increasing control over Church maintenance, building, lands, financesmaintenance, building, lands, finances

Race RelationsRace Relations Before the plague, Before the plague, Legal DualismLegal Dualism: :

Ethnic groups were permitted to practice Ethnic groups were permitted to practice own customs, religious beliefs, language, own customs, religious beliefs, language, law, etc. regardless of where they livedlaw, etc. regardless of where they lived

Example: Mudejars (Muslims) in Spain Example: Mudejars (Muslims) in Spain One Big Exception: The IrishOne Big Exception: The Irish The problem was not rooted in religious The problem was not rooted in religious

differencedifference English were always racist toward the English were always racist toward the

IrishIrish

The Irish ProblemThe Irish Problem

1210 1210 The Statue of KilkennyThe Statue of Kilkenny issued by issued by King JohnKing John No English/Irish marriageNo English/Irish marriage Widows could not inherit from husbandsWidows could not inherit from husbands All Church offices to EnglishAll Church offices to English Irish could not sue English in courtIrish could not sue English in court English did not even have to show up in English did not even have to show up in

courtcourt Killing an Irishman not even a felonyKilling an Irishman not even a felony Banned from guilds and civil officeBanned from guilds and civil office

The IrishThe Irish

Lived in ditchesLived in ditches Lost all land to the English and had Lost all land to the English and had

to pay rent to minority absentee land to pay rent to minority absentee land ownersowners

Still issues todayStill issues today

RacismRacism

By second ½ of 14By second ½ of 14thth century racism century racism everywhereeverywhere

Migration of ethnic groups due to the Migration of ethnic groups due to the plague caused economic…then racial plague caused economic…then racial tensiontension

Also big competition for Church officesAlso big competition for Church offices Mudejars expelled from SpainMudejars expelled from Spain Guilds more exclusive: members had to Guilds more exclusive: members had to

prove both sets of grandparents belonged to prove both sets of grandparents belonged to regional ethnic groupregional ethnic group

RacismRacism

Laws and restrictions were made to Laws and restrictions were made to protect interests of the nativesprotect interests of the natives

Big problems between Poles, Big problems between Poles, Germans, BohemiansGermans, Bohemians

The Dalimil ChroniclesThe Dalimil Chronicles: a history of : a history of Bohemia with much German-bashingBohemia with much German-bashing

Conflict got worse with rising Conflict got worse with rising Bohemian nationalismBohemian nationalism

Racism especially Racism especially prominent when it came to prominent when it came to

Church officesChurch offices Polish Archbishop Swinka routinely Polish Archbishop Swinka routinely

called Germans Dogheadscalled Germans Dogheads Bohemian Archbishop Bohemian Archbishop DrazicDrazic founded a founded a

friary that would only admit Bohemians friary that would only admit Bohemians who could prove both parents were who could prove both parents were BohemianBohemian

Bishop John of Bishop John of Cracow Cracow (German?) tried (German?) tried to expel Poles from the region and to expel Poles from the region and refused to appoint any Poles to Church refused to appoint any Poles to Church officesoffices

Rising NationalismRising Nationalism

The increase of vernacular literature The increase of vernacular literature contributedcontributed

In Eastern Europe, nationalism was a In Eastern Europe, nationalism was a response to German migrationresponse to German migration

Much translation of religious material Much translation of religious material from Latin to the vernacularfrom Latin to the vernacular

Eastern Europeans DID NOT reject all Eastern Europeans DID NOT reject all Western literature (ie. Tales of Knights Western literature (ie. Tales of Knights and Chivalry)and Chivalry)

Vernacular LiteratureVernacular Literature

Middle Ages: Latin and Church themed Middle Ages: Latin and Church themed (though some Chivalric tales)(though some Chivalric tales)

Example: Thomas Aquinas & Example: Thomas Aquinas & Summa Summa Theologica: Theologica: never completed but a never completed but a guideline or summary of important guideline or summary of important Church teachings combined with rational Church teachings combined with rational thinkingthinking

By 14By 14thth Century, vernacular literature on Century, vernacular literature on the risethe rise::

Dante, Chaucer, Villion, de PisanDante, Chaucer, Villion, de Pisan

Vernacular LiteratureVernacular Literature

Dante (1265-1321) Chose Tuscan Dante (1265-1321) Chose Tuscan Italian to write Italian to write The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy Trilogy in verse formTrilogy in verse form Homer the guideHomer the guide A Christian work but criticalA Christian work but critical

Vernacular LiteratureVernacular Literature

Chaucer (1340-1400) Chaucer (1340-1400) Canterbury Canterbury TalesTales Written in verseWritten in verse Stories told by Pilgrims on their way to Stories told by Pilgrims on their way to

the Holy Landthe Holy Land Used Middle EnglishUsed Middle English

Vernacular LiteratureVernacular Literature François Villon 1431-1463 wrote François Villon 1431-1463 wrote The Grand TestamentThe Grand Testament Ballad of the Hanged ManBallad of the Hanged Man

Was the most prolific French writer of the Was the most prolific French writer of the timetime

Was the greatest poet of Medieval FranceWas the greatest poet of Medieval France Was a gang member and murdererWas a gang member and murderer Not just common language but VERY Not just common language but VERY

commoncommon

Vernacular LiteratureVernacular Literature

Christine de Pisan Christine de Pisan The Book of the 3 VirtuesThe Book of the 3 Virtues The City of the LadiesThe City of the Ladies Was raised at French CourtWas raised at French Court Father was court astronomerFather was court astronomer Husband died and had to support Husband died and had to support

childrenchildren Queen of France was her benefactorQueen of France was her benefactor

Literacy: Literacy: increased in response to the needs increased in response to the needs

of commerce and governmentof commerce and government 1313thth C. Only some Church officials C. Only some Church officials 1414thth C. nobles and merchants: C. nobles and merchants:

needed wills, inventories, booksneeded wills, inventories, books # of schools increased# of schools increased More non-noble, non-Church More non-noble, non-Church

government workersgovernment workers Girls in convent schools: more Girls in convent schools: more

reading than writingreading than writing

The ArtsThe Arts Medieval Art generally religious or ChivalricMedieval Art generally religious or Chivalric Architecture:Architecture: 800-1100 800-1100 RomanesqueRomanesque: Churches with : Churches with

round arches, heavy roofs, dark, thick walls round arches, heavy roofs, dark, thick walls and pillars, few small windowsand pillars, few small windows

1100’s 1100’s GothicGothic: Tall Structures, vaulted : Tall Structures, vaulted ceilings, stained glass, light, airy pointed ceilings, stained glass, light, airy pointed arches and tall spires Flying Buttresses arches and tall spires Flying Buttresses supported wallssupported walls

1170-1270 500+ Churches built in Gothic 1170-1270 500+ Churches built in Gothic stylestyle

RomanesqueRomanesque

GothicGothic