In the Medieval Times the Clerics where the scholars. They would join the clergy that was in the church. The Clerics were very smart and held high in society due to the fact that they were educated since many couldn't afford education back in those times. Many commoners did join the clergy as an act of "service". They were able to go to nobles and different homes and be hired to help them out. Their job is like that of a school teacher in the sense that they were the smarter ones and had to educated the public. Oxford University was said to have been founded in the end of the 11th century. Many of the Clerics were educated at Oxford and then would graduate and go off to the world and try to get hired by nobles or any higher order out there. Clerics are suppose to help others before themselves in a way due to their job status. Unfortunately in the book our "Cleric" seems to be on the relaxed side of clergy and isn't giving off the image of a cleric.
http://www.hyw.com/Books/History/Medieval.htm
http://www.free-essays-free-essays.com/dbase/3c/esv117.shtml
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Cleric
Monday, November 19, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Friars, The Traveling Monk
Does anyone actually know what a friar truly is? I mean, I'm sure most people who read this have heard of them. I mean, come on who hasn't seen Robin Hood with Friar Tuck? Well, if you've never heard of them, or heard of them but don't know what exactly they do or are, this is the article for you.
During the Medieval Time Period, the Catholic Church was extremely popular in England. I'm sure you've all heard of Feudalism, which is what took place at this time. In Feudalism, you have a bunch of classes from different people. These classes range from serfs to kings. However, if you were extremely religious you could somehow break the social class system and enter the religious class system, which is exactly what friars did. A friar was part of the Mendicant Orders, which are orders that relied heavily on begging. Friars would travel across the land almost as a traveling priest. Friars would live among the poor, in hopes to gain money to help the poor. This is exactly what the friar in our story appears to do, but he is very corrupt, however, more on that in class.
Bibliography
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/MWH/11062_1.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06280b.htm
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=friar
http://www.boldoutlaw.com/robbeg/robbeg2.html#ft
During the Medieval Time Period, the Catholic Church was extremely popular in England. I'm sure you've all heard of Feudalism, which is what took place at this time. In Feudalism, you have a bunch of classes from different people. These classes range from serfs to kings. However, if you were extremely religious you could somehow break the social class system and enter the religious class system, which is exactly what friars did. A friar was part of the Mendicant Orders, which are orders that relied heavily on begging. Friars would travel across the land almost as a traveling priest. Friars would live among the poor, in hopes to gain money to help the poor. This is exactly what the friar in our story appears to do, but he is very corrupt, however, more on that in class.
Bibliography
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/MWH/11062_1.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06280b.htm
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=friar
http://www.boldoutlaw.com/robbeg/robbeg2.html#ft
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Women in the Middle Ages
In the middle ages women were treated as if they were completely inferior to men. this was taught to them by the church, it said they should take orders from their fathers and brothers. Some of the women were employed especially the wives of craftsmen, but only a fair few got high ebough to make a difference and be heard amongst the town. The women could work various jobs that included shopkeepers, spinners, or bakers. If the ladies were married or not they were still expected to work, and often they would have to combine many jobs so they could get a decent pay.
It was legal for a young boy to get married at the age of 14 and a young girl at the age of 12 with their parents consent. A betrothal often took place as little as 7 years of age. If you of high noble status then it could be from when you were babies…marriage was only legal when it was completed. Single women and the married wore opposite hairstyles, extremely different from today. Single women wore their loose and married women were supposed to keep their hair covered at all times for modesty. The jobs that married vs. non was different also, single women often spun for a living using handheld spindles and were known as spinsters.
Often, unmarried women entered the convent to serve a Christian life and earn a well mannered and responsible education. If a women owned land they were considered a powerful figure in society as well as the male land owners, which made them equal to a man. Women also had the rights to make wills and sign a document with a unique seal onl for her. These rights all went away after the woman was married because she had to forfeit all of these things to her husband. Then if he died she would get one third of his land in order to support herself.
As a young girl you would be sent away from your home to live with another noble family and learned manners, etiquette, and how to curtsy. As well as how to acquaint yourself with other noble families, be taught how to dance, ride a horse, and archery.
Here's a normal day for a peasant girl: Breakfast-bread and water, Dressing siblings, Feeding animals, Spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidery, and carding wool, Dinner-bread, water, and fried goose eggs, Working in the fields of wheat Praying at the church with my sisters, Delivering goods to the castle, Supper-fried fish, fried goose eggs, bread and water, Preparing for bed.
"Noble Women in the Middle Ages." Middle Ages. Ads by Google. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/noble-women-in-the-middle-ages.htm.
"Women of the Middle Ages." Middle Ages. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/Brisas/sunda/ma/1kimberly.htm.
"Women in the Middle Ages." Camelot International: Britain's Heritage and History. 2001. Knight International Bulgarian Property Specialist. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.camelotintl.com/village/women.html.
It was legal for a young boy to get married at the age of 14 and a young girl at the age of 12 with their parents consent. A betrothal often took place as little as 7 years of age. If you of high noble status then it could be from when you were babies…marriage was only legal when it was completed. Single women and the married wore opposite hairstyles, extremely different from today. Single women wore their loose and married women were supposed to keep their hair covered at all times for modesty. The jobs that married vs. non was different also, single women often spun for a living using handheld spindles and were known as spinsters.
Often, unmarried women entered the convent to serve a Christian life and earn a well mannered and responsible education. If a women owned land they were considered a powerful figure in society as well as the male land owners, which made them equal to a man. Women also had the rights to make wills and sign a document with a unique seal onl for her. These rights all went away after the woman was married because she had to forfeit all of these things to her husband. Then if he died she would get one third of his land in order to support herself.
As a young girl you would be sent away from your home to live with another noble family and learned manners, etiquette, and how to curtsy. As well as how to acquaint yourself with other noble families, be taught how to dance, ride a horse, and archery.
Here's a normal day for a peasant girl: Breakfast-bread and water, Dressing siblings, Feeding animals, Spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidery, and carding wool, Dinner-bread, water, and fried goose eggs, Working in the fields of wheat Praying at the church with my sisters, Delivering goods to the castle, Supper-fried fish, fried goose eggs, bread and water, Preparing for bed.
"Noble Women in the Middle Ages." Middle Ages. Ads by Google. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/noble-women-in-the-middle-ages.htm.
"Women of the Middle Ages." Middle Ages. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/Brisas/sunda/ma/1kimberly.htm.
"Women in the Middle Ages." Camelot International: Britain's Heritage and History. 2001. Knight International Bulgarian Property Specialist. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.camelotintl.com/village/women.html.
Knights and the Code of Chivalry
The word Knight stems from the old English chnit, which meant boy servant. In the feudal system of the middle ages knights were third in the hierarchy of classes. Only Kings and Lords were superior to the knight. The process to knighthood begins when a vassal, a person who works on the lord’s land, sends his son to live as a page on the Lord’s manor at approximately seven years of age. The page became the personal assistant of the lord’s wife. In turn he received training in generosity, courtesy, and all general manners. When the boy was 14 years old he began to accompany his lord in all of his duty officially becoming a squire. Seeing as the Lord was already trained in all of the Knightly skills he was the best of all teachers. The Lord taught his apprentice the skills and arts of war. The page learned how to fight on horseback and to use a sword. More importantly the knight-to-be learned the powerful concepts that would guide his life as a knight. Normally, between the ages of 18 and 21 years old the squire was allowed to be knighted. Now every ceremony was different and the oath that knights took was always unique however they did follow a similar template. This oath had one main objective, to ensure that the knight would uphold the code of Chivalry.
Chivalry is just about any positive characteristic (not physical) about a person. Honor, honesty, generosity, courtesy, valor, and so forth; all of these fit into chivalry. However one can only be considered chivalrous if they personify the majority of these qualities. One who is honest but incredibly selfish is not chivalrous. Chivalry is really just a code of conduct they are the guidelines by which a knight lived. Chivalry guides a knight in all circumstances, in both war and love. The knight from the prologue of The Canterbury Tales is the archetype for a knight.
Bibliography
• Velde, François. "Knighthood and Chivalry." Heraldica. 01 June 2002. 13 Nov 2007.
• "Chivalry." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 13 Nov. 2007..
Chivalry is just about any positive characteristic (not physical) about a person. Honor, honesty, generosity, courtesy, valor, and so forth; all of these fit into chivalry. However one can only be considered chivalrous if they personify the majority of these qualities. One who is honest but incredibly selfish is not chivalrous. Chivalry is really just a code of conduct they are the guidelines by which a knight lived. Chivalry guides a knight in all circumstances, in both war and love. The knight from the prologue of The Canterbury Tales is the archetype for a knight.
Bibliography
• Velde, François. "Knighthood and Chivalry." Heraldica. 01 June 2002. 13 Nov 2007
• "Chivalry." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 13 Nov. 2007.
The Summoner and Saints/Holy Relics
In Medieval England, a summoner was one who summoned, or found people who were accused of violations to the Church law, and brought them to ecclesiastical court (which is court of religion) for crimes ranging from witchcraft to illicit intercourse. Summoners are usually lower class. For more on the ecclesiastical court, you can read Sravya's posting.
The biblical definition of a saint was one who is sanctified. Early on, the Christians were all considered saints, but overtime the term developed into a title of those who had a certain level of holiness. When saints died, sometimes their bones or possessions were deemed as ‘‘relics” and kept because they held religious significance. These relics are honored and respected, just as saints were when they were alive. Relics are severely important in such cultures as Buddhism, and some forms of Christianity and Hinduism.
The biblical definition of a saint was one who is sanctified. Early on, the Christians were all considered saints, but overtime the term developed into a title of those who had a certain level of holiness. When saints died, sometimes their bones or possessions were deemed as ‘‘relics” and kept because they held religious significance. These relics are honored and respected, just as saints were when they were alive. Relics are severely important in such cultures as Buddhism, and some forms of Christianity and Hinduism.
The Summoner and Saints/ Holy Relics
In Medieval England, a summoner was one who summoned, or found people who were accused of violations to the Church law, and brought them to ecclesiastical court (which is court of religion) for crimes ranging from witchcraft to illicit intercourse. Summoners are usually lower class. For more about the ecclesiatical court- you can read Syrav
The biblical definition of a saint was one who is sanctified. Early on, the Christians were all considered saints, but overtime the term developed into a title of those who had a certain level of holiness. When saints died, sometimes their bones or possessions were deemed as ‘‘relics” and kept because they held religious significance. These relics are honored and respected, just as saints were when they were alive. Relics are severely important in such cultures as Buddhism, and some forms of Christianity and Hinduism.
The biblical definition of a saint was one who is sanctified. Early on, the Christians were all considered saints, but overtime the term developed into a title of those who had a certain level of holiness. When saints died, sometimes their bones or possessions were deemed as ‘‘relics” and kept because they held religious significance. These relics are honored and respected, just as saints were when they were alive. Relics are severely important in such cultures as Buddhism, and some forms of Christianity and Hinduism.
Monasteries
A monastery is a religious home usually for monks, nuns or a religious community, and is dedicated to prayer. The word monastery means "to live alone". The monks or nuns living there can explore faith or nature together, but usually there is little to no interactions between the members. Many times the monks or nuns living in the monastery will perform community service in the area they live.
The Layout of a monastery is obscure; it is faced looking inward for seclusion. Usually having a courtyard in the center with Mediterranean architecture. Other structures in a monastery would be a cloister or a chapel for visitors because they are not allowed to use the one where monks and nuns pray.
Monasteries are made to be self contained. The monks or nuns living there grow everything they need to live there lives in the monastery garden. They may also raise animals for food and fiber.
Traditional monasteries are named in honor of a patron or a scared mystery. Many medieval monasteries are in Great Britain, and some are even open to visitors. Some visitors can even stay in the monastery for a long period of time to work or pray. This people could also be postulants who want to join the monastery who then must commit faith by a series of vows.
Michelle
The Layout of a monastery is obscure; it is faced looking inward for seclusion. Usually having a courtyard in the center with Mediterranean architecture. Other structures in a monastery would be a cloister or a chapel for visitors because they are not allowed to use the one where monks and nuns pray.
Monasteries are made to be self contained. The monks or nuns living there grow everything they need to live there lives in the monastery garden. They may also raise animals for food and fiber.
Traditional monasteries are named in honor of a patron or a scared mystery. Many medieval monasteries are in Great Britain, and some are even open to visitors. Some visitors can even stay in the monastery for a long period of time to work or pray. This people could also be postulants who want to join the monastery who then must commit faith by a series of vows.
Michelle
Medieval Clothing
http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/ma/1adele.htm
Medieval Clothing
Royalty, such as kings and queens, had enough money to afford clothing that was very expensive. This clothing included crowns and brightly colored silks.
Manor lords wore felt hats with stirrups and brown jackets on a daily basis.
Peasants’ wore straw hates and linen shirts, both that they made themselves. They also wore leather flasks and pewter badges or good luck charms. Peasants’ also wore hoses, which are pants.
A holy order is the status or rank or office of a Christian clergyman in an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Friars wore cloaks with hoods. Their clothing had rope belt with wooden beads on it. This was for counting prayers.
The clothes that shoemakers and their spouses wore were woolen coats with fur-trimmed sleeves. Inside the coat was a woolen doublet. Shoemakers often wore borealis hats.
Depending on how wealthy you were, the clothing varied in the medieval times. Most clothing was rough and scratchy, but if you were a wealthier person, it could be smooth and finely sewn.
If you were the child of a peasant, you would wear anything you could get. If you were royalty, however, it would be silk robes and damask gowns.
Medieval Clothing
Royalty, such as kings and queens, had enough money to afford clothing that was very expensive. This clothing included crowns and brightly colored silks.
Manor lords wore felt hats with stirrups and brown jackets on a daily basis.
Peasants’ wore straw hates and linen shirts, both that they made themselves. They also wore leather flasks and pewter badges or good luck charms. Peasants’ also wore hoses, which are pants.
A holy order is the status or rank or office of a Christian clergyman in an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Friars wore cloaks with hoods. Their clothing had rope belt with wooden beads on it. This was for counting prayers.
The clothes that shoemakers and their spouses wore were woolen coats with fur-trimmed sleeves. Inside the coat was a woolen doublet. Shoemakers often wore borealis hats.
Depending on how wealthy you were, the clothing varied in the medieval times. Most clothing was rough and scratchy, but if you were a wealthier person, it could be smooth and finely sewn.
If you were the child of a peasant, you would wear anything you could get. If you were royalty, however, it would be silk robes and damask gowns.
Pilgrimages
During the middle Ages, many people were endorsed by the church to make pilgrimages to holy places known as shrines. People traveled to these shrines to pray and be in hopes that their sins will be forgiven so they could have a chance at descending into heaven. It is also known that others visited shrines eager to be cured of incurable illnesses. When enduring these journeys, pilgrimages were known to be very dangerous in the middle ages. Pilgrims usually went in groups in order to protect one another. Case in point, Well-off citizens would pay certain people to go on the pilgrimages for them. In 1352 a merchant who lived in London paid a man a great deal of money to travel to Mount Sinai.
In the year, 1174 King Henry ll underwent a pilgrimage to the Canterbury Cathedral to ask for forgiveness from Becket, a man he took part in murdering. He also asked for penance from the monks of Canterbury to curse him. King Louis Vll of France also went to visit the Canterbury Cathedral to visit Beckets tomb praying to the saint’s aid in trying to cure his son, Phillip who was deathly ill. After praying to the saint’s aid, Phillip was cured and nursed back to good health. The Pope and the Catholic Church in Rome were appalled when they heard that Henry had shattered Beckets shrine. In 1538, the Pope announced to his citizens that Henry Vll had been shunned from the Catholic Church.
In general, pilgrimages were long journeys that had a spiritual and moral significance. It can also be known as a journey to travel to a shrine of a person’s belief in God.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/NORpilgrimage.htm
http://www.loyno.edu/~letchie/becket/tour/default.htm
In the year, 1174 King Henry ll underwent a pilgrimage to the Canterbury Cathedral to ask for forgiveness from Becket, a man he took part in murdering. He also asked for penance from the monks of Canterbury to curse him. King Louis Vll of France also went to visit the Canterbury Cathedral to visit Beckets tomb praying to the saint’s aid in trying to cure his son, Phillip who was deathly ill. After praying to the saint’s aid, Phillip was cured and nursed back to good health. The Pope and the Catholic Church in Rome were appalled when they heard that Henry had shattered Beckets shrine. In 1538, the Pope announced to his citizens that Henry Vll had been shunned from the Catholic Church.
In general, pilgrimages were long journeys that had a spiritual and moral significance. It can also be known as a journey to travel to a shrine of a person’s belief in God.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/NORpilgrimage.htm
http://www.loyno.edu/~letchie/becket/tour/default.htm
Medieval Medicine
Medieval Medicine was practiced during the times of King Arthur and Sir Gawain. It was an imprecise science that yielded dubious results. The most common forms of treatment were based on the four humors of the body. A healthy person had a good balance of the four humors. When a person became ill it was believed to be caused by an imbalance of one of their humors. The four humors were black bile, blood, phlegm, and yellow bile. The four humors were very significant. They were symbolic of the seasons, the elements, and certain personality characteristics.
If a person was suffering from a cold it was believed that they had too much phlegm, which is characterized as being cold and wet. So, the remedy was to put a person to bed and have them drink wine. By doing so the doctor’s thought they could decrease the amount of phlegm or increase the yellow bile- which is the opposite of phlegm because it is hot and dry. If a person suffered from a hot, dry disease such as a fever then they had too much yellow bile so doctor would prescribe cold baths to try and increase the phlegm. Black Bile is cold and dry. It is the opposite of blood, which is hot and moist. Most of the best treatments were believed to be natural functions such as sneezing, sweating, crying, urinating, and defecating. Another common treatment was bloodletting. By keeping the four humors balanced, a doctor believed he could cure any disease.
The four humors were also very symbolic. They represented the four seasons. Black Bile was Autumn. Blood was Spring. Phlegm was Winter, and yellow bile was Summer. Like the four humors, it was essential that the four seasons also stayed balanced. Too long a winter or too hot a summer could ruin the crops and cause a famine. The four humors were also connected to the four elements. Black Bile was considered to be Earth. Blood was Air. Phlegm was Water, and yellow bile was Fire. The balance of the elements is crucial for the existence of life on this planet. Since the four humors are associated with such important parts of life, it shows the importance of them in the medieval times.
Lastly, the four humors were symbolic of certain personality traits. A person who was melancholic or forlorn was said to have too much black bile. Some one who was sanguine or cheerful and optimistic was said to have an excess of blood. An individual who was phlegmatic or impassive was said to have too much phlegm in their system. A person that was choleric or easily irritated was said to have too much yellow bile.
In conclusion, medieval doctors used inexact methods to treat and cure diseases in the Middle Ages. Many people believed that these methods were effective at curing diseases and as a result were willing to spend their money to be diagnosed and cured. Doctors were by no means poor. If a doctor was legitimately good, as is the one in The Canterbury Tales, they had no trouble making a living equal to that of a skilled laborer. Medieval Medicine is no longer used today and is considered to be
If a person was suffering from a cold it was believed that they had too much phlegm, which is characterized as being cold and wet. So, the remedy was to put a person to bed and have them drink wine. By doing so the doctor’s thought they could decrease the amount of phlegm or increase the yellow bile- which is the opposite of phlegm because it is hot and dry. If a person suffered from a hot, dry disease such as a fever then they had too much yellow bile so doctor would prescribe cold baths to try and increase the phlegm. Black Bile is cold and dry. It is the opposite of blood, which is hot and moist. Most of the best treatments were believed to be natural functions such as sneezing, sweating, crying, urinating, and defecating. Another common treatment was bloodletting. By keeping the four humors balanced, a doctor believed he could cure any disease.
The four humors were also very symbolic. They represented the four seasons. Black Bile was Autumn. Blood was Spring. Phlegm was Winter, and yellow bile was Summer. Like the four humors, it was essential that the four seasons also stayed balanced. Too long a winter or too hot a summer could ruin the crops and cause a famine. The four humors were also connected to the four elements. Black Bile was considered to be Earth. Blood was Air. Phlegm was Water, and yellow bile was Fire. The balance of the elements is crucial for the existence of life on this planet. Since the four humors are associated with such important parts of life, it shows the importance of them in the medieval times.
Lastly, the four humors were symbolic of certain personality traits. A person who was melancholic or forlorn was said to have too much black bile. Some one who was sanguine or cheerful and optimistic was said to have an excess of blood. An individual who was phlegmatic or impassive was said to have too much phlegm in their system. A person that was choleric or easily irritated was said to have too much yellow bile.
In conclusion, medieval doctors used inexact methods to treat and cure diseases in the Middle Ages. Many people believed that these methods were effective at curing diseases and as a result were willing to spend their money to be diagnosed and cured. Doctors were by no means poor. If a doctor was legitimately good, as is the one in The Canterbury Tales, they had no trouble making a living equal to that of a skilled laborer. Medieval Medicine is no longer used today and is considered to be
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