history

Germanic People/Tribes

Questions:

1. Why do we know so little about the Germanic people? We know so little because there are no written accounts of them. Romans poems are more about praising them to put other Romans down. 

2. What were the gender roles in German society? Women would take care of the farmland and household, men would hunt.

3. In what ways did women experience freedom, and in what ways were they limited?

Some ways they experienced freedom were that they could own property and received a share of her husband's wealth before marriage. German men were polygynous, and had many wives. But at the same time women had a lot of independence. Adultery was a crime, but it did take place. 

4. How did they dress? What did they eat? They would dress in trousers, a long sleeved jacket, a flowing wool fur coat, secured by a brooch or pin.   As for food, Their cattle were too precious to eat, and too valuable for the milk and labor they provided. They had a large plow that could turn over the heavy clay soils. But this did not allow there to be a sufficient number of wheat to be plowed for a healthy diet. Therefore Germanic women sayed around 5 '5 and men around 5' 6. 

5. How did they demonstrate their praise for heroic values? They would demonstrate their praise by wealth and fame. A poet may praise the heroic deed, and the warrior's name would be permanently placed in the word “Hoard”. 

Some insights:

Men gather in the hall to boost and drink and prepare military feats. 

Women served but spoke their mind, 

King takes responsibility for guarding his people and doling out gifts to ensure their loyalty.  

6. What important relationship did the Frankish king, Clovis, establish? Clovis established a treaty among the Romans Catholic Church and French. 

7. What is Radegund known for? He was known for creating a convent for women

8. What was Charles Martel known for? Member of a mayor family , saved France from inaction. 

9. How did oral tradition shape our understanding of Germanic culture and history?

10. What role did the word hoard play in Germanic storytelling and identity? Word Hoard refers to a poet or warrior's vocabulary, showing their wisdom and skill.The richer your vocabulary the more recognition you face, more intelligent you seem, and more leadership roles. 

11. How did the heroic culture of the Germanic people influence later medieval traditions? Well Germanic people valued oral praising of heroic deeds, where poets would openly discuss etc, this allowing more storytelling and preserving old tales. Additionally values such as bravery, loyalty, and honor were highly valued, warriors sought this though battle. And this shaped medical ideals of chivalry and knightly virtue. 

12. What are kennings, and how did they function in Germanic poetry? Kennings were metaphoric expressions. “Whale road” -> Sea. 

13. How did the Germanic tribes interact with and influence the Roman Empire?

Well Germans influenced the Romans a lot for example, their clothes of the Romans started to be more like the Germans. Their values of warrior and hunting were adapted. Germans did not collect taxes, they had more of a rural and agricultural way of farming, german and england created germanic languages. The way they interacted before invading was through trade. 

14. What factors led to the decline of Germanic tribal dominance in Europe?

• Christianization weakened traditional Germanic tribal structures.

• Feudalism replaced tribal leadership with a more centralized system.

• Integration with Roman and Frankish culture changed their identity. 

• Viking invasions and later medieval kingdoms overpowered smaller Germanic groups.

15. How did the conversion of Germanic tribes to Christianity impact their social and political structures?

Well there became more churches and the churches started to get more value and power. Shifting it from leaders of settlements to more of a broader hierarchy. (FEUDALISM) 

16. What were the key differences between Germanic law and Roman law?

• Germanic law was based on oral tradition and customary law, relying on things like trial by ordeal and wergild (blood money).

• Roman law was written, codified, and influenced by state institutions.

• Over time, Germanic law adapted Roman legal structures, leading to medieval canon law.

17. How did warfare and conquest shape the expansion of Germanic kingdoms? Germanic tribes, like the Franks, Goths, and Vandals, expanded by conquering former Roman territories. Leaders like Clovis and Charlemagne built large kingdoms through warfare, often using Christianity to justify expansion.

18. What was the significance of wergild in Germanic legal systems? Wergild means (man-price) which was a fine paid to a victim's family for injury or death to prevent blood feuds. 

19. How did Germanic burial practices reflect their beliefs about the afterlife?

• Burial with weapons & treasures showed belief in an afterlife where warriors still needed them.

• Some tribes practiced ship burials, symbolizing a journey to the next world (seen in the Sutton Hoo burial).

• Christian influence eventually replaced these pagan customs with church burials.

20. In what ways did Germanic tribal governance differ from medieval feudalism?

• Germanic governance was tribal and based on kinship, while feudalism had a strict hierarchical system of lords, vassals, and serfs.

• Tribal leaders were often chosen based on strength or loyalty, while feudal lords inherited their positions.

• Germanic assemblies (things like the Thing) allowed warriors to have a say, while feudalism was more rigid.

21. How did Clovis use religion to strengthen his rule over the Franks? Clovis converted to Christianity in 496 AD, gaining the support of the Roman Church. This helped unify his subjects and distinguish the Franks from other pagan Germanic tribes, strengthening his legitimacy.

22. Why was the Battle of Tours (732) significant in shaping European history? Charles Martel, leader of the Franks, defeated the Muslim Moors at the Battle of Tours, stopping Islamic expansion into Western Europe. This ensured Christianity remained dominant in the region.

23. What role did monasteries play in preserving Germanic history and literature? Monasteries copied manuscripts, preserving Germanic legends, laws, and texts (e.g., Beowulf). They also helped convert Germanic peoples and spread Latin literacy.

24. How did Germanic art and craftsmanship reflect their cultural values? Germanic art emphasized intricate metalwork, such as swords, shields, and jewelry. It featured animal motifs, symbolizing strength, and often blended pagan and Christian themes.

25. What was the impact of Viking invasions on the remaining Germanic kingdoms?

• Vikings raided monasteries, destroying many preserved texts.

• Some Germanic kingdoms, like the Anglo-Saxons, fell to Viking rule.

• Viking influence led to cultural blending, especially in places like Normandy, where Vikings settled and adopted feudalism.

Feudalism: 

Terms:

• Feudalism: A hierarchical system where land is exchanged for service and loyalty.

• Lord: A landowner who grants land to vassals in exchange for military or other services.

• Vassal: A person who receives land (a fief) from a lord in exchange for loyalty and service.

• Fealty: A vassal’s pledge of loyalty to their lord.

• Liege: A vassal’s primary lord, to whom they owe the most loyalty.

• Fief: A piece of land granted to a vassal.

• Manor: The lord’s estate, which typically included agricultural land, a village, and a peasant workforce.

• Chivalry: A code of conduct for knights, emphasizing bravery, honor, and respect for women and the weak.

• Courtly Love: A highly ritualized form of love, often expressed through poetry and chivalric behavior.

• Book of Hours: A prayer book that provided liturgical guidance for the faithful, common during the Middle Ages.

• Primogeniture: The practice of passing inheritance to the eldest son.

MULTIPLE CHOICE 

1. What was life like for male and female nobles?

Male nobles:

• Lived in castles or manors, managing land and overseeing vassals.

• Served as warriors and military leaders, participating in tournaments and battles.

• Acted as judges in local disputes and administered justice on their estates.

• Some held positions at court, advising the king or ruling regions as lords.

Female nobles:

• Managed the estate when husbands were absent, overseeing servants and agricultural production.

• Educated in courtly etiquette, embroidery, and sometimes reading and writing (if noble).

• Some women, like Eleanor of Aquitaine, had political influence, but most had limited power.

• Marriage was arranged for political alliances, and widows sometimes had more independence.

2. What mutual benefits did lords and vassals provide each other? How were these guaranteed?

• Lords provided:

  • Land (fief): The vassal received land to govern and profit from.

  • Protection: Lords defended vassals during wars or conflicts.

  • Justice: The lord acted as the vassal’s legal authority.

• Vassals provided:

  • Military service: Pledged loyalty and fought for their lord.

  • Advice and loyalty: Assisted in court matters and governance.

  • Payments (aid): Gave financial support for the lord’s ransoms, weddings, or crusades.

Guarantees:

• Sealed by an oath of fealty, a formal ceremony where the vassal swore loyalty to the lord.

• The feudal contract outlined these obligations, often passed through generations.

3. What were the elements of a medieval manor?

A medieval manor was a self-sufficient estate controlled by a noble or church leader. Key elements:

• Manor house or castle: The lord’s residence, serving as the administrative center.

• Church: Provided religious guidance and often had schools or hospitals.

• Villages: Where peasants (serfs and freemen) lived and worked.

• Farmland: Divided into demesne (lord’s personal land) and land for peasants.

• Mill & bakery: Essential for grinding grain and making bread.

• Pastures & forests: Used for grazing animals and hunting (restricted for peasants).

Manors were largely self-sufficient, producing food, textiles, and tools.

4. Why did chivalry arise?

• To control knightly violence: In early medieval times, knights were brutal and often attacked peasants or rival nobles.

• Church influence: The Peace of God & Truce of God movements tried to limit when and where knights could fight.

• Courtly refinement: Nobles encouraged ideals of loyalty, bravery, and respect for women to create a code of conduct.

• Crusades: The idea of defending Christianity gave knights a moral cause.

Chivalry emphasized protecting the weak, serving a lord faithfully, and upholding honor.

5. What types of disagreement exist regarding courtly love?

• Moral concerns: Some saw courtly love as adulterous, since knights often pledged love to married noblewomen.

• Clerical opposition: The Catholic Church criticized it for promoting lust and weakening marriages.

• Social class tensions: Peasants and lower-class people had no place in courtly love traditions, making it exclusive.

• Feminist perspectives: Some argue that courtly love idealized women without giving them real power, while others see it as giving women influence over knights.

Courtly love was both admired (for its poetry and refinement) and criticized (for its unrealistic or immoral aspects).

6. How do Books of Hours contribute to a greater understanding of feudal Europe?

Books of Hours were lavishly illustrated prayer books used by nobles and wealthy individuals. They help historians understand:

• Daily life: The artwork depicted castles, feasts, farming, and religious rituals, showing the rhythms of medieval life.

• Religious devotion: They emphasized Christian values, saints, and seasonal prayers, highlighting the role of faith.

• Social hierarchy: The books show the wealth of nobles and the work of peasants, reinforcing the feudal structure.

• Art & literacy: Their detailed miniatures reveal medieval artistic styles and the importance of reading among elites.

AGRICULTURE:

Serf/Peasant Women

Primary Role(s):

• Marriage and motherhood were the most common expectations.

• Responsible for household and agricultural labor.

• Pregnancy and childbirth were seen as a form of labor.

Responsibilities & Obligations:

• Daily tasks included animal husbandry, baking, cooking, and childcare.

• Spun wool into yarn, flax into thread, and brewed small ale for workers.

• Milled farm animals, collected eggs, churned butter, and made cheese.

• Poorer women worked as laundresses, maids, kitchen workers, nannies, and wet nurses.

• Wealthier peasant women had the ability to hire dairymaids, chambermaids, and brewers, sometimes running businesses that sold surplus goods at market.

Opportunities & Freedoms:

• Some widows or unmarried women ran businesses independently.

• Some women owned property and participated in trades.

• Economic endeavors and community involvement allowed for some social mobility.

City-Dweller Women

Primary Role(s):

• Women in towns often worked in trades alongside their husbands or independently.

Responsibilities & Obligations:

• Some women owned businesses as spinners, brewers, jewelers, parchment makers, and glovers.

• Assisted husbands in their trades and sometimes took over businesses as widows.

Opportunities & Freedoms:

• Some freedoms from labor obligations and excessive taxation.

• Freedom to travel and access to free law courts.

• Cities like London grew in population, offering more opportunities than rural areas.

Religious Women (Nuns)

Primary Role(s):

• Women who took vows of chastity, devoting themselves to religious life.

Responsibilities & Obligations:

• Served in hospitals, cared for the poor, and prayed for others.

• Expected to live modestly and avoid luxuries.

Opportunities & Freedoms:

• Some saw becoming a nun as an escape from the burdens of marriage and family life.

• Life in a convent provided security, education, and sometimes a comfortable lifestyle in well-endowed institutions.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Despite restrictions, some nuns continued to engage in travel and business affairs.

• Medieval writers noted that convent life contrasted sharply with the responsibilities of married women.

Noble Women

Primary Role(s):

• Managed estates and households, sometimes acting as military leaders in their husband's absence.

Responsibilities & Obligations:

• Oversaw bookkeeping, land management, and treasury matters.

• Participated in hunting with hawks, horses, and hounds.

• Some noblewomen defended castles from invaders.

Opportunities & Freedoms:

• Lived more luxurious than other classes but were still bound by societal expectations.

• Marriage was closely tied to property and inheritance, often arranged for strategic reasons.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• The Church did not fully control marriage, as noble families and secular authorities often had more influence over marital arrangements.

Courtly Love & Its Impact on Women

• Troubadour poetry idealized noblewomen but did not necessarily improve their real social or legal standing.

• Courtly love primarily applied to noblewomen, excluding lower-class women.

• Romantic traditions gave women an admired role but did not challenge the male-dominated institutions of the time.

Law and Order in Medieval Europe

Key Terms and Concepts

Canon Law

• The body of laws established by the Church, governing religious practices, clergy, and moral issues.

• Influenced modern legal traditions, such as marriage laws, moral conduct, and legal procedures.

• Enforced by Church courts, separate from secular courts.

Pope Gregory VII (r. 1073–1085)

• A major reformer who strengthened papal authority.

• Advocated for the independence of the Church from secular rulers.

• Clashed with Emperor Henry IV in the Investiture Controversy (over who had the right to appoint bishops).

• Expanded the role of Canon Law.

Gratian and The Decretum

• Gratian was a 12th-century monk who compiled The Decretum, a major work organizing and clarifying Canon Law.

• His work became the foundation of medieval Church law, helping to standardize legal interpretations.

• Helped integrate natural law (moral principles seen as universal) with Church teachings.

Statutory Law

• Written laws established by a governing authority (such as a king or parliament).

• More formalized than customary law and often recorded in legal codes.

Customary Law

• Traditional laws based on local customs and practices rather than written codes.

• Varied from region to region and was often enforced by local lords.

Types of Trials in Medieval Europe

Trial by Royal Decree

• Ruler or government official decides the case.

• Centralized justice, reducing the influence of local lords.

Trial by Combat

• Two parties fought in combat to determine guilt or innocence.

• The belief was that God would grant victory to the rightful party.

• Often used by nobles but could be substituted with a champion for weaker individuals.

Trial by Ordeal

• Accused persons underwent dangerous physical tests (e.g., walking on hot coals, retrieving an object from boiling water).

• If they healed quickly, they were considered innocent.

• Based on divine intervention proving innocence.

Trial by Oath

• The accused swore an oath of innocence, and others vouched for their honesty.

• Relied on community reputation rather than evidence.

Trial by Jury

• Groups of citizens decided cases based on presented evidence.

• Introduced in England under Henry II and became a foundation for modern legal systems.

Answers to Key Questions

1. How did Canon Law establish some of our modern legal traditions?

Canon Law influenced legal traditions such as:

• Marriage laws (Church rules on marriage contracts and annulments).

• Moral laws (laws against perjury, blasphemy, and moral crimes).

• Court procedures (Church courts introduced written legal procedures and trials by evidence rather than combat).

2. What is the relationship between Canon Law and Natural Law? What is the “lesser of two evils”?

• Natural law refers to moral principles believed to be universal and inherent to all humans.

• Canon Law incorporated natural law, arguing that laws should align with moral and religious truths.

• The “lesser of two evils” refers to the idea that, when faced with two bad options, one should choose the less harmful one. This concept influenced ethical decision-making in medieval law.

4. What are the pros and cons of different trial styles?