Middle Ages 500-1200

Feudalism:

1. Social system

   1. Rigid class structure

2. Economic system

   1. Manorialism

      1. Agricultural

      2. Self suficient

3. Political system

   1. Local government (centrifugal)

   2. Military defense (samurai/bushido)

Feudal system:

• Noble class: Emperor, shogun, daimyo, samurai

  1. Emperor: supreme power-ruled the kingdom and handled the administration

  2. Shogun: appointed by Emperor to be military dictator

  3. Daimyo: warlords/wealthy landowners

  4. Samurai: warriors

  5. Peasant class/Common man: Farmers, Artisans, Merchants

Heian Period:

• Highly refined court society of upper class

  • etiquette was important

  • noble women wore their hair down to their ankles, blackened their teeth and dyed their clothing to match the seasons

  • people wrote poetry and painted

The Age of the Warrior:

• Each lords surrounded himself with samurai (warriors who were loyal to their lord)

  • Samurai were expected to show reckless courage, worship the gods, be far and be generous to those weaker than themselves

  • Dying an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life

    • If a samurai did something dishonorable, they would commit seppuku, a form of ritual suicide

Concept of Government Changes:

Before (Rome):

• Public government was based on written laws (12 tables)

• Citizenship

• Society

• Gesellschaft (strangers)

After (Germanic):

• Family ties

• Personal loyalty

• Unwritten rules

• Traditions

• Community

• Gemeinchaft (familiarity)

Church Authority:

1. Church Structure

2. Gelasius I - Two Swords Theory

3. Unifying Force

Church Structure:

1. Pope

2. Cardinals

3. Bishops

4. Priests

Two Swords Theory (Gelasius I):

1. Spiritual - Religious/Pope

2. Secular - Political/Emperor

Reality:

Problem of Lay Investiture:

Pope Gregory VII (Seventh) vs. Henry IV (Fifth)

Pope Gregory VII excommunicated Henry IV (banished him from the church)

Henry IV begged to be let back in and Pope Gregory VII let him after three entire days of begging

Unifying Force:

1. Sacraments

2. Canon Law

Sacraments:

1. Baptism

2. Chrismation

3. Confession

4. Communion

5. Unction

6. Matrimony

7. Holy Orders

Canon Law:

• Church law

• Guides Christian conduct