The Feudal Order, Essay Example

Weber explains that during European society in the 11^th and 12^th centuries new villages were springing up and volume was increasing and a surplus developed. This resulted in masons, artisans, and traders coming into their own professions. Weber says that the story of Aucassin and Nicollete is a perfect example of the chivalry that was becoming popular during the time. The story was important because it was promoting the belief of love over Christianity or the love of God. The story is about a knight who falls in love with a woman who is not of the same station. He is told if he marries her he will go to hell, but instead says he doesn’t care if he can have Nicolette. This is important because all of the feudal and religious standards are opposed by this love story.

Lull’s life shows the bad relations between Christians and Muslims during the Middle Ages. Ramon Lull studied with a slave for nine years and became fluent in Arabic, but near the end of his studies, in an attempt to keep the Ramon from preaching Christianity to Muslims, the slave tried to murder him. (Sherman & Salisbury, 252). Christian behavior exemplified by Lull contribute to continuing animosity between Christians and Muslims? “After a few more such visions, Ramón decided to renounce his frivolous life and turn his efforts to religion. In his view, God had called him to convert the Muslims to Christianity (, 252).” This concept of being called by God to convert Muslims made many of the Muslims who had grown fond of Lull, resent him and his religion.

Aristocratic life in the Middle Ages:

Vassals

A vassal was what became of a nobleman when he bound himself in service to a lord. He would swear a solemn oath of fealty. An oath of fealty is when one pledged to be faithful to their lord by placing their hands in between those of their lord (Sherman & Salisbury , 232). The relationship between a vassal and his lord is noted in the text when the authors say, The position of the nobleman  now became the lord’s vassal—bound to him for life. In return, the vassal would receive his ?ef usually land, but it might be something else that would generate enough income to support the vassal. The illustration in Figure 7.9 cleverly portrays the solemn bonds (Sherman & Salisbury, 232).” Lords who could become king, or any man with land to bestow upon others would give away enough of his land to support the lifestyle of his noble vassals (Sherman & Salisbury, 232). The vassal owed the lord loyalty advice and service, and the lord owed the vassal maintenance of the land and military protection (Sherman & Salisbury, 232). The book also notes that Lord’s acted as their vassal’s legal representation in public court.

Noble Families

Feudal lords had wives and children, and they lived together with their own vassals and their servants. As noted in the text “all ate together on long tables in the common hall of the manor house. The nobles amused themselves with music, dance, and games like back-gammon, chess, and dice (, 234).”During peace time,   noble men and women found entertainment in hunting hawks and horses, and hounds (Sherman & Salisbury, 234). Just as in the Germanic tribes, noble families in the feudal system were bound to each other by the important ties of marriage (Sherman & Salisbury , 234).” In both accounts of Song of Roland and the Poem of Cid, the knights embody the values of prowess and loyalty to a fault. An example can be seen in how Roland was too brave to call for help in the face of overwhelming forces, and El Cid showed perfect ?delity to an unworthy lord. Both stories demonstrate speci?c details of battle and bloody victories. The textbook notes that these themes are used to delight an audience of warriors (Sherman & Salisbury, 255).