SECTION 14.2 Changes in Medieval Society

A Growing Food Supply Changes in Agriculture What was one of the changes from 800 to 1200?  The climate warms. What was the result?  More land became open to farming What was the result of the changes in technology?  More food production

Using Horsepower Horses replaced oxen  Their harnesses were changed from around the neck to around the body  Originally almost choked the horse Why did the harnessed horse increase food supply?  Horses plow three times as much a day as oxen  Oxen were cheaper to have, but a lot slower

Three Field System What is The Three-Field System?  Plant two fields, let one rest  Could grow crops on 2/3 of field, not just 1/2

Results of Three Field System This produces more food and leads to population increase Better sources of protein  Vegetable and bean protein  Healthier people  Resist more disease Larger families  Live longer

Trade and Finances Expand

The Guilds What were the Guilds?  Organization of people in the same occupation  Similar to a union of today

The Guilds What they did: controlled prices and wages in their craft. Merchant guilds begin first; What do they do?  Keep prices up  Provide security Skilled artisans, men and women, form craft guilds

The Guilds Guilds set standards for:  Quality  Prices  Wages  Working conditions  Ex. Bread Guilds supervise training of new members of their craft What did the wealth of guilds influences?  Government and economy

Fairs and Trade Most trade happened in towns Peasants in manors would travel to towns on fair days to trade  Cloth was most common trade item  Other items: bacon, honey, cheese, wine, leather  No longer were manors self- sufficient Trade fairs are held several times a year in towns

Commercial Revolution Where were the trade routes open to?  Asia, North Africa, and Byzantine ports

Business and Banking What did Merchants do to avoid carrying large sums of money?  Develop credit Merchants take out loans to purchase goods, and banking grows Could only take out money from Jews because according to Christianity, lending money with interest was a sin called “usury” Not considered a sin in today’s church

Society Changes What was the result of these Economic changes?  The growth of cities and of paying jobs

Growing Urban Population From 1000–1150, Europe’s population rises from 30 million to 42 million Most towns are small, but they help drive change  Paris- 60,000  Town- 1,500-2,500  Not very big

Trade and Towns grow together Many people leaving manors to live in towns/cities Why were towns uncomfortable?  Crowded  Dirty- no baths, sewage, clean water  Full of fire hazards- houses made of wood Many serfs ran away from their manors

Towns and Social Order Serf could be free after living in a town one year plus one day How did people feel about of Feudal lords taxing and governing towns?  Resentment What was the result?  Towns are taken over by burghers—town merchants

Methods of Punishment

Keeping Order in the Middle Ages

Keeping order for the more harden criminal

The Head Crusher the top screw of this awful device was slowly turned, compressing the skull tightly. First the teeth are destroyed, shattering and splintering into the jaw. Then the eyes are squeezed from the sockets Lastly, the skull fractures and the contents of the head are forced out.

Cat’s Paw The Cat’s Paw (or Spanish Tickler) was oftentimes attached to a handle in size and appearance it was an extension of the torturer’s hand In this way it was used to rip and tear flesh away from the bone, from any part of the body.

Knee Splitter Built from two spiked wood blocks, the knee splitter is placed on top of and behind the knee of its victims. Two large screws connecting the blocks are then turned, causing the two blocks to close towards each other and effectively destroy a victim’s knee. This device could also be used to inflict damage on other parts of the body such as the arms.

Spanish Donkey The Spanish Donkey was a device which consisted of a main board cut with a wedge at the top fastened to two cross- beams. The naked victim was placed astride the main board as if riding a donkey, and various numbers of weights were attached to his or her feet. The agony could be ‘fine-tuned’ by using lighter or heavier weights. Sources relate that on occasion, the wedge would slice entirely through the victim as a result of the immense weight attached to his or her feet

Lead Sprinkler The lead sprinkler was essentially a ladle on the end of a handle. The top half of the sphere could be removed and the lower half was filled with molten metal, boiling oil, boiling water, pitch or tar. The perforated top half was then re-attached. Shaking or flicking the sprinkler towards the victim showered him or her with the boiling contents of the ladle.