Analysis Papers

Change Analysis - Amanda A.

Picture
1/10/11  
Society: Western Europe

Time Period: 600-1450

Significant events during time period: postclassical period, after fall of Rome, rise of Islam, rise of the Mongols, Tang-Song dynasties in China, Viking raids in Europe at beginning of time period

Characteristics at the beginning of the time period

Political:
Feudalism, Lords and Vassals

Social: patriarchal, serfdom for most people 

Economic: Manorial system, agricultural

Artistic: focused on religion 

Religious: Catholic Church controlled all aspects of life 

Intellectual: Copied older texts 

Technological: moldboard plow, three-field system, horse collar 

Military: Feudalism—knights, military elites 

Women’s Status: patriarchal, women could have dowries, become nuns 

Characteristics at the end of the time period 

Political: Feudal monarchies strengthened, more effective national/regional governments

Social: Patriarchal, cities became more important 

Economic: Growth of trade and banking

Artistic: Italian Renaissance, religious art, more secular subjects 

Religious: Catholic Church, scholasticism

Intellectual: Scholasticism, Thomas Aquinas, universities

Technological: Iron-work advance (bells and weapons), gunpowder from China used 

Military: Professional militaries, gunpowder used

Women's Status: Patriarchal, assistants and comforters of men

Source of image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renissance


Leader Analysis - Sara A.

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1/10/11 

Name of leader: Charlemagne 

Lifespan: Date of birth unknown, but died in 814 C.E. 

Title: Charles the Great; Carolingian monarch/emperor 

Country/region: France and Germany 

Years in power: 800-814 C.E. 

Political, social, and economic conditions prior to leader gaining power:

Eastern Europe was in total chaos and shambles after the fall of the Roman Empire. 

Ideology, motivation, goals:

Charlemagne decided to revive the Roman Empire, but he decided to create it as a new empire that was both European and Christian in a sense. 

Significant actions and events during term of power:

He helped to restore some church-based education in Western Europe.

Charlemagne started the expansion of the Frankish kingdoms, which then transformed into a Frankish Empire. 

Short-term effects:

Charlemagne established a substantial empire in France and Germany.

The level of intellectual activity of Western Europe began a slow recovery since the fall of the Roman Empire.

He was able to unify Western Europe after the time of Rome’s fall. 

Long-term effects:

When Charlemagne died, however, his empire did not last very long after his death. The empire was split into three portions to each of his three grandsons.

Source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne


Conflict Analysis - Shadae M.

Picture
1/13/10

Name of conflict: Crusades

Time Period: 1095 and 1291

Underlying Causes:

•         Jerusalem was taken by the Turks and Jerusalem held a Holy significance to the Christian religion.

•         3000 Christian Pilgrims massacred in Jerusalem

•         The Threat of the Turks

•         "It is the will of God"

Immediate Cause(s): There were the clashes between the Christian and Muslim religions. The Crusades resulted as a reaction of Muslim aggression against the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines). The Muslims were running constant aggressive conquest campaigns on Christian lands as part of their imperialistic expansion 

Turning Points/ Important Events: when the crusaders took Jerusalem in 1099, Fourth Crusade where they attacked Constantinople

Ending Events: Acre, the last Christian post in Syria, fell in 1291

End Result: Crusades ended in the 13th century and Frederick II for a short time recovered Jerusalem by a treaty

Short-term effects: The effort of raising armies and providing supplies for Crusaders stimulated the economy; trade benefited, as well, especially once the Crusader States were established. They obtained temporary control of Jerusalem.

Long-Term Effects; Pope became more powerful and trade with the Middle East; Christians were able to regain knowledge lost to them after the fall of Rome

Source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades


Document Analysis - Jessika L.

1/25/11
Source - The Good Wife, Manual

Author - Unknown

Time Period - Late 14th century

Political Characteristics - Manorialism and feudal systems prevailed with the formation of monarchies. The church gained a stake in the control of the state.

Social Characteristics - Women were still quite important to households and their work was very valuable to the lower classes. During the middle ages, a movement pushed women into a status of "comforts" to men. Their voice didn't carry as far and their status in society slightly declined.

Economic Characteristics - The merchant class was the prevailing force behind the postclassical economy in western Europe. Lower class women played an important part in the economy, so they were useful and therefore somewhat valued for the merchant class population.

Purpose - It is an exerpt written out of a "how to" book for upper class young women. It was intended to show girls how to become loyal, faithful, and obedient women so that their husbands would stay with them and reciprocate the loyalty to each other.

Tone - It is very mellow with subtle hints of persuasion. It doesn't insist, but it preaches that women act like servants to maybe get a reciprocal response from their husbands.

Audience - It was written for young women growing in the upper classes of society.

Point of View - It could be written from a woman's point of view. It shows some amiable gestures towards women and it wants women to have men who are faithful, so it is probably written by a woman. It also refers to women as "sisters". However, this document could be written by either a man or woman.

Important Content - (1) Three things drive a man away from the household: leaking roofs, nagging women, and smoky chimneys. (2) Be gentle, friendly, and quietly reserved. (3) Serve your man and comfort him. (4) Keep this advice and he will miss you and be loyal.

Evidence of Bias - It is biased to serve the purpose of men.

Assessment of Validity - It seems like a valid document seeing as it mentions certain stereotypes for the women in that time period.

Societal Comparison - David A.

Picture
1/25/11

European Feudalism VS. Japanese Feudalism

Western Europe

Time Periods:
9th/10th century C.E.

Political Differences and similarities: Monarch had absolute power and authority over all presiding nobles.
Knights were warrior class paid with land and serfs

Social: Classes born into their positions.
Peasant class worked as bottom class and served their lords. Had no choice in serving their lord.
European views on feudalism originated from Germanic and Roman views on Law.

Religious: Western Catholicism influenced the court heavily with rituals and tributes to the Pope. Knights used many Christian imagery and fought for the glory of God.

Military: Knights served as warrior class with high end heavy weaponry/armor and servants.
Given land and servants making them also a type of aristocracy as well.

Economic: Money did not exist formally with people being paid in either military protection or land.
Only basic goods created such as crops and weaponry to sustain populace and armies.

Japan:

Time Periods:
12th century C.E.

Political Differences and similarities: Emperor's power was less well defined because of terrain.
True power lied with the Shogun.
Samurai were warrior class paid with an income based on a feudal lords production.

Social: All classes also born into their positions.
The peasant class served under their lords and were the lowest class. Voluntarily gave up rights to avoid extreme taxation.
Japanese views on feudalism originated from Confucian Law.

Religious: Shinto-Buddhism ruled the courts Japan with rituals performed according to said beliefs. Samurai similarly used shinto-buddhists belief as a sort of code of conduct with the ritual of Seppeku committed because of a belief in reincarnation.

Military: Samurai were the Japanese warrior class.
Preferred light, flexible armor.
Paid through a stipend dependent on the income of their lords.
Although they owned servants none served the same roles as peasants and were for personal use only.

Economic: A form of salary existed through stipends for services. Large taxes forced many peasants to voluntarily submit into serfdom to lords to avoid said land-ownership taxes. Merchant and a type of Banking class existed and were able to purchase land-ownership through wealth.

Summary: Both societies used a feudalistic system from which a ruling lord used land-ownership as a form of payment with a peasant class working as serfs to these lords. Both enjoyed heavy religious influence in terms of culture and had an elite warrior class that served as primary military force. The differences are in that European feudalism enjoyed a stronger and more centralized system within each nation-state while Japanese feudalism left room for monetary value beyond simple land ownership.

Source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism

People Analysis - Aliya S.

Picture
1/ 27/ 11
Name of Group: French

Time Period: 600 - 1450

Location: France

Important Neighbors: England, Spain,

Strengths: Grew in town life, great agriculture, military,

Weaknesses: Divided into small feudal states in the Early Middle Ages

Impact on neighbors: France was a strong power in it's time. The Hundred Year war between France and England impacted both countries strongly, even as they were facing famine and death from the Black Plauge. They began to compete with each other, along with Spain in order to rise up and become better, which would later cause the sudden increase in technology and development in the years to come.

Legacy: The Dark Ages didn't give the world much than decay and death. However through those times, came a great change amongst the world. In most countries such as England, Spain, and France were now flipped around, as the population was low and work needed to be done. As well as the beginnings of the Medieval Inquisition, which were large popular movements throughout Europe, which originated somewhere in France.

Source of picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/France.1223.png/220px-France.1223.png