Medieval Quiz Notes - 10/28/24 PDF

What is the nickname for a poleax (battle weapon used by knights)? Medieval Can Opener! Parts of a poleax: - The hammer: A good strike to the helmet was capable of knocking out an opponent, located on the top of the poleax - The dague: Used to penetrate the plate armor (dague sounds li...

What is the nickname for a poleax (battle weapon used by knights)? Medieval Can Opener! Parts of a poleax: - The hammer: A good strike to the helmet was capable of knocking out an opponent, located on the top of the poleax - The dague: Used to penetrate the plate armor (dague sounds like dagger, think piercing or stabbing!) - The ax blade: Used in the areas in between plate armor (uncovered spots) What are ways knights can earn money? - Rent land to peasants - Participate in tournaments - Kidnapping other knights and holding them for ransom (sometimes Lords as well) Dungeons: - Came from the French word “donjon” which means “keep”, as in keep the food safe/from being stolen - First used in English (in the 14th century) for the strong tower in the inner part of the castle - Was a point of retreat for defenders of the castle if intruders got inside the walls - Knights who kidnapped other knights for money kept them in the dungeons (so that the noise/screams for help were muffled) - Typically quite small and cramped Trial by Ordeal: - Was a way to decide if someone was innocent/guilty of a crime - Done by causing the accused to do a painful task - If the task was completed without injury or if the injury healed fast, this is taken as a sign of divine intervention (help from God), and the accused was deemed innocent Ordeal by Fire: The accused person would hold a red hot iron bar and walk three steps. Their hand would be bandaged and left to heal for three days. AFTER THE TIME WAS UP: The wound healed = Innocence Wound not getting better = Guilty Ordeal by Water: The accused was tied up and thrown into the water. IF THEY SANK = INNOCENT  IF THEY FLOATED = GUILTY (then executed) Ordeal by Combat: - Could be used by someone to challenge the person who accused them of a crime - Was usually done by nobles - Accused/Accuser would fight in combat - The winner was considered “right” or the “correct” one NOTE: The Bayeux “Tapestry” is an embroidery! We’ve been lied to! Narwhal Horns: - Sold by Vikings as “unicorn horns” - Actually a narwhal tusk - Were harvested in the Baltic Sea - Traded in Western Europe - These “unicorn horns” were thought to have magical healing properties Craft Guilds: Associations or groups of craftsmen that practiced a particular trade. Apprentices: - Boys in their teens who trained with a master for 7 yrs - Offered free labor in exchange to learn a craft - Were given free food and shelter Journeymen: - The next stage after Apprentice - Advanced to journeyman when the craft was fully mastered - Continue to work for master (but with actual wages!!) Master: - An accomplished craftsman who knows/practiced all aspects of his trade - His work meets the quality standards of the guild - Products are priced in line with the guild’s standards - Must prove his skill (to advance), know the guild’s politics, have to be suggested for advancement - Could open a shop and train apprentices Merchant Guilds: Associations of all or most of in a particular town/city Medieval Guild Facts:  - Powerful guilds had their own hall in town for holding court - Women learned crafts/skills but COULD NOT JOIN/FORM THEIR OWN GUILD - “Guild” comes from the words “tribute” and “payment” which members paid in membership fees - A journeyman had to produce a “masterpiece” to be approved by the guild masters - There were about 100 guilds that existed in any major city PROs of Guilds: - Contributed to government supervision/protection of members - Supported a stable economic base - Supported charities - Protected wages - Protected members from excessive taxes - Took care of funeral expenses for diseased guild members CONs of Guilds: - Became too powerful, leading to corruption - Apprenticeships = INHERITED, NOT EARNED!! - Masters set RIDICULOUSLY high standards to keep journeymen working for them (they earned low wages) - Became aristocratic organizations that dominated government, ALSO forgot about their members - SLOW to embrace change/technology, worried this would threaten their members’ interests Why is it important we know about Medieval Torture? Medieval Torture was important in showing the power of the Church! Medieval Torture: Deliberate, systematic, and cruel infliction of physical/mental suffering by one or more torturers in an attempt to force another person to surrender information, OR confess, OR for general punishment. The Importance of Medieval Torture: - Torture = A common punishment - Carried out in the town square - Common sentence for traitors, thieves, spies - Was used during the Spanish Inquisition - Only 1 - 2% of those who were punished for heresy or crimes during the Inquisition faced tortured - Was sanctioned (approved of) by the church Methods of Torture: - Removal of teeth/fingernails/toenails - Beating - Boiling - Branding/Burning - Drowning - Whipping - Roasting - Starvation - Tongue removal NOTE: Humiliation was a huge factor in Medieval Punishment. - Punishments were public events - Often the individual was stripped of clothing - Chants of harassment were common - Throwing items at the accused was common - Walks of shame through the town were frequent - Exposed to the elements of weather and the outdoors without clothing or shelter - Sleep deprivation - Fear and brutality added to the agony and pain of the punishment