Urbanisation in Medieval Europe- study with reference to the popular H.B.O. series “Game of Thrones”
The terms ‘middle ages’ and medieval is used as a convenient way to refer to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in European history. The period has been regarded as extending approximately from the end of the 5th century AD when the control of the Roman Empire had ended, until the end of the 15th century AD, when the modern world was considered to have begun. (Medieval Europe, n.d.).
The Influence of Church
This period witnessed the rise of church as an institution paralleled with the rising of feudalism and the feudalistic state and its institutions transforming as centres of administration and brutal authorities rather than as arenas for the expression of faith and practice of rituals. Roman Emperor Constantine owing to his conversion into Christianity, declared toleration of Christianity in the Empire and made it the state religion of the Empire. He splits the empire into two parts, the western half that centered in Rome and the eastern half centered on in Constantinople. After the western part of the Roman Empire fell, the eastern half continued to exist as the Byzantine empire for a couple of centuries. The fall of the empire generally implied the fall of the west. The concept that a new age had commenced across Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, along with its laws and control of society, may be quite a valid one. However, the idea that something revolutionary happened relating to philosophy, art, literature, science, religion, and civilization generally, etc. at a certain date in the fifteenth century has much less foundation.
The Christendom wanted to establish a theocracy, a government founded upon Christian values, and whose institutions are imbibed with the same foundation. In the “Game of Thrones, all cities have churches in the center and there are bishops who support a king or a lord. Also, the size of Cathedrals and Churches depends on that of the city and town. The influence of the church on the feudal system was significant, they had authority over people and could take punitive action against them for actions they consider to be against the church. The Kings always tried to keep the clergy appeased and there were scenarios were the kings in order to aggrandize and please the pope jeopardized critical alliances. In the Game of Thrones, one can see how power is captured from Cercei by High Sparrow by pointing out the queen’s illegal affairs. The struggles for power between kings and popes played a vital role in shaping the social structure of Europe.
Structure of the Medieval Towns
During the first centuries of the middle ages, towns were poor, with a small population, and were in large numbers. The lack of road security hampered the development of the medieval towns, which in turn prevented the development of commerce. Except for a short revival during Charlemagne’s reign, the commerce was reduced to exchanging the necessities of life. And, without commerce, there can be no large cities. Each domain had to be almost self-sufficient, producing the necessary iron, wood, wool, and wheat. The medieval towns occupied, to some extent, the sites of previous Roman colonies and municipia, while new ones emerged in the vicinity of a castle or a monastery. The revival of production and commerce led to a considerable increase in the population and wealth of the medieval towns, and they reached their glorious days. The medieval towns were surrounded by a moat and walls made of stone or brick. The walls had towers, round or square, designed both for defense and as a decoration.
Access to the town was permitted only through the vaulted access gates which were closed at night. (Urbanisation in Perspective, n.d.). The medieval towns usually grew up around a castle or monastery or followed the contour of a hillside, or a river-bank. As a result, they had steep, meandering streets, with an irregular width. As the land available within the walls of the medieval towns was limited, the streets were narrow. The main streets ran to the city gates, which were the only points of access in and out of town. In-Game of Thrones one can see that the crowded streets were full of obstacles preventing a comfortable movement across town and primitive urban development regulations were put in place. It is also very essential that the town centre should have at least one clear street, such as a horseman with a lance across his saddle could ride without being obstructed by anything in his path. If any part of a building interfered with the lance, it had to be demolished.
Houses in the medieval towns reflected the rank of those living in them. The houses of the high ranking persons could look like small fortresses, while those of ordinary people resembled the houses of the peasants, having a courtyard and granaries. Due to the increasing price of land within the city walls, houses had several stories. Many houses were built of wood and the peaked roof was ornamented by a gable or a turret.
In Medieval Europe, the castle became the part of the town filled with merchants, tradesmen, and craftsmen, the structure of the town has been described well in the intro of “Game of Thrones”. The castle of King’s Landing, which is the capital of the seven kingdoms, is elaborately constructed, and the city is formed within the castle. There is more than one river near the castle to irrigate farmlands and the market settlements, warehouses, and business centers also revolved around the city. The town consisted of the lord’s house, churches, markets and workshops in the castle. The fields, pastures, and woodlands surrounded the town. The Winterfell, one of the seven kingdoms, consists of the lord’s house, a church, and workshops. By standing in the lord’s house, the lord could see their entire town and monitor the territories. “Baron”, who is the Winterfell lord’s son climbs to the top of the castle in order to see the distant king’s march.
In the Game of Thrones, Gates of each empire represented a window to the outside world. Major roads lead from gates to other towns. Guards checked the people and goods entered into the city. In a major city, there could be as many as 100 different guilds. The weavers, dyers, armorers, bookbinders, painters, masons, bakers, leatherworkers, embroiderers, cobblers (shoemakers), and candle makers were called craft guilds and also there were merchant guilds. Merchant guilds controlled the way trade was handled in the town. They could become very powerful and controlled much of the local economy. The revival of the medieval cities was assisted by the evolution of the guilds. (Prak, 2006).
The Role of Guilds in the Society
Guilds in the middle ages played an important role in society. They provided a way for trade skills to be learned and passed down from generation to generation. Members of a guild had the opportunity to rise in society through hard work. The guild protected members in many ways. Members were supported by the guild if they came onto hard times or were sick. They controlled working conditions and hours of work. The guild also prevented non-guild members from selling competitive products. Some guild members were even exempt from paying high taxes from the lords and kings. Guilds helped more than just their members. They had numerous rules that helped to keep the quality of work and pricing consistent. This helped consumers to know they were getting a good product at the correct price.
In each guild in the middle ages, there were very well defined positions of Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. Apprentices usually were boys in their teens who signed up with a master for around 7 years. They would work hard for the master during this time in exchange for learning the craft plus food, clothing, and shelter. Once the apprenticeship was complete, he became a Journeyman. As a Journeyman, he would still work for a master but would earn wages for his work. The highest position of the craft was the Master. To become a Master, a Journeyman would need the approval of the guild. He would have to prove his skill, plus play the politics needed to get approval. Once a Master, he could open his own shop and train apprentices.
Over a period of time, with the introduction of ingenious tools, the production from the land increased substantially, thereby increased the revenue generated to the landlords. This significantly improved the lifestyle of the lords. The increase in production, accompanied by a significant change in lifestyle of the landlords resulted in greater trade and a market boom, free traders of humble origins became wealthy and urban centres began to thrive. Traders and artisans who needed extra labour would welcome serfs who ran away from bondage. The urban centres grew in size and wealth and they acquired means to defend their independence and freedom by building walls and urban militias and inched towards urbanization. In Medieval Europe, the vast majority of people were serfs and they could not leave the place where they were born”. Social class was usually inherited.
The Rigid Feudal Structure
In the political structure of Medieval European cities, Viking’s invasions forced people to no longer expect security from the central ruler. Western Europe was forced to turn to local rulers who had their own armies. Gradually, the system of governing and landholding, called feudalism, had emerged in Europe. This society is based on a rigid social structure and government consisted of kings, lords, and the peasants. Nobles rule over the small folk within their territory through a system of fealty and sworn oaths. The feudal system was based on rights and obligations. In exchange for military protection and other services, the king granted land which is called a fief. The person who received fief was called a vassal. The structure of feudal society was much like a pyramid. The king reigned at the peak. Next, the most powerful vassals came- wealthy landowners such as nobles and bishops. Serving beneath these vassals were knights. Knights have mounted horsemen who pledged to defend their lords’ lands in exchange for fiefs. At the base of the pyramid were landless serfs who toiled in the fields. (Feudalism in Medieval Europe, n.d.) Those who are born commoners can expect to die as commoners. There are no provisions for the advancement of individuals from a lower class into the higher classes. This is not to say that it is impossible, only that it is very difficult, usually bestowed by lords to those who have done a great service to them, or knights bestow the rank and title of Knighthood on any individual who has proven himself worthy.
Feudalism had many merits. At first, it saved the common men from foreign invaders. By saving people from the clutches of invaders and plunders, it created a healthy society. Secondly, the feudal Lords were able to save the common men from the tyranny of the King. Thirdly, slavery could not thrive in Europe due to feudalism. Since the Vassals were under a Lord, they could not be sold as chattels. Thus, feudalism gave a terrible blow to the slavery system in Europe. Fourthly, the Knights showed their Chivalry. They considered saving weak from the strong as their prime duty. They also showed honor to women. Due to the Knights, feudalism became popular in Europe. Fifthly, feudalism put an end to the worries of the people. Their duty was finished when they paid their ‘Homage’ to the Lord. (Blockmans, 2011) In return, the Lord had to give fief and save them. Last but not the least, the relation between the Lord and a Vassal was Cordial. They fulfilled the need of each other. The European Society breathed a healthy atmosphere due to feudalism. Barons have states and their own subjects, who recognize them as lords and hold them in natural affection. The Lord of Winterfell in “Game of Thrones” is faithful to the king and participates in the war according to the king’s command. The lords carried out military service and they held banquets for their people in order to gain their trust and maintain their power”
Bibliography
1. Blockmans, W. (2011). Urbanisation in the European Middle Ages. Retrieved from rmoa.unina: http://www.rmoa.unina.it/192/1/RM-Blockmans-Urbanisation.pdf
2. Feudalism in Medieval Europe. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/cms/lib/NC01001395/Centricity/Domain/6742/Feudalism%20PPT.pdf
3. Medieval Europe. (n.d.). Retrieved from Boone County Schools: https://www.boone.kyschools.us/docs/building/9/unit%204%20chapter%2015%20and%20review.pdf
4. Prak, M. (2006, October 5–7). Craft Guilds in North-Western Europe. Retrieved from http://www.iisg.nl/hpw/papers/guilds-prak.pdf
5. Urbanisation in Perspective. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://faculty.history.umd.edu/BCooperman/EarModCity/Hoh-Leesintro.pdf
