HUM 2 Lecture 20: Marie de France - 5/11/16
Document Summary
How is the culture changing? towards the end. What does marie"s world share with the roland world. Same system of trial by decision of assembled barons with pledges required for the accused. Same importance of kingship: vulnerability of the loner. Not about merchants; this is about fighting men. But, we begin to see some changes during the 12th century. Increasing contacts with the rest of the world: Crusades & beginning of the reconquest of spain & sicily open the mediterranean. Sicily was where they found system of arabic govt. Venetians shipped trooped and supplies (gained a lot of money) Trade fairs within europe ( for goods imported by italians; for cloth ) Technological developments : compass & clock aid navigation. Watermills - new source of power (learned from islamic empire) Increased agricultural production and improved methods of production (crop rotation, yoke for plow) Improved food production and new crops (from arab spain) - more food, better health.
