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The Creativity and Vitality of the High Middle Ages. Chapter 11 McKay . Finance. “As medieval rulers expanded territories and extended authority, they required more officials, larger armies, and more money with which to pay them.” What did this look like?. Finance. In England
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The Creativity and Vitality of the High Middle Ages Chapter 11 McKay
Finance “As medieval rulers expanded territories and extended authority, they required more officials, larger armies, and more money with which to pay them.” What did this look like?
Finance In England Exchequer: Bureau of Finance (1st Institution of government bureaucracy of England) Sources of Income: Taxes on Peasants, “relief”, “scutage”, tributes, being a feudal lord, etc. Big Picture: William the Conqueror was extremely effective in his administration of his new kingdom. This is evident with his ability to establish the Exchequer and successfully collect taxes and finances through his sheriffs and record keeping.
Finance In France: Lagged behind that of England. French Rulers traditionally derived their income from their royal estates in the Ile-de-France. As Phillip Augustus and his successors expanded the power of France, more money was needed. Sources of Income: Fines, confiscations of property imposed by courts. Townspeople paid “tallage”(Arbitrary tax). “Host Tallage” paid by feudal vassals. Medieval attitude towards taxation: “Justified only for times of War” This created problems for the French Kings in raising revenue. Not until 14th century was a successful financial bureau established.
Finance Holy Roman Empire From what you know…. What do you think?
Law and Justice In England: Henry II extended and developed “Common Law”. Extended to the entire country. Was uniform and secular. (Unusual for Europe at this time) Clergy was not under this law… Henry II vs. Thomas Becket.
Law and Justice In England: Magna Carta: Even the King was subject to the Law. Stemmed from King John’s failures in war with France and incessant need for money.
Law and Justice In France: Even with the expansion of the territory of the French Kings, each province retained its unique laws and procedures. Louis IX creates Parliament of Paris, a “supreme court” of appeals from local administrators to royal authority. Slowly extended the reach of the of the King through his territory.
Law and Justice Holy Roman Empire (German States) Landgericht: Regional Magistracies that represented the different lords in the kingdoms.
Rise of Towns Medieval Europe: agricultural and rural. With the rise of towns, new class emerges from the peasantry: Merchants and Artisans. Where did Towns come from?
Rise of Towns • Boroughs: Fortifications built to defend against Viking Invasions • Traveling Merchants settling around fortresses. • Monasteries
Town Liberties Special privileges for townspeople: Some Examples…. Liberty from Serfdom (Year +1) Ability to buy and sell goods Exemption from taxes and tolls of visiting merchants. Development of Merchant Laws
Model depicting the York Shambles (butcher's market), from the York Heritage Centre.
Commercial Revolution of the LMA - Increase in silver from mines across Europe > vast quantities of coinage. • Demand for new spices for food, wines, etc. • Evolution of merchants form single persons to three types working together: • Sedentary: Working the “home office” • Carriers who transported goods • Company agents who lived in cities abroad.
Medieval Universities Origins in the clergy and monasteries Lectures in Latin Scholastics: “School Men” Rested on the recovery of the “classics”. Goal was to arrive at definitive answers and provide rational explanations for what was believed on faith.
