medieval to early modern

1. Medieval to early Modern feudalism ends & capitalism begins

2. If we say that knighthood no longer exist and/or that chivalry is dead what are we really saying?   • Why did knighthood and chivalry decline in the 15th century? • Why is the early modern period known as the long twilight of chivalry?

3. If we say that knighthood no longer exists and/or that chivalry is dead what are we really saying?   • While it is true that armored knights are no longer the equivalent of mid-20th century tanks in battle there are vestiges of knighthood that still exist.

4. The conditions that made the knight • into a focal point of military innovation and technological development are long gone. But we can see in our own time parallels with the social relationships and technological systems that built the edifice of knighthood.

5. Some form of soldier warrior existed before the knight and still does now

6. Stories and legends of knighthood remain - Likewise with chivalry. • chivalrous principles of loyalty, duty and honor are still alive in public consciousness today. • Indeed the monarch in Great Britain still creates knights as a recognition of extraordinary achievements that reflect contemporary values.

7. The important question • is not when knighthood ceased to exist; or • upon what day chivalry finally died. • the interesting questions have to do with how and when knighthood changed, and in what form did chivalry remain and evolve as a powerful set of ideals?

8. To answer these questions we need to examine the end of feudalism and beginning of the early modern period

9. Feudalism • existed in Europe from about 800 to 1400 CE, as the concept of capitalism started to take shape. It’s generally believed that feudalism ended with the renaissance in Europe, a time in which there was a great revival of art, science, literature and human freedom.

10. Trade and travel grew following the Crusades • More trade saw the growth of more towns and thus more merchants. Another disruptive force was the increase of communication, which broke down the isolated homesteads, assisted the rise of towns, and facilitated the emergence of the middle-class. This process was greatly accelerated in the 14th century and did much to destroy the feudal classifications of society.

11. The renaissance played a key role • in the early modern transition from feudalism to capitalism. Other factors also contributed to the transition. These factors include flaws within the feudal system as well as external forces that created a long-lasting impact on medieval societies.

12. In the 14th century • a Peasant Revolt ensued all over Europe, which resulted into the old system being broken up and the beginning of the modern social economy. The Revolt led to the division of national wealth among small landed entrepreneurs.

13. Towns and cities in turn • provided alternative employment opportunities, improving the livelihoods of the peasants and in the process encouraging rural to urban migration. Serfs left their lords for towns and cities, leaving landlords without laborers hence contributing to the demise of feudalism.

14. Feudalism • was a subsistence system that focused on two elements, survival and salvation (Hamilton 2007). As Europe became safer, merchant classes competed with rural society giving way to wealthier towns and cities. Vassals and serfs were replaced by private armies and commoners, as merchants became the new source of power for the kings.

15. A demand for commodities grew • as a result of new markets and increased trade. The inefficiency of the rigid feudal structure of production failed to meet new demand. New methods of production arose, thereby increasing division of labor which enhanced productivity. As capitalist modes of production improved, landlords began to perceive themselves as businessmen, thus striving for higher economic returns.

16. As technology improved • new modes of production were only profitable if farming was done on larger fields. Peasants were kicked off the land, those who left moved on to join towns and cities while the rest remained to become paid laborers. • New modes of production also led to the increased manufacture of gunpowder weapons.

17. New modes of warfare • For the early modern era onward European armies fought in close ranks, the men of each battalion marching together into position and standing up and shooting at the enemy all together, in volleys. Volley fire had a much more demoralizing effect on the enemy than shooting at will did.

18. In those days the muskets had to be reloaded after every shot which took time. After firing a volley, a unit was incapable of harming the enemy until they reloaded. As two units marched closer and closer and closer together the men in each unit knew that the probability that the other side would shoot at them was getting higher every second. Every second the tension and the temptation to shoot got stronger and stronger.

19. Muskets were not very accurate. • Many armies didn't use the command to aim when shooting. Instead the command was to level the muskets. Since the two tightly packed units would be facing each other, there wasn't much need to aim the muskets right or left in the horizontal direction. It was hoped that if the muskets were level they wouldn't overshoot or undershoot the enemy.

20. Questions • Why did knighthood and chivalry decline in the 15th century? • Why is the early modern period known as the long twilight of chivalry? • What factors and events led to the end of feudalism