The statement “In the society of the High Middle Ages, function determined social classification.” does not adequately describe the reality of society at the time. The social division into those who work, those who fight, and those who pray presents a view that is far too static of a world with considerable social mobility. Also this widespread image of High Middle Age society does not include a class for “those who trade” or townspeople. These three basic social divisions of peasants, monks, and knights did provide insight into the mind of the medieval world. Those who work, more commonly referred to as the peasant class made up more than 90% of the population and was economically the most productive group. Peasants were giving the task of supporting lords, clergy, and townspeople on top of themselves through their agricultural endeavors.
Despite High Middle Age dependency on the peasant class few historical records had any mention of the peasants lest it be one of contempt or in terms of owed services or obligations. A common misconception is that all peasants were to be grouped in a single social class. There were, however, many levels of peasants, from slaves to free and very rich farmers. Those who fight, the nobles, although they were minuscule in comparison to the mass of the peasantry, strongly influenced all aspects of medieval culture: politics, economics, religion, education, and art. For this reason, twelfth century European society can be seen as an aristocratic one.
The Essay on Suffering of the Peasant Social Class
Religiously, princes in Germany had the right to choose the religion of their provinces as Catholic, Lutheran or Calvinist. This caused a division religiously or based on religious affiliation within Europe with the Catholics in the south, Lutherans in central Germany, and the Calvinists in the northern part of Europe. “Socially, the Thirty Years War cause a significant number of problems, ...
Nobility continued to hold real political and social power in Europe up until the nineteenth century despite political scientific and industrial revolutions. Members of the nobility enjoyed a special legal status in which they were free personally and in their possessions. Nobles possessed immunity from almost all outside authorities along with being limited only by military obligations to a king, duke, or prince. Knights were to be brave, anxious to win praise, courteous, generous, gracious, and above all to be loyal to his lord. Loyalty was the foundation of aristocratic society, this why the greatest crime was treachery to one’s lord.
All knights were not free however, the ministerial’s were part of the servile class yet served as knights. Some of these servile knights even managed to eventually serve German kings and gain significant responsibilities yet legally they remained of servile status without becoming nobles. Thus the function of these “knights” did not determine their social classification, as they remained of servile status. The Monk class, those who pray, were believed by medieval people to perform an important social service. This essential service was prayer. The monks, with their prayer, strive d to secure God’s blessing for medieval society.
This prayer was just as valuable to the people as the knight’s protection and the toils of the peasantry. The monks were of an educated elite that was continually drawn into the service of kings and great lords. They experimented with new styles of architecture and art, as well as kept the remains of classical culture alive. Monasteries provided children of the nobility with opportunities for ecclesiastical careers, which some of the children chose to pursue as adults.
Monasteries pursued not only education for their monks but also provided primary education for young boys and got involved in iron and lead mining as well as forging. In conclusion, in the society of the High Middle Ages function did not determine social classification. In reality social classification was based on lineage and what class you were born into. Although there was room for social mobility few managed to move up in class, especially up from the peasant class. Even a ministerial, which served as a knight, remained in the peasantry, despite his duty.
The Essay on Social Class
The societal structure of the Victorian Era may have inspired many authors to write classic novels such as Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights. The time that Bronte grew up in was much different than the times of today. Wuthering Heights was a love story that related to the ways of life that people lived. During the Victorian Era, peoples rights, duties, social standings, jobs, and education were ...
