Monday, September 15, 2014

Medieval Social Order, Part 2

In this blog, we have discussed some of the trades and professions and their position in the social hierarchy in Medieval Europe. So what makes this different from the social structure in other parts of the world at this time? The answer is the emergence of the capitalism.


The emergence of the market economy had a positive influence on people in Europe compared to that of China or Japan.

The horse collar was invented in China; the collar allowed the farmer to work his fields faster than the using oxen, which were being used in Europe at that time. The horse collar had a little effect in China, but was revolutionary to the production of food in Europe, why was this?

A farmer in some Asia countries worked extremely hard. But no matter how hard they worked; Farmers in these countries were defined by his trade and had no movement up or down the social ladder.

In Europe, with the emergence of a market society, the farmer’s hard work would benefit him. The farmer in Europe could obtain wealth, and this would move him up in the social ladder, compared to other farmers. Basically, a European farmer was still a farmer on the overall social ladder, but if he obtained more wealth, he was perceived as higher on this social ladder compared to other farmers.

The medieval time was just that, a time between the dark ages and the renaissance. Social order was now changing, and concepts of hierarchy would remain for a long time (and in some instances still today), but it was beginning to erode. Now it was money, not blood lines, which began to be major influences on society.

Besides farmers, I listed several other trade or professions in my novel, Legend of the Mystic Knights:  

Scullery Maid- She was the lowest of the castle staff. She cleaned the floors, tables and pots and pans.

Gong Farmers- They gathers human excrement from privies to be used a fertilizer.

Artilliator- A maker of crossbows.

Carpenter- An important trade in medieval times. He created or repaired wooden objects and structures. Although he worked with wood, he was not allowed to use a wood plane. To use a wood plane on must be a joiner.

Cordwainer- Someone who works with leather to make shoes. I mentioned in my novel how a page does not mind working with the cordwainer, except he could not stand the smell. In medieval times, urine was often used to tan leather.

Crier- Also referred to as a bellman. He would inform people of upcoming events or to to inform people of proclamations made by the king or other royalty. The crier would often yell “Oyez, oyez oyez, which means, “listen” or “hear”.

Peddler-Also referred to as a cheapjack. Someone who traveled around areas selling goods.

Next time: I will describe unique monsters in my novel.


17 comments:

  1. So interesting! I had not realized that medieval times was on the edge or social change! What do they call a gong farmer now??? Ah...but the peddler will always be a peddler, right?

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  2. Maybe it’s the medium that changed. Perhaps the peddlers of today are those people who pitch those “As seen on TV” products.

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  3. I find this social ladder concept alive and well in many countries around the world. India especially has a caste system that is complex and seemingly impenetrable; at least for right now. I wonder what they will call this era that we call Modern, in a couple of hundred years. I doubt it will be modern. Maybe pre-modern?

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  4. History is always interesting and I've read some historical romances (Anna Markland's) which bring the people and period alive.

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    1. I know her work, and yes she does her research. I wanted to do the same thing, except bringing historical accuracy to a fantasy novel.

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  5. Many countries farmers are still poor. It is interesting to know the social ladder concept in the medieval times. An author is a researcher and who continuouslu learns and shares his knowledge with the readers. Well done.

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  6. If I'm following this you are saying that the emergence of capitalism meant that how much you earned came to mean more than what you did to earn it. Sounds good if you're talking about farmers but worries me if you apply to bankers.

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  7. I never thought about the advent of capitalism as bringing about the end of feudalism. Sounds like there were some types of unions from what you said about carpenters/joiners.

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  8. "In medieval times, urine was often used to tan leather."

    I didn't know that! Gross! It's as bad as peeing on a jellyfish sting...

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    1. Urine helps remove the fur or hair from the animals pelt. Not only is urine used in the tanning process, it was also used to make gunpowder. In medieval times, they collected people’s chamber pots for the tanning process. After that, they collected the chamber pots to make gunpowder.

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    2. I didn't know that, either. I live under a rock, though. ;)

      Thanks for enlightening me, William.

      I guess it's a good thing that I don't write about medieval times!

      You must have a big interest in that sort of thing...

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  9. In India and Pakistan the former is still poor and many are using oxen. There is surely no moving up and down the ladder as the feudal lord takes all reward of their hard word and they are in miserable condition.
    In Pakistan people are suffering because of fight between capitalism and feudalism lords.

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  10. Adam Smith is, however, the inventor and father of capitalism. So from the emergence of it in the 14th century it took another 400 years for capitalism to be defined by him. His definition of capitalism has been distorted by Milton Friedman and many hence believe that capitalism stands for self interest only. Adam Smith actually put more emphasis on the importance of it benefitting society as a whole and all human beings.

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  11. I would never have thought that there was social ladder concept back in the medieval times. I guess there is really nothing new, just different times

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  12. I'd never heard of gong farmers before. Not a coveted job, I imagine. Interesting to read about some of the positions in medieval times.

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  13. I read a lot so of course I've read about the scullery maid, someone I always felt sorry for. I didn't know about the carpenter and the joiner - that was interesting. My husband is a woodworker and I can't imagine him having to run to someone else to have a piece of wood planed. That must have been so inconvenient or maybe they worked together.

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    1. The joiner is an interesting field. He has the skill to use plains and joiners to made objects that would fit tightlyt together, so that they did not have to be nailed.

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