History 342                                                                             Professor Wertheimer

http://www.geocities.com/l_wertheimer                                Discussion questions for 1/29

 

 

1).  Tierney sec. 47: “The Communal Revolt at Laon.”

Explain who are the actors involved in the communal revolt.  What does each side want (you will see this in the first paragraph)?  What means do they use to achieve their goals?  Also look at how the townspeople were viewed by both the bishop and Guibert.  What does this tell you about the place that towns had in the social order of the twelfth century?

 

2).  Tierney sec. 48.  Compare the first two urban charters (you can skip the one on Italy for now).  What privileges does each town receive?  How do these differ?  How does town government differ from that of rural areas (as was discussed in lecture)?

 

3).  In Tierney section 49, what rights do the guild of merchants in Southampton have?  What other obligations exist with guild membership? 

 

4).  Tierney sec. 36, first reading.  What is being established by the first document?  Who is the author, what is he doing in this charter, and why?

 

5).  Carefully read “On the Consecration of the King,” which records the coronation of Emperor Conrad II.  Pay attention both to what is said and the symbolism of the ceremony.  From where does Conrad receive his power?  Because Conrad was consecrated by a bishop, some readers think that this document suggests clerical control of the emperor.  Does the reading support this? 

 

6).  The next two readings come from the “reform” party with the papal court.  In the first reading, what practice does the author (Humbert of Silva Candida) condemn?  On what grounds?  Pay attention to his analogy on the relationship between the priesthood and the kingship.  How does it compare to that in the previous document?   What is established by the following reading? Why?

 

7).  Sections 37, 38 and 39

            Approach these sections as representing a struggle between the emperor and the pope over who was the head of Christendom (it is misleading to see this as a church-state conflict), but notice that Gregory VII was concerned with asserting authority over the ecclesiastical hierarchy as well.

            Section 37: What powers does Gregory claim for the pope?  Be specific.  Who would object to these proclamations?  Again, be specific.

            Section 38: What does each of these letters try to accomplish?  Pay particular attention to what actions Henry and Gregory accuse each other of, and why each claims to have the authority to act as he does.

            Section 39: (skip the first readings, and focus on “Privilege of Calixtus II” on p. 129 and “Edict of Emperor Henry V,” p. 130) how is the investiture contest resolved?  How is the bishop to be selected, and what rights does the emperor still posses?

 

 

8).  Section 40

            Explain the reasons Urban II gave in his call to the Crusade.  How did the call address problems in Europe as well as in the Holy Land? Why would people answer the call?

 

(I think section 41 is self-explanatory)

 

9).  Sections 42, 43

            Compare and contrast the writings of Anna Comnena and Ousama ibn Mounkidh on the Crusaders.  How does each view the Crusaders (or, more broadly, European culture as they represent it)?  How do you account for the differences?  What do Europeans learn about their respective cultures?

Remember that in these documents “Franks” refers to the Crusaders (many of whom were from France).  Anna Comnena refers to the Byzantines as “Romans” and to the Europeans as “Latins.”