7
Service
Age considered available for military service
was between 15-55
King had the right to call on any freemen to
serve
Those who had a mansus (landed estate of
between 25 and 40 acres) were required to
provide fighting equipment and supplies
Infantry & Cavalry
Composed of common freemen
From a few thousand to as many as 100,000
Rarely wore uniforms
Trained to march in formation
Horses of cavalry bred to carry warriors w/
heavy armor
Horses had no stirrups, so the usual form of
attack was to fling the lance or thrust it into an
enemy
Weapons/Equipment
Catapults
Horses
Lance
Sword
=
Strategy
Under Charlemagne, armies won without going
into combat at all – enemy surrendered w/o a fight
Tried to get support from within the enemy
Successful because armies were organized with
leadership of loyal and experienced officers
Before Charlemagne, strategy was to raid and
conquer towns, but Charlemagne destroyed
enemy by destroying capital and army
Core of army composed of pro warriors called
scara.
Charlemagne’s army was more organized and
coordinated – practiced with mock battles,
sang/chanted as they marched (provided rhythm)
Economy
❖Work
❖Agriculture
❖Trades
❖Markets
• Work Policy – Charlemagne wanted the
population to be as large as possible, and
everyone to be working.
• Work Pattern – the nobility did not have
to work because the regular class would
have to work on their land. Men, women,
and children were required to work, from
dawn to dust (with increasing work
obligations).
Agriculture
• The agriculture year –renamed months
correspond to agriculture activities.
• Grain – standardized measures for grain
• Oxen vs. Horse – used as draft animals.
• Planting – method of planting
• Field Rotation – followed a two-field
rotation.
• Livestock and Crops – predominated
• Harvesting – used a sickle, products
used for multiple purposes.
• Farm Setting – extremely uneven.
Trades
• Mills – water mills were used.
• Cloth Production – wool and flax.
• Pottery – not very common or
important.
• Glass – an extravagance, not a necessity
• Metals – iron, gold & silver, bronze, and
other metals.
• Parchment – was very important, made
from animal skins.
• Wine & Ale – often produced at home.
Markets
• Long-Distance Trade – existed mostly of
metals, but it disappeared.
• Coinage & Currency – coins were served for
several purposes.
• Economic Standard – loans and interests.
• Travels for Markets – by land and water.
• Overseas Trade – mostly with the Frisians.
• Canal Project – was a dream.
• Seaports – few existed, but declined.
Religion
n Astronomy
n Influence from
the Roman and
Greek empire
n Encyclopedias
Medicine
n Medicine
n Four Humors
n Pregnancy
n Herbals
n Contraceptions
n Surgery
Leisure
Entertainment
Music
Drinking
Sports
n Hunting
n Archery
n Hawking
n Tournaments
n Board Games
n Needlework