Royal Power: What role did the monarchies play in establishing social order in Europe in the Middle Ages? Part 1: Monarchies and how they ruled. Part 2:

Royal Power:What role did the monarchies play

in establishing social order in Europe in the Middle Ages?

Part 1: Monarchies and how they ruled.Part 2: The power of symbols.

Royal Power Part 1: Monarchies and how they ruled.

Monarchy.

•A type of government.

•Head of state is a King/Queen who achieves this role by hereditary transfer of

power.

•Especially in the Middle Ages, monarchs ruled with “divine right”.

•Related terms: monarch, royalty, constitutional monarchy.

If a country is ruled (controlled) by a monarch, what does this mean?



Role of the Royals

• Centralised power• Replaced feudal courts with royal courts• Growing emphasis on written documents

(regularised legal system and codes)• Rise of representative assemblies• Operated within the feudal contract

• Taxes• Agreements• Coordination under authority

• Attempted to reduce influence of the aristocracy

• Set important trends- i.e. Eleanor of Aquitaine

• Beginnings of national identity and loyalty

Political

Social/Cultural

Economic


Would feudalism have worked without monarchical rule?

YES NO

Royal Power Part 2: The power of symbols.

What are symbols?

•Images that stand in for a concept, idea, company, product, person.

•Cause us to remember the concept, idea, company, product, person.

•May be used to encourages us to think, act, feel or respond in a certain way.

•Examples of symbols in your life?


1

2

3

45

6 7

8

For each symbol a) identify b) record your reaction

British Columbia


Heraldry (Coat of Arms)

Rt. Hon. Michael JeanCanadaCity of Vancouver

"First use of heraldry in Canada. Jacques Cartier raises the Arms of Francis I of France at Gaspe in 1534."


•The short-hand of history

•Used to identify knights whose faces

were obscured by armour

•Granted by the sovereign to one

person




Source: http://www.heraldry.ca

http://www.heraldry.ca/

Analysing Heraldry (Coat of Arms)


http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13891

Analysing Heraldry (Coat of Arms)

1. What symbols are represented in this example?

2. Is/are there a theme/s or message portrayed from the

combination of symbols?

3. Do you see any contradictions between any symbolic elements?

4. How is this coat of arms a “short hand history” of the person,

organisation or body represented?



How are Coats of Arms different from modern symbols/logos?

1. Does not become outdated by advancing technology or changing lifestyles.

2. Depiction may vary widely from one artist to another.3. Hereditary.4. Cannot merely be assumed, changed, or discarded at will.

(www.heraldry.ca)

vs



List for Step 1

•Any Canadian City (Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, etc)•Any Canadian Province•Rt. Hon. David Johnston•Windsor Family•Scotland•France•Other of your choosing (must get teacher approval)

Documents

Royal Power: What role did the monarchies play in establishing social order in Europe in the Middle Ages? Part 1: Monarchies and how they ruled. Part 2: