Medevil Times
After the year 1000, conditions in Europe again changed-this time for the better. The Vikings no longer endangered life and property. The Muslims no longer threatened western Europe. Instead, the European Christians carried war to the Muslim lands in the east with a series of "wars for the cross," or Crusades. But the most important change after 1000 resulted from the success that kings in several countries had in bringing the feudal lords under control and checking private wars. France Louis VI (1081-1137)-called Louis the Fat-heaved his bulky body into the saddle and personally led campaigns to punish cruel lords who abused their power. His grandson, Philip 11 (1165-1223), or Philip Augustus, appointed special officials, called bailiffs, who traveled within their districts keeping watch on the lords somewhat as Charlemagne's agents had done. It is interesting to note that a later king, Louis IX (1214-70), found it necessary to appoint other officials to keep check on the bailiffs-watchers to watch the watchmen. Louis IX was so religious that the Church in 1297 declared him a saint. Louis did his best to see that no man was treated unfairly in his realm. He would seat himself bene
ath a tree and invite anyone who had been unable to get justice from his lord or the regular courts to come and state his case. Kings and feudal lords were important in the Middle ALes. but they made up only a small part of the population. Most people were peasants A-ho spent their lives working in the fields. A great many of the peasants were serfs-that is, they were not freemen. Henry II made it possible for men to have another kind of trial in the royal courts. Twelve men of the neighborhood were re- quired to give information about a case and were then asked questions about it. The judge based his decision on their answers. Although these men were more like witnesses than jurors, this was the beginning of the jury trial in England. It is easy to understand why a man who had a good case but did not want to risk either an ordeal or a trial by battle might be eager to bring his case to a royal court, where he could get a trial by jury.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Henry II, River Orl6ans, Middle ALes, East Towns, Magna Carta, Middle Ages, Louis IX, Ages Parliament, Saint Louis, King John, feudal lords, henry ii, royal courts, private wars, middle ages, manor village, magna carta, series wars, trial battle, hard life,
Approximate Word count = 1607
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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