MILITARISM
THE KNIGHT AND THE SAMURAI

Themes

• militarism
• regionalism versus centralization
• Feudalism = ?
  • reciprocal, personal relationship
  • lord and vassal
  • lord grants conditional grant of land
  • vassal swears homage and military service
• warrior versus court culture
• appeal of the warrior-hero ideology?

Japan, 12th-16th centuries

• environment and development
  • mappo
  • 794-1185 Heian Era: Rule of Taste, Fujiwara family
  • 1185-1333 Kamakura shogunate
  • 1336-1573 Muromachi period, Ashikaga shogunate
• political: shogunates and samurai
• economic: shoen
• social:
• warrior culture:
  • ceremony
  • appearance
  • loyalty
  • scrolls and tales: Heike
  • honor, shame, and suicide
• tension with courtliness

Europe, 10th-14th centuries

• environment and development:
  • Carolingian Empire
  • Viking, Saracen, Magyar
  • Capitulary of Mersen, 847
  • ubi sunt; Annals of Xanten
• political:
  • Normans, 10th-13th centuries
• economic: manorialism
• social:
  • ring-giver
  • Song of Roland; Nibelungenlied
• warrior culture
  • fealty and homage ceremony
  • oath
  • loyalty: ideal vs reality
    • Fulbert of Chartres
    • Agreement between Count William V and Hugh IV of Lusignan
  • heroics in battle versus ransoming captives
  • civilizing warfare
  • Peace of God and Truce of God
  • Christianized knighthood
  • piety and valor
  • courtly love

Comparison to Court Life

• "civilized" versus "barbarian"
• courtly love
• civilized knighthood

Comparison of Europe and Japan

• which came first, court or feudal?
• diversity versus unity
• order versus chaos
• long-term impact of values system
• centralization versus localization
• suicide vs capture

Explore!

• Barony of the Western Seas (Society for Creative Anachronism, Hawaii Branch)
• History 433 Spring 2000: Warriors in Japan and Europe
• Internet Sourcebook: Traditional Japan

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