The Postclassical Period, c. 600 CE to c. 1450: 3.2: Postclassical States: Byzantine Empire and European Kingdoms (Sources 1–8)

John, by the Grace of God, King of England, to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Earls, Barons, Justiciaries, Foresters, Sheriffs, Governors, Officers, and to all Bailiffs, and his faithful subjects—Greetings. (Source 3)

Specifically, the Barons may elect twenty-five Barons of the kingdom, whom they please, who shall with their whole power, observe, keep, and cause to be observed, the peace and liberties which we have granted to them, and have confirmed by this our present charter. (Source 3)

But the great middle stratum of the peasantry consisted of serfs—people of unfree status, bound to their lords and usually bound also to their land. (Source 5)

The insecure conditions of the invasion era prompted many free peasants to relinquish their freedom in exchange for the protection of nearby lords. (Source 5)

The insecure conditions of the invasion era prompted many free peasants to relinquish their freedom in exchange for the protection of nearby lords. (Source 5)

The lord drew his sustenance from the dues of his peasants and from the produce of his own fields. (Source 5)

The lord’s fields were strips scattered among the strips of the peasants and were known collectively as his demesne.... [I]n the eleventh century much of the demesne labor was performed by landed serfs who also paid their lord a percentage of the produce of their own fields and rendered him fees for the use of the pasture, the woods, and the lord’s mill and oven. (Source 5)

During the reign of Justinian [in the sixth century] or one of his successors, a law was enacted to put a ceiling price of 15 [coins] on the sale of one pound of raw silk within the empire. (Source 6)

By the late ninth century, when sericulture [silk production] had become an essential part of Byzantine industry, the strategy of the government also changed. (Source 6)

Now the tax exemption encouraged merchants to transport raw silk, and there were no ceiling prices or designated state officials to [prevent] private purchasers. (Source 6)

Though imported raw silk continued to be used in the weaving industry, domestic sericulture changed the strategic position of Byzantium vis-à-vis [in relation to] the Eurasian silk trade. (Source 6)

Instead of fighting with private entrepreneurs for raw materials, Byzantine rulers, with the abundant domestic and foreign supply at their disposal, could manipulate the weaving, the patterns and the dyeing in government workshops to produce fancy silk textiles. (Source 6)

It does not have much wealth, and it furnishes scarcely food enough for its cultivators. (Source 7)

Let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and controversies slumber. (Source 7)

Jerusalem desires to be liberated and does not cease to implore you to come to her aid. (Source 7)

God has conferred upon you above all nations great glory in arms. (Source 7)

Accordingly, undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the kingdom of heaven. (Source 7)

Accordingly, undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the kingdom of heaven. (Source 7)

Byzantium was concerned about the advances into its territories of central Asians, the Seljuks, and what it wanted when it sought Rome’s assistance was mercenaries it could deploy in its defense. (Source 8)

Instead, it got a number of independent crusading groups embracing pilgrims, adventurers, knights..., and many camp followers with meager, if any, resources. (Source 8)

Mortality was high from diseases like malaria and typhoid that were more severe when accompanied by malnourishment, poor water, and crowded conditions. (Source 8)

Mortality was high from diseases like malaria and typhoid that were more severe when accompanied by malnourishment, poor water, and crowded conditions. (Source 8)

It is doubtful he foresaw likely consequences of the fervor generated by his call or the lethal results. (Source 8)

Others were promised that outstanding debt or crimes would be written off. And the general offer was indulgences for sins and, by implication, those sins committed along the pilgrimage route. (Source 8)

Most crusaders would return home, but many of the leaders sought an economic base and were inclined to attack centers like Antioch, even if that went against the interests of Byzantium. (Source 8)