Changes

Christianity and its new network of churches helped filled the void.  Also, a new method developed for protecting private property and encouraging farming on a local level rather than through a centralized empire:  [[feudalism]].  It arose independently and simultaneously in Western Europe and [[Japan]].  '''Mystery: why the coincidence in feudalism arising at the same time in unrelated parts of the world?'''

Christianity and its new network of churches helped filled the void.  Also, a new method developed for protecting private property and encouraging farming on a local level rather than through a centralized empire:  [[feudalism]].  It arose independently and simultaneously in Western Europe and [[Japan]].  '''Mystery: why the coincidence in feudalism arising at the same time in unrelated parts of the world?'''

During the Middle Ages, a huge church-state network called "Christendom" held influence over all of Europe.  Christendom consisted of a religious hierarchy of priests, cardinals and a pope, and a secular (non-religious) hierarchy known as the [[imperium]].  These corresponded to man's spiritual needs and his worldly or temporal needs.  In Western Europe, the pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] ruled over the religious side and an emperor ruled over the secular side, and they were often arguing with each other.  Emperors tried to control church officials and vice-versa.  The Church even had its own armies and cities, and a powerful pope named [[Innocent III]] even asserted the right to resolve disputes between kings.  The pope would [[excommunicate]] (kick out of the Church) kings to show his disapproval, and at times even attempted to remove kings from power.  This all makes for interesting reading and debate.

During the Middle Ages, a huge church-state network called "Christendom" held influence over all of Europe.  Christendom consisted of a religious hierarchy of priests, cardinals and a pope, and a secular (non-religious) hierarchy known as the [[imperium]] (from Latin, meaning "power").  These corresponded to man's spiritual needs and his worldly or temporal needs.  In Western Europe, the pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] ruled over the religious side and an emperor ruled over the secular side, and they were often arguing with each other.  Emperors tried to control church officials and vice-versa.  The Church even had its own armies and cities, and a powerful pope named [[Innocent III]] even asserted the right to resolve disputes between kings.  The pope would [[excommunicate]] (kick out of the Church) kings to show his disapproval, and at times even attempted to remove kings from power.  This all makes for interesting reading and debate.

   

   

There were other threats to peace.  Foreigners from Asia known as "[[Mongols]]" were vicious warriors who seemed invincible.  And there was a terrible disease:  the [[bubonic plague]] was probably the worst disease in all of history, killing a large percentage of the European population.

There were other threats to peace.  Foreigners from Asia known as "[[Mongols]]" were vicious warriors who seemed invincible.  And there was a terrible disease:  the [[bubonic plague]] was probably the worst disease in all of history, killing a large percentage of the European population.

As the Roman empire was collapsing in the A.D. 400s, it withdrew from Britain.  In the view of some, the legend of King Arthur dates to this time, when a hero named Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged for the British people.  But no one knows how much truth there is in the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot and Guinevere, who was Arthur's wife (a romantic couple like the one below right).

As the Roman empire was collapsing in the A.D. 400s, it withdrew from Britain.  In the view of some, the legend of King Arthur dates to this time, when a hero named Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged for the British people.  But no one knows how much truth there is in the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot and Guinevere, who was Arthur's wife (a romantic couple like the one below right).

[[Image:From King Arthur times.jpg|400px|right]]

[[Image:From King Arthur times.jpg|400px|right]]

Who were the British people at that time?  The "Anglo-Saxons", who were Germanic tribes that conquered England and ruled it in a chaotic manner until the Norman conquest of A.D. 1066 brought order and prosperity to the entire island.  The "Anglo-Saxons" were actually a mixture of three different Germanic peoples:  the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.  The "Picts" were another group of people who emerged in Scotland at this time. During this period, much of England was captured by the Vikings from Scandanavia, with eventually only Wessex left. However, the greatest Anglo-Saxon ruler Alfred the Great, recaptured the rest of England from Viking occupation in the A.D. 800s.

Who were the British people at that time?  The "Anglo-Saxons", who were Germanic tribes that conquered England and ruled it in a chaotic manner until the Norman conquest of A.D. 1066 brought order and prosperity to the entire island.  The "Anglo-Saxons" were actually a mixture of three different Germanic peoples:  the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.  The "Picts" were another group of people who emerged in Scotland at this time. During this period, much of England was captured by the Vikings from Scandinavia, with eventually only Wessex free of Viking control. From Wessex the greatest Anglo-Saxon ruler, Alfred the Great, emerged to free the rest of England from Viking occupation in the A.D. 800s.

Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine of Canterbury to convert Britain to Christianity in A.D. 596, and English monks and nuns helped that effort in the centuries that followed.

Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine of Canterbury to convert Britain to Christianity in A.D. 596, and English monks and nuns helped that effort in the centuries that followed.

The roots of our free enterprise economic system of private property are in feudalism.  The impact goes beyond private property.  The entire concept of "customer service" and "the customer is always right" can be traced to the chivalry developed under feudalism.

The roots of our free enterprise economic system of private property are in feudalism.  The impact goes beyond private property.  The entire concept of "customer service" and "the customer is always right" can be traced to the chivalry developed under feudalism.

The institution of marriage was strengthened by feudalism.  There was no place for unmarried adults, or polygamy, both of which plagued other cultural systems throughout history.

The institution of marriage was strengthened by feudalism.  There was no place for unmarried adult couples, or polygamy, which have harmed other societies throughout history.

The concept of "sportsmanship", which we hear so much about today, comes from the chivalry that developed during feudalism.  The chivalry of looking out for each other, and particularly for children and the elderly, became strong too.

The concept of "sportsmanship", which we hear so much about today, comes from the chivalry that developed during feudalism.  The chivalry of looking out for each other, and particularly for children and the elderly, became strong too.

Feudalism had much that many people miss today.  For example, people worked close to home, and there was no commuting or traveling to a job.  No one was "laid off" by a big company then and left without work.  Communities were strong and people defended each other against foreign enemies.  Families stayed close together.  Perhaps the roots of homeschooling are in feudalism!

Feudalism had much that many people miss today.  For example, people worked close to home, and there was no commuting or traveling to a job.  No one was "laid off" by a big company then and left without work.  Communities were strong and people defended each other against foreign enemies.  Families stayed close together.  Perhaps the roots of homeschooling are in feudalism!

Communism, which did not develop until the 20th century, is the exact opposite of chivalry:  under communism, everyone is treated the same or "equally": boys and girls, men and women, young and old.

Communism, which did not develop until the 20th century, is the exact opposite of chivalry:  under communism, everyone is treated "equally" poorly: boys and girls, men and women, young and old.

==Feudalism and Religion in Japan==

==Feudalism and Religion in Japan==

Feudalism then developed in Japan as families began to acquire control over land and establish independent estates, just as the lords did in Western Europe.  '''The peasants were bound to both the land and their master in Japan'''.  Like medieval Europe, fortresses were constructed to protect the large estates and moats were even used to surround the fortress, for added protection.  An example of a family that built a large, independent estate was the Fujiwara.

Feudalism then developed in Japan as families began to acquire control over land and establish independent estates, just as the lords did in Western Europe.  '''The peasants were bound to both the land and their master in Japan'''.  Like medieval Europe, fortresses were constructed to protect the large estates and moats were even used to surround the fortress, for added protection.  An example of a family that built a large, independent estate was the Fujiwara.

The world's first psychological novel, "The Tale of Genji," was written in the 1000s by Lady Murasaki about Japanese culture during the Heian period (794-1185).  This was a period of great style in Japan with its center at the capital at Heian, where Kyoto is today.<ref>In 1997, Kyoto became known as the place where many nations attempted to limit the alleged global warming through the "Kyoto Treaty" for reducing factory and car emissions, which the United States never ratified.</ref>

The world's first psychological novel, "The Tale of Genji," was written in the 1000s by Lady Murasaki about Japanese culture during the Heian period (794-1185).  This was a period of great style in Japan with its center at the capital at Heian, where Kyoto is today.<ref>In 1997, Kyoto became known as the place where many nations attempted to limit the alleged global warming through the "Kyoto Treaty" for reducing factory and car emissions, a treaty that the United States Senate never ratified.</ref>

Skilled military leaders or generals, known as "bushi", raised their own armies of "samurai" soldiers to protect their estates.  Like the chivalry in Western Europe, the samurai lived by a code of conduct known as the "bushido", meaning "the way of the warrior."  One difference is that bushido included a code for Japanese women to follow, while chivalry did not.  Bushido involved a ritual known as "seppuku", by which samurai committed suicide through self-disembowelment.  Seppuku was practiced when a warrior faced the prospect of dishonor, or to avoid disloyalty, or to display protest.

Skilled military leaders or generals, known as "bushi", raised their own armies of "samurai" soldiers to protect their estates.  Like the chivalry in Western Europe, the samurai lived by a code of conduct known as the "bushido", meaning "the way of the warrior."  One difference is that bushido included a code for Japanese women to follow, while chivalry did not.  Bushido involved a ritual known as "seppuku", by which samurai committed suicide through self-disembowelment.  Seppuku was practiced when a warrior faced the prospect of dishonor, or to avoid disloyalty, or to display protest.