It’s In The Cards-

Using playing cards to represent

Medieval Class Structure

One individual’s interpretation

Disclaimer-

This is only a theory-

Any resemblance to the truth is only by luck Information received today should be viewed as the ravings of a individual with far too much time on his hands

I repeat, this is only a theory

Rank the suites from highest to lowest

Spades

Diamonds

Hearts Clubs

Spades- Nobility

Hearts- Church

Diamonds- Merchants

Clubs- Peasants

King of Spades

Sword- symbol of power and authority

Power was kept by military force

Money was needed for army and weapons

Nobility had standing armies to protect land

Feudalism- a political and economic way of governing land

Fief- land which has been given by a lord to his vassal- in return for the land, the vassal owes the lord- military service, respect, payment in kind ceremony was approved and bless by the church

Subinfeudation- dividing a fief which allows a vassal to become a lord to someone else- “landlord” landlord was given military service, respect, payment

Nobility- 5% of the population Church included

Higher vassals

Lesser vassals might include lesser sons

Peasants- 95 % bound to the land

One king - a vassal to another king

That king would still owe- military service, respect, payment in kind

King of England vassal to France- Normandy, France

Military service called for 90 service only

“Divine Right of Kings” Who died and left you king?

Believed God picked this family Father to son

Contract - king and people

Right to Rebellion contract broken

King of Hearts-

Sword shown, but not used- power to punish

Hand over the heart- church’s power to forgive “Maya Culpa”-

King of Diamonds-

Hands free- merchants need hands to work

Economic power

Financed nobility bigger role and voice in government

King of Clubs

Orb- ancient symbol of the earth

Peasants were ‘bound’ to the earth for life

Sword- peasants made up the bulk of the fighting force

The Queens-

Flower- symbol of womanhood and birth

The ‘life’ of nobility runs through the queen

Jack of Spades-

“Divine Right of Kings”family chosen by

God

Symbol of Infinity

Jack of Hearts-

Role as teacher

Quill copied the Bible by hand

Dove’s feather- Peace and Love

Jack of Diamonds-

No sword but a weapon Apprentice to their father

I’m stretching on this one !!

Jack of Clubs

Back turned to nobility-

Every face card- but the Jack faces nobility

Sign of respect acknowledging power and role of the nobility

Assignment-

Objective-AF7c2- Analyzes the organizational structure of an existing art form for the purpose of creating an original interpretive piece.

Each of you will create four playing cards, each with their own suit.

You will design your cards to have different rankjust as we showed today.

Symbols, objects and the like will also be included and explained to me in written form

Be sure to tie in the objects to the origin of the card which are shown.

Due date- 3-17-05

This is the Thursday before Spring Vacation. If you know that you will not be here, you are to get the cards to me before you leave.

Be creative, original, and remember that you are limited only by your lack of imagination