Questions on Monarchy in the Later Middle Ages

Henry II:
     Henry II made it is sole purpose of being king to try and have some hand in each and every country nearby to England. He was given land, or had to take it by force sometimes, but Henry II always had something to do with his neighboring countries. Judging by how King Henry treated the countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, mixed relations will be had in the future. While Henry appealed to some of the ruler's more personal sides, as soon as the bloodline stops and the kings are no longer influenced by King Henry II, their benevolence towards England may stop. Some of the decisions Henry made turned out unsuccessful, such as putting his own son John in the position of vice-regent. He almost lost Ireland and Normandy. If King Henry kept up his thoughts of only caring about a country when he will get something in return, the countries may turn on him in the future.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/henryii_empire_01.shtml

King John and Richard I:
     The conception of Richard being in inherently "good" and John being "bad" is a true statement when viewed in reality. It was not so much what Richard did that was so fantastic that he was  better than John, it was that John had so many pitfall sin his personality that it was impossible for him to become a great king. John falls victim to paranoia and never trusted countries to aid him at any time. This lost him allies, that went over to Richard who treated them with dignity. John lost allies and Richard gained them. Also, even when John did become a king technically when Richard was off on Crusades and he butchered his responsibilities. John could not get any land when he was in a ruling position. John had too many flaws to be considered good in any way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/john_01.shtml

Magna Carta:
     The Magna Carta, as John had wanted it to act, successfully created a stall for the cowardly king. All of John's subjects were not loyal to him, and they would not fight with him, come time for action. The barons did not support any of John's actions. When the Magna Carta was signed, the barons changed their attitudes for a brief moment and gave up hostilities. They made John do what they felt would better their international success. From then on, all of John's subjects opposed him at every turn. It was only after the death of John that the barons helped the king out personally, but this time it was John's son William. John and the Magna Carta did not mesh very well politically.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/magna_01.shtml

Early English History

• 1066- William the Conquerer defeats King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. England was changed forever afterwards. 
• The Domesday Book was the first survey of everything that was in England at the time William took charge. 
• The House of Plantagenet- The places from where people of such caliber as William the Lion-hearted originated. 
• Feudalism- The king is the main ruling figure, the barons own the land and the serfs who work the land. The serfs have to work, but they do get a small bit of land. 
• The Crusades- Early Middle Ages, the Islamic forces had gone through Arabia had taken Constantinople, the center of the old Roman world. England wants to take the Holy Land back. England sends many forces over to Jerusalem, including children. Many new trade routes are developed, as are cities. 
• For many centuries, the Spanish Peninsula is under Islamic control. The English go to Spain to fight the Islamic Moors. 
• Islamic scholars set up libraries, especially in Spain, and these libraries become the center of the knowledge the Moors had captured. 
• The Normans brought the French language to England, which was a pivotal moment in spoken history. 
• After quite some time, people realized the Crusades were not the greatest of ideas. Millions of people had lost their lives on both sides. The Muslims recaptured Jerusalem in 1187, which was a heavy hit to westerners. King Richard failed to recapture the city and Crusading had to end. 
• The treaty of Paris- 200 years after the Norman invasion. King Henry had to sign the treaty which stated that he could not take Nordic land. 
• Henry changed marriage into a political tool. He emphasized marriage to French so as to be more connected to them. 
• Edward I becomes king when his father died.  
• Centralized finances becomes common practice. 
• "Rebellions in Wales are testament to some Welshmen's continuing struggle for independence."
• Westminster Abbey was constructed as a tomb for King Edward I. 
• In the 13th century, Wales was divided in three.   

Baptism- Version Thucydides

The history of the baptism of one James William Knell begins at the entrance of the church. Standing among the pews is his family, exchanging greetings and expectations of the day to come. A deacon dressed in white with a red sash highlighting his attire, walks among the pews, stopping in front of the boy. The boy had on a hooded white garment. The deacon reached for the boy, uttering words of blessing. He rests his hand lightly on the shoulder of the boy, feeling his innocence. The deacon walks from pew to pew, finding each family who has a baby prepared for baptism. 
     James has a family so vast they cover as few as three pews, with James sitting on the edge of the first of the pews of the family. After giving a small blessing to each and every child, the deacon turns and heads to the chamber where the baptisms will take place. The families, of which there are many, file behind the deacon into a smaller chamber where the baptismal font is located. 
     James was carried by his father, Henry James Knell, Jr. The deacon walked around the font, reading a passage from the Bible. The ceremony had begun. He beaconed for the children to be brought one at a time to the baptismal font to receive the sacrament. James was baptized first. The deacon baptizes the boy in the name of the father, son, and Holy Spirit. Each and every time the deacon pours water from his hand to the head of the boy, he utters the sign of the cross. The head of the boy is dried with a white towel. The basic ceremony is over as everyone who witnessed the proceedings applauds.
      James is carried over to the side of the font by his father as the deacon follows. They stop and the deacon anoints James with chrism, making the sign of the cross. Pictures are taken by the family of James, recording this epic moment in his life. Men take candles and take a flame from the much larger and more imposing figure of the Baptismal Candle. Each man has a baby relative who received the sacrament of baptism. The uncle of James carries his candle out of the small chamber into the larger main room of the church. He proceeds down the aisle, paying careful attention to the flame. 

     The deacon stands at the altar as the families listen to his words. All people present say the Lord’s Prayer. The deacon holds his hands up high, blessing all of the baptized children. They all make the sign of the cross and return to their respected pews. James is carried in the arms of his father, shown to his family and the other people, giving them a sense of awe. James is brought back to the baptismal font, where more pictures are recorded and stored for years to come. James is the solitary baby at the fountain at the time. There is a smaller bowl inside of the font that holds the attention of James for the duration. James is held by his father, who is flanked on one side by his wife, the mother of James, and on the other side by the aunt and uncle of James. The time spent in front of the font is ended and James is carried in front of artfully decorated stained glass windows. A red light shines on the blonde hair of the baby boy, who seems oblivious as to what is happening. 
     James smiles a few times throughout the proceedings, finding something quite entertaining. James is passed from loving hand to loving hand, each person embracing him for a moment. They all want to feel the gift he has received from the church. James is very much loved by his family and they all have been previously baptized. The sister of James, as well as his cousins, are both confused and inspired by the ceremony. They seem to have a feeling of nostalgia watching the baptism of James. They peer at the font, knowing that they had once been baptized in the very same place. James, just a baby, has no idea of exactly what all of this means, but it can be seen in his eyes that James will soon realize the importance of the sacrament of Baptism.     

Baptism- Version Herodotus

     As it came to be the ending months of the summer seasons and into the commencing of fall, the baptism of a young child took place. Within two months of this tiny child’s birth his mother and father carried him to the place of their worship, the church of St. Margaret. Well after midday on the holiest day of the week, the ceremony took place. Heat seeped into the room and cast a feeling of passion around.  The child was to be called James William Knell from then forth. There was his family crowded around the font of baptism; all watching the baby become a member of their faith. Young and old, male and female stood and were cheerful at the event. The boy saw the father of his father, the siblings of his father, the father and mother of his mother, the siblings of his mother, the children of the siblings, and his very own sibling. All were present omitting the mother of the child’s father. She had regrettably taken sick and passed away but months before. Each wore formal dress as it was a momentous occasion in this child’s life. The smallest children remembered fondly of their own baptism and were struck with pride that their relationship with this boy would now run thick in spirit.

     Not only was the space occupied by the family of this boy. No less than five other children were awaiting or had already received the sacrament of baptism. All families present acknowledged the gift of this moment and became one family united under one cause, the blessed children silenced under God. The boy’s turn had come at last. 

     The priest, garbed in white as was the child, turned to face the child. A smile was exchanged between them as the priest took the baby from the arms of the mother. Uttering words that could scarcely be heard by each other the members of the family prayed to the Heavens, as it was told from the mother. By the holy hand of the priest the oil of sacrament, as the grandmother labeled it, chrism, was anointed onto the forehead of the small child of Christ. In one of the hands of the priest was a golden saucer, which he placed into the water without the creation of any such ripples as would be expected. The saucer was brought out of the font, dripping of the holy water. The priest lifted his head and the gleaming saucer to the blazing ceiling, asking for it to be blessed once more. The baby was held over the fountain as the saucer was tipped and poured over his shining forehead. The father, nervous, claimed too much water had been poured and feared for the safety of his kin. The priest made the sign of the cross, first on himself and then on the boy, signifying the finality of the baptism. 

     The boy was given back to his mother, who proceeded to kiss him on the head, followed by a kiss from the father. The family retired to an empty pew, each person recognizing the beauty of the ceremony. James William Knell, recalling the events, knew he could feel the gift he had received. There was but one child left to be baptized and the family of the boy watched in silent awe, still mesmerized by the baptism of their very own family member. Gestures of gratitude were issued to the priest as he left to prepare for more ceremonies and occasions of joy. The family arranged to journey to the house of the boy, in order to celebrate. 

     The family split into several distinct groups by which to travel. The mother, father, and sibling of the boy traveled together, each person keeping a watchful and cherishing eye on the child of Christ. The celebration of the ceremony was underway mere moments after the baby boy had received the sacrament of faith. Each and every member of the family reflected back on the ceremony that had taken place in the church. Some related their thoughts directly to the boy, who absorbed every word and sound. Others kept their thoughts personal yet deep, though everyone present thought about the events that had transpired. Copious amounts of joy were swirling around the baby. Tangible gifts were bestowed upon the boy by his relatives. Examples include a Rosary painted gold. Though the boy will not remember the events, he will forever feel it in his heart. 

Intellectual and Cultural History

In the Cisterian Reform, many changes were made structurally to Churches so the Monks could concentrate on their work.

Teaching taken out of being strictly done in Churches and monasteries.

The invention of concrete allowing for paved roads. The development of the practice of keeping historical records allowed for better educations of history.

Many war chronicles and studies of kings and royalty made up the bulk of literature. Columns were very prominent forms of art. In some cultures religious art was created.

The keeping of livestock turned many men into farmers who could live off their own work.

Constitutionalism- The practice of government being held intact by a written constitution.

Forms of communication, good and bad, between countries include creating trade relations, declaring war, and asking for a peace treaty.

The separation of social classes led the peasants to resent their positions and their ideas flooded every class and demanded change.

In early cultures, megaliths, stones, were parts of burial rituals.

European culture grew because of the spices and artifacts that were brought back from expeditions to exotic lands. Conquers were made on new worlds and expanded the world and European cultural similarly.