Society in Outremer Flashcards
(30 cards)
how were minorities integrated into outremer?
- Some minorities were largely limited to a particular region
- Other minorities comprised religious communities in or near Jerusalem
give an example of a minority which was largely limited to a particular region of outremer
The Maronites in the County of Tripoli and the northernmost parts of the kingdom of Jerusalem
give examples of minorities which comprised religious communities in or near Jerusalem
the Georgians, Copts, and Ethiopians
where did armenians mainly live in outremer?
Armenians, beside a significant community in Jerusalem itself, also lived in all the major towns of Outremer - were particularly numerous in Antioch and Edessa and formed a sizeable element in the countryside of Edessa
where did jacobites mainly live in outremer?
Jacobites (Syrian Orthodox Church) were concentrated in the north but a rural population was resettled by Baldwin I from east of the Jordan to villages to the south of Jerusalem - also had a pesence in the main towns
where did jewish people mainly live in outremer?
Jewish communities lived in the coastal towns, especially Haifa, and comprised some villages in Galilee
where did Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox people and Muslims mainly live in outremer
Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox people and the Muslims were scattered throughout Outremer, with larger concentrations of Muslims in the kingdom of Jerusalem than in the northern states
what is the ‘Harmonious Relationship Theory ‘?
Franks became ‘orientalised’ and adopted the customs and practices of the indigenous population, having respectful relationships with each other
Seemingly naive view where western influence on the east resulted in law, order, and tolerance
theorised that Franks were ‘seduced by Muslim culture’ because they adopted local clothes; just more suitable for the climate and don’t necessarily indicate integration
what evidence is there for the Harmonius Relationship Theory?
Ibn Jubayr, c.1184, during 32-day visit, wrote of uninterrupted trade, a just legal system, and the harmonious co-existence of Christians and Muslims
what was the segregation theory?
Region was highly-segregated by religion and language, and Franks deliberately isolated themselves from the local population within fortified walls and were ‘almost exclusively and urban society
what is the selective settlement theory?
- There was a higher concentration of Frankish habitations in Western than Eastern Galilee, perhaps because of th eincreasing risk of lawlessness the further east the Franks settlesd
- Franks lived in villages alongside Eastern Christian ones but avoided Muslim areas
- the Frankish period was not always peaceful and each state had different relationships with its indigenous population and Muslim nieghbours
how was intermarriage used in outreemer society?
In Edessa, marriage to women of indigenous nobility was an important way for the Franks to cement their rule over the local peoples; the first 3 Frankish counts here married Armenian wives
During the 12th c. the most popular male names were William, Peter, and John. what does this suggest about society in outremer?
- William represented a royal dynastic image, linked to leading families in the west (england, sicily)
- Peter was consistently popular amongst burgess classes of Medieval Europe and was similarly prominent in the Levant
- The names may also have acquired popularity because they were important in the naming traditions of Eastern Christians; they were appropriate and familiar names for the children of mixed couples
how did the first crusade impact trade?
- The volume of trade with the ports of Syria and Palestine increased significantly as a consequence of the conquest
- Although Outremer was in a near constant state of conflict between the Franks and various Muslim powers, this seems to have had very little impact on trade; traders were largely free to come and go without interference
what kind of taxes did port towns employ?
Taxes could be levied on entrance to the outer and inner harbours as well as the transfer of goods to land, their storage, their sale, and removal from the city by the buyer
how did tax exemptions actually help trade?
Various groups secured exemptions from some taxes, but as this made trade more profitable for them, it encouraged commercial activity such that the overall increase in trade led taxes to rise more overall
why were orthodox churches built in the Byzantine period enlarged or altered in the 12th c.?
to provide for the observance of Roman and Orthodox liturgy
what was society divided into/up by in Outremer?
- In law, the Franks effectively made no distinction on religious grounds between their subject peoples
- Basic division of society was between Franks and non-Franks, not Christians and non-Christians
What poll tax was paid in outremer?
Poll tax on dhimmis (non-Muslims that lived under Islamic rule) was reversed so that a similar tax was now paid by indigenous peoples, whether Muslims, Jews, or Christians - however, because a lord could raise the normal rate arbitrarily, the tax may have been punitive
why was there no Frankish peasant class in Outremer?
the native peoples fulfilled that role by working the land and producing the villeinage analogous to the system of manorial economy in the west
how did agricultural economies change after the first crusade?
An agricultural economy quite similar to that in the West was already developing in the Near East, so Franks made little effective difference to the vast majority of subject peoples
what was status and economic position in outremer based on?
Living in urban or rural area was what affected status and economic position (servitude in the sense of being tied to a piece of land applied only to the rural ecnomy)
what autonomy did subject peoples in outremer have?
Had autonomy of varying degrees in self-government including through their own courts and following their own laws
why was it convenient for Franks to use religion as a determining feature in local jurisdiction?
due to the homogeneity of most units of settlement
