Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong Middle Ages 11: The Pulsating Body -- The Medieval World View
Jul 6, 2017
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Presumptive Authority Of The Past
- Medieval people prioritized the authority of the past when deciding what was true or good.
- This 'presumptive authority of the past' emerged after early medieval breakdowns, making continuity and stability a higher cultural value than innovation.
Fractal Organization From Households To Kingdoms
- Medieval society had a fractal or fractile structure where local household relations replicated upward into villages, lordships, and kingdoms.
- Power was strongest locally and grew more tenuous at higher scales, so stability depended on reproducing small-scale patterns across levels.
House Peace And Local Boundaries
- Medieval household autonomy was enforced by customs like 'house peace' and village boundaries that regulated entry and local authority.
- These invisible lines (e.g., where rain runs off a roof) defined exclusive domestic jurisdiction against outsiders and officials.