1  Traditional Society

1.1 Characteristics of Medieval Society

  1. The Medieval West was as poor if not poorer economically than the other world civilizations. Medieval society was an overwhelmingly agricultural society (Rosenberg and Birdzell 1986, 38). While the modern world is “irretrievably urban” traditional society was “unmistakably rural” (Rosenberg and Birdzell 1986, 40).

  2. The Medieval West lacked mass communication, finance and banking, and merchants played a small role in the economy. Factories were non-existent, most production was either small-scale guild production in the towns or relatively isolated large-scale production in the manor. Most product was used on the spot. Production for export to foreign territories was minimal (Rosenberg and Birdzell 1986, 37).

  3. The Medieval West knew no distinction between political and economic authority; in the country the lord ruled his manor. In the city, guilds were autocratically run by guild masters (Rosenberg and Birdzell 1986, 38). Serfs owed political obeisance to the seignur (lord) as well as being economically dependent on him. The distinction between political and economic power was simply unknown (Rosenberg and Birdzell 1986, 41).

  4. Terms of trade were not established through market mechanisms. Instead “custom, usage and law” not “negotiation” and markets governed the economy (e.g. prices, allocation of labor and productive factors, etc.).

  5. Agricultural workers were bound to the land by a system of serfdom, which was a hereditary status (you were born a serf and died a serf with no opportunity for “mobility”).

  6. Markets (for labor, products and factors) were suffused with morality. The notion of a morally neutral market was non-existent. Rules against raising prices or against charging interest were enforced by a combination of moral and religious condemnation.

  7. Economic interdependencies were minimal; the basic production unit was the manor and manors were self-sufficient. “Global” coordination of production enterprises was comparatively under-developed.

  8. The money economy was underdeveloped and in many ways non-existent. Most exchange took the form of barter and the exchange of labor for products. Labor, product, land and factor markets were highly restricted. Workers in a manor could not just pick up and work for some other lord; guild-workers were bound to the authority of the guild and labor market were socially and geographically restricted. Guild workers restricted the prices at which all commodities were to be sold and bought.

  9. Wage labor existed, but was very restricted (to the guilds in the towns) and even there restrictions on the mobility of labor were severe. Traditional restrictions against exchanging various goods and services for money were strong. “Usury” (the lending of money for a profit in the form of interest was regarded as sin).

  10. Economic activity was not guided or governed by “rational” considerations as we understand it. The notion of economic calculation of risk and benefits and of profit was alien to the Medieval mind. Instead custom, tradition and law dominated business and economic activity. Markets for credit and money were non-existent. The idea of applying rational techniques of risk assessments for the introduction of new technology or even the notion of maximizing production was non-existent.

1.2 Culture and Mentality

  1. At the social level status divisions and hierarchy dominated social relations. Inferiors were expected to show outward deference and respect for their status superiors, and superiors were likely to expect and enforce this deference.

  2. Ideas of individual “rights” were non-existent. Only collective or group rights were recognized.

  3. The conception of privacy was underdeveloped and in many ways non-existent. Bodily excretions and bodily functions were out there for everybody to see. Notions related to “manners” and “decorum” were underdeveloped. Violence was rampant. Death was a public not a Private event.

  4. Cruel punishment and violence were the name of the game. Modern notions of “compassion” and caring for others in general were non-existent.

  5. Magic and superstition suffused everyday life. The world was seen as populated with a host of supernatural entities.

  6. The institutionalization of the criminal and the “insane” was generally minimal.

1.3 Discussion Questions

  • What characteristics of traditional (medieval society) struck you as most radically different from contemporary society?
  • What part of the description of Medieval society did you find surprising? Why?
  • Is there any aspect of Medieval society that you think we should go back to?
  • What aspects of Medieval society do you see as continuous to modern society