Primary Sources - Middle Ages - Required Reading

See the companion document to these readings for questions and points to consider  in your discussion participation.

Religion and the Catholic Church

• The Seven Sacraments
• Three monastic rules: The Rule of St. Columba, The Rule of St. Benedict and The Rule of St. Francis
• A Description of Clairvaux
• Tales of the Devil

Law and Government

• Juridic Ordeals: Hot Water and Hot Iron and Cold Water
• Oaths of Fidelity
• Oaths of Loyalty
• The Peace of God and The Truce of God
• Capitularies:  On Saxony, On Villas, On Monks
• Frederick II, Statute in Favor of the Princes
• Fief Ceremonies
• Coronation ceremony of Richard I
• Constitutions of Clarendon
• Louis IX's letter of advice to his son
• Advice to a Cardinal from Lorenzo de' Medici
• Machiavelli, exerpts

Cities, Trade and Commerce

• Domesday Book: a sample and a picture
• Inventory of a Royal Estate
• Bill of Sale and a Bill of Lading
• An Order to Purchase
• A Purchase on Credit
• Purchase of Shares in a Ship
• Charter for the Town of St. Omer
• Charter for the Town of Lorris

Popes and Emperors

• The Doctrine of the Two Powers
• Dictatus papae
• Clericis laicos
• Unam sanctam
• Licet juris
• Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges

Society's Ills

• An Urban Revolt, 1115
• Revolt in Chartres, 1210
• English Peasants' Revolt
• Jack Cade's complaints