Posted by Dinah on November 17, 2011, at 11:26:24
In reply to Re: the political climate you would like » Dinah, posted by floatingbridge on November 17, 2011, at 9:37:27
It was a very bad time. I don't even envy the very wealthy back then. It's interesting to think of the colder climate conditions as being caused by a comet rather than just a cyclical change.
I hadn't realized the black death had hit so early. I think I always associate plagues with the later middle ages, and the end of the feudal system, increased resentment towards the church, etc. All that societal upheaval makes perfect sense when considered along with the plague. Serfs could no longer be considered renewable resources of little value.
There is a series of books by Valerie Anand (aka Fiona Buckley), starting with The Proud Villeins, then the Ruthless Yeoman, etc. It actually starts near the conquest and moves forward, but from the point of view of a family who somehow lost their free-man status and became serfs, then the family eventually progresses up the social ladder again. I can't bear to read them. It is too upsetting to me. Probably if I ever got through the first book, or maybe the second, it would get lighter.
poster:Dinah
thread:1001838
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20110926/msgs/1002875.html