Medieval Synthesis Wylie Period 6 Team 2

During the medieval period, there was a strict social hierarchy that everyone followed. On top of the social pyramid were the aristocrats, which included the king, nobleman, and higher clergy. Although this elite group was only a small portion of the population, they practically controlled everything socially, politically, and economically. They ruled over the commoners—largely composed of farmers—who were at the bottom of the pyramid. The nobleman gained much of their power and wealth by renting out their lands to farmers. Although the nobleman rented their land, the farmers were practically treated as slaves and were often indebted to the nobleman because they were able to meet the quota set by the nobleman. After the Bubonic plague, a revolution threatened to take place as farmers were pushed to edge with the shortage of labor. Realizing that a revolution was threatening to take place, noblemen began to relinquish their rights to their land and sell them to the farmers. During this time a new social hierarchy began to form, when a new social class of tradesman began to gain enough wealth to have influence on society. This new class of tradesman was able to gain power and the status of “untitled” aristocrats, surpassing even the “titled” aristocrats who were born with nobility. Unlike titled nobleman who spent their money in building lavishing homes, the untitled aristocrats spent their money into works such as iron work and merchant fleets which gained helped them gain more money. As tradesman began to make more money, they gained more power in society, while the previous aristocrats began to lose theirs.

This change in social hierarchy during the medieval period is evident through the change in people depicted in medieval art. Before the rise of tradesman, medieval art often revolved around the aristocrats, but after the rise of tradesman, medieval art began to depict businessmen and their family. For instance medieval donor portraits which were usually filled with high officials such as the kings and popes were filled with tradesman. This change in subject in donor portraits in medieval art reflected the social change of the period. As the tradesman began to gain status in society, the aristocrats who were on top were no longer idolized as much as they once were and much like the donor paintings, the aristocrats were replaced by these wealthy businessmen. The rise in number of donor portraits of tradesmen during the time also signified the change in social power and status since some donor paintings were paid to be made. One of the reason why aristocrats were the only people depicted in donor pictures was because they were the only people could afford it, and so the fact that more donor painting depicted tradesman signified the new wealth and status tradesman had in society during that time. Ultimately, the change in medieval donor portraits and in medieval art in general, was heavily influenced by the emergence of tradesman and their rise in status.