history paper.

Source Analysis Template

Primary source: Saint Louis' Advice to His Son, in Medieval Civilization, trans. and eds. Dana Munro and George Clarke Sellery (New York: The Century Company, 1910), pp. 366 -75.

Secondary Source: Backman, Clifford R. The words of Medieval Europe. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.pp. 392-412.

Primary source

1. Who wrote the text, when was the text written and for whom did the author write? (E.g., Give the name and the person’s role in society or the person’s role in relation to the events/ ideas described in the text, specific year or general time period).

St. Louis is the author of the letter. He wrote it for his eldest son. St. Louis had a role to guide his eldest son, Philip III who is the next kin of kin in the throne. He wanted Philip to change their perceptions upon kinship in case they are crowned to sit on the throne. It is not clear for me the time that letter was written.

2. How do you know the author wrote the text for this audience? List two specific examples and explain why these examples are significant.

! The topics on Holy church and social status highlight the reasons on why the author

wrote the letter of advice for the audience. Several examples appear to justify on these reasons. For instance, St. Louis advises his son to give his beneficiaries of the Holly Church which he has given to righteous persons, either of good and precious life and that he should grant them with the high counsel of reasonable men. He feels that it is better to provide the benefices to those who possess nothing in the presence of the Holy Church at the expense of giving it to others. He views that those who already have assets tend to use it carelessly compared to the less privileged. This example is quite applicable in the contemporary world. The authors offers insights to the world that the poor should be given an upper hand when considering favor. Moreover the example offers insights on the need to appreciate the poor persons irrespective of their social classes.

Perfect illustration is that author stresses that he should ensure that his towns, cities and live in peace for they shall play a critical role in case his Kingdom is under the threat of attack. He views that the successor should strive to maintain or improve the estate and the liberty after it was granted to them by the predecessors. As a matter of fact, they should upgrade, enhance and improve their favor and love. He views that through this strength and the riches of the good cities that the native and the foreigner especially the peers and the barons will be prevented from doing

any evil to the mighty. He uses a perfect example of how keeping peace in Paris played a vital role against his barons when he was capped as the new king of France.

3. What possible biases does the author have? Give specific examples from the text to support why you think the author has a particular bias or is pushing a certain point- of-view.

! The author has developed a biased towards social classes. For instance, in the St. Louis

letter of advice, he give more preference towards the poor rather than the rich in the society. In my opinion, I feel that a person should not try to favor any social class. For example, the author advises his son that he should embrace tenderness towards the poor in the society. He articulates that it is crucial for the king to stay loyal to his subjects as it will strengthen his capability reign as the king of France. He agitates that it is important to be fair in judgment in the context that the poor should not be victimized against the rich and that they should be considered free until justified guilty.

4. Give a brief summary of the text (2-3 lines): !

St. Louis letter of advice to Philip III offers insight on the persons about to sit on the throne like Philip III to change their perception towards justice, administration, diverse social status and the Holy Church.

5. Do you notice any themes or certain word-choices in the text? What are they (please list specific examples from the text itself). Why are these important for gaining insights into the author’s point-of-view?

! Rich and poor folks highlight the word choices in the St. Louis letter of advice. These

word choices offer insights on the need to appreciate people irrespective of their social classes. He believes that the poor are knowledgeable in managing the resources better than the rich in the society. The king draws his lessons from the years of reign as the king of Paris.

6. Why is the text important for the society in which it was produced? What is its historical significance of the text?

! The text plays a critical role in helping the students during history lectures to comprehend

the authorship among the kings in the French territory.

7. How does this source complement or add to information learned in class through lectures or activities?

! The source helps in understanding the kingship and its perception towards social status,

towns, administration in general.

8. How does this source complement or add to information you have read in the assigned class readings?

! The text is important in unveiling on the need for the high and mighty to stop ignoring

persons irrespective of the social classes. The author feels that the kings should treat their subjects well.

9. What question about this time period do you think this source could help answer (e.g., the source provides evidence for what?)

! The chapter offers evidence for the how the kinship abuse their authorship by changing

their approach towards towns, administration and social status. The social cohesion in Paris help to explain the need for keeping good relations between subjects and kings.

Secondary source

10. What is the author’s thesis/argument? If you do not think there is an “argument” per se, what is the main point the author is trying to get across? !

The author enumerates taxation which was imposed on citizens of various states during the medieval era as a primary factor which contributed to the rise of a representative institution. This transition is ultimately considered significant in that, monitoring of rulers’ authority could be easily carried out by these forms of representation. The ruler’s financial capability was the crucial determinant in conducting administrative duties, as such, during a crisis they turned to their citizens for support in the form of taxes. In this case, the citizens also wanted to gain from the taxes they paid, this called for a rise of a representative institution which acted as a voice in determining how the citizens' money was to be spent. As illustrated by the author, this can be considered the primary factor which contributed to the rise of representative institutions such as parliaments.

! 11. What evidence does the author use to support the thesis/argument(s) or support his/her main point? !

The rise of a representative government in England weakened the monarchy to some extent. In this particular context, the spotlight is mainly directed to John. Numerous municipal charters and unified commercial tax codes are encouraged. They also charged fees for favors granted by the crown. All this procedures were ways of raising funds to provide bulk regarding King's revenue (page 395-397).

However, the citizens rebelled to some extent, and a meeting with the leaders of the rebellion had to be set up. John had to sign the Magna Carta, which guaranteed rights of the citizens and was a pacesetter when it came to establishing a representative government. Regarding this platform, the citizens wanted to gain from the taxes they paid, this called for a rise in a representative institution which acted as a voice in determining how the citizens’ money was to be spent.

! 12. Give a summary of the article/chapter. !

This particular text enumerates citizens of specific governments demanding to be kept in the loop regarding the contribution they make to their respective states, mainly through paying taxes. A form of representation is therefore called for. In this way the citizens have a voice in dictating how their money will be used in the developing process. As illustrated in England, there is a significant drop in the powers of the monarch, as such; monitoring and setting limits to rulers’ authority are identified as an effect of the various forms of representation.

Coincidentally, there is, however, a contradiction in the France monarch in that, as powers of the English crown subsided based on the forms of representation, the France monarch had an elevation in that context. Philip, the France ruler, justified every reason as he sourced for funds, thus building a rapport with his citizens in contradiction to John who had no credible reasons to source for funds.

! 13. Do you see any problems with the author’s use of evidence or the author’s thesis?

In respect to this particular text, the author enumerates taxation which was imposed on citizens of various states during the medieval era as a primary factor which contributed to the rise of a representative institution. However, the fact that China, as enumerated in this text, fails to adopt the tradition of representation, all the subjects of Song emperors hated paying taxes. This admonishes the details that the author presents.

! 14. How does this source complement or add to the information you have read in the assigned class readings? !

The worlds in medieval Europe comes in handy in terms of complementing what the lecturer has taught in the class. The source gives great information that a student needs to know about what was happening in Europe and it’s neighbors in the medieval era. In other words, the book simplifies the workload the students may be having in having to read dozens of books in search of a particular information regarding the period.

! 15. How does this source complement or add to the information you have read in the assigned class readings? ! Regarding “Roger of Wendover 1215” by Runnymede, King John of England is forced to sign the Magna Carta, which guarantees rights of the citizens. This was the pacesetter when it came to establishing a representative government. This was due to the rebelling of citizens regarding the numerous municipal charters and unified commercial tax codes. Also charging of fees for favors granted by the crown as a mechanism of raising funds to provide bulk regarding King's revenue, led to this revolt. Given the platform, the citizens wanted to gain from the taxes they paid, this called for a rise in a representative institution which acted as a voice in determining how the citizens’ money was to be spent.

Also, basing on “The Outrage at Anagni 1303” by William of Hundley, the Pope is counted as having surrendered following the ambush that came his way. This was as a result of citizens demanding a platform in which they could also participate in giving concrete suggestions and problem-solving techniques regarding how their money was being formed. As a result, it called for a representative institution as depicted in The Worlds of Medieval Europe by Clifford.

! 16. What question about this period do you think this source could help answer (e.g., the source provides evidence for what?) !

Here, evidence regarding taxation playing a primary role in the rise of a representative institution has been enumerated extensively. As such, the citizens figure out that the only way they can have a say, even though indirectly, is by pushing for forms of representation which acted as a voice in determining how their money was to be spent. Also monitoring and setting limits to rulers’ authority can be identified as a discipline which has been fully expounded on based on the particular source.

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