Society

Germanic society of the 1450’s AD


At this time Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire, which heavily effected its social norms, everything revolved around the core values of the Empire, and its religious origins. The church controlled every aspect of society, but1450 was a time of reformation many movements began in the church due largely in part to some conflicts between separate leaders in the church causing schisms to form within the church. Some of these newly found organizations in the church were the humanist’s hussites and Taborites possibly the most radical reformation group, they believed in the purification of the empire and the world which could only be done by fire and sword essentially they wanted to pull a crusade. They also were dead set on breaking down barriers between the classes within Germany. Due to this social turmoil of the late middle ages classes weren’t gotten rid of entirely but the barriers between them became more transparent people could cross across such social boundaries much more easily. Nobles in particular saw a decline to their position, power, and class.
New technologies such as longbows and gunpowder challenged their knight’s supremacy on the battlefield. And inflation made the amount of land that a lord owned more burdensome then profitable, essentially ripping away their only true power, fear and money, but noble status was still the place to be, and there were a few noble families that flourished in such conditions since there was less noble competition. The noble's decline meant other classes had a chance to rise, such as the peasants by 1450 most peasants had bought themselves freedom from their respective lords, and many of them even owned plots of farmland. Owning their own land was a greater incentive to work harder which lead to greater agricultural production, which in turn helped boost Germany’s population. The middle class benefited by making money from the nobles either through loans with interest; or selling them goods for profit.

However wealthy nobles may have been, it seemed that a lot their money was ending up in the hands of middle class merchants.
But no matter how little money a noble family had they were still noble, And people still coveted such a status, so merchant families when rich enough would try to marry into a noble family which was beneficial to both, the noble family gained wealth while the merchants gained nobility. Even though there seemed to be all these beneficial changes for the good of the people, women were still treated more like objects then human beings, and while the 1450’s gave birth to so many improvements and good things they also gave birth to the witch trials which is way new way to subjugate women by simply threatening to accuse them of witchery.

So like most of Europe at the time it was not the best place to be female, but if you were a merchant’s daughter or a noble’s daughter there was very slim chance of such accusations ever being brought forth.


•The German Mind/ by William J.Bossenbrook/©1961
•The Holy Roman Empire A dictionary Handbook by Johnathon W. Zophy © 1980

•A history of Modern Germany by Hajo Holborn ©1959

Language

Germany has always been a popular spot for culture. There have always been documented people and tribes that have inhabited the German landscape. The oldest human remains were actually recovered in Germany (Priebsch 1958: 22), which shows that there have been many different people who have, in turn, developed the German language.
The German language is part of the Indo-European family, transitioning in Germanic, and eventually into Low Germanic and Middle-High Germanic. Germanic was the first documented language used in Germany, and in fact, was spoken throughout Western Europe (Waterman 1976: 3). As of 1450 A.D, Low Germanic (c. 770-c. 1050) and Middle-High Germanic (c. 1050-c. 1350) had been the main dialect forms spoken in Germany (Chambers 1970: 31). It was around this time that a new German dialect was in the process of becoming the main dialect. This new dialect was eventually named High Germanic, but was completely formed after 1450 A.D. The predominant language throughout Germany was Middle-High Germanic which was taught in schools. This dialect mainly focused on grammar, and that is what was taught in schools throughout Germany. Middle-High Germanic is actually very similar to the English language today, and how the grammar structure is put together. There are very similar words throughout both languages, which is very interesting. According to the Indo-European family tree, English and Germanic are actually very close together, which explains the similarities between the two languages.



Germanic writing was originally written with the runic alphabet, and was first documented between the 6th and 7th century. The word rune comes from the ancient Germanic root meaning ‘mysterious’ or ‘secret’. It was believed that only soothsayers and men of religion could interpret the meaning of the words, which many people still believe in other religions including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism (Chambers 1970: 25-27). Some of the ancient runic letters look very similar to the letters we use today. This just goes back to how the Germanic language and English are very similar.





The Germanic speaking techniques are very similar to English. They focus on pronunciations of words, and when you can or cannot say them. They are a little different in a few aspects of speaking though, one of them being how to approach a person you want to talk to. They give a handshake to say hello and goodbye, but what is different is how the women are supposed to act. In modern time, the man would usually approach the woman and offer out his hand for a handshake. Men in the Germanic culture would never do this, because they are above that. The women are expected to make the first move when greeting a man. They must offer out their hand for a handshake first.





The most celebrated ritual in Germanic history was Yule. Yule was the biggest festival of the year, and happened during the winter to celebrate the winter solstice. Today, many people believe the celebration of Yule influenced how many people celebrate the Christmas Holiday.

The focus of education in Germany in the 14th century was entirely focused on males. Even with education directed at the male population majority were not formally educated in a school system. The clergy set the standards if faith and morals. They were to care for the souls and form the mind of their flock (Paulsen, 5).The clergy represented the learning in general. The clergy were also the most educated. The aristocracy were the second class, they did not receive a formal education(Paulsen, 6). However they were usually literate. The third class made up of peasants and traders had no professional education. The males received their education at home. They were able to acquire the various skills needed in everyday life. Merchant's sons' entered the workshop or business as an apprentice (Paulsen, 7). The rise of university's in Germany began at the beginning of the 14th century. Prague university was founded in 1349, Vienna university was founded in 1365, and Heidelberg university was founded in 1385 with many more following behind them (Paulsen, 21).

Child-Rearing
During this time frame in Germany the citizens firmly believed in a higher power. Beginning at conception. The German people believe that males receive their souls on the 14th day after they are conceived. The soul is said to receive the original sin from God's first man Adam when it is infused into the body. However female babies don't receive their souls until 80 days after conception. The female is being punished because Eve's sin was much greater so the female must suffer for her mistakes (Schultz, 109). Many German mother's would lose their lives in childbirth. Midwives were on hand much like in today's society to coach the mother through the birth. However the father was not allowed to be present at the time of birth (Schultz, 109). Once the child is born it gains the father's status (Schultz, 112). The child is considered a heathen until it's "Second Birth", a baptism. The baptism makes the baby a child of God (Schultz, 112). Patterns in the Germany showed late marriages and few children born to each couple. In fact 2/3 of the children born were the only child born to their parents (Schultz, 114). Therefore the children were expected to be devoted to their parents through obligation and obedience (Schultz, 111).

Subsistence

In the year 1450 Germany was an agricultural society. Communities were permanent and there was intensive labor performed daily to produce the necessary food. Common foods were bread, potatoes, peas, beans, and assorted meats such as beef, pork, fish, and chicken. (Adamson 2004) A daily meal looked like this: “In the morning soup and bread; for lunch at midday a strong soup, good meat, vegetables, and half a jug of ordinary wine; in the evening a strong soup, or meat and bread.”(Janssen 1896: 350) Meat was only served at every meal to those who could afford it.

Tenant farmers, also known as peasants, were the people who grew the food and raised the livestock. The tenant farmers were tied to the land they were born on. A child born to farmers would be required to work on that land for the rest of their life. Jobs for children included clearing stones off the farmland and keeping animals away from crops. The tenant families had small houses on the farmland that they worked. From sunrise to sunset the farmers would be in the field, they even ate their meals there. The tenants worked daily all year round because different crops were being planted or harvested during all seasons. Livestock also had to be cared for year round. Although the tenants did all of this work they did not own the land. The lords were the landowners and received all of the profit from the tenants work. A large portion of the crops the tenants farmed would go directly to the lords where it would be served to everyone living on their land. Tenant farmers had to pay taxes to the state and church and were also required to pay rent for the land they were working on. Wages for peasants were marked in grain or food that the lords gave each family. “Famine was common for peasant families in 1450”. (Wunderli 1992)

Technology and tools helped to ease the load of the tenant farmers. Some common tools and technology for tenant farmers in 1450 included the axe, rake, and shears. Haymaking forks were used to gather hay. Sickles, which were curved metal cutting devices, were used to cut corn. The flail was used to separate grain from harvested sheaves. A wheeled plow attached to animals such as oxen or cows were used to till the land. Harrows were used to break up the soil. “The practice of fallowing was common to maintain soil fertility.”(Singh 2007:11) Fallowing is the process of using a different field each season to allow the nutrients and soil to cycle through and not be overused. “Practices like crop rotation and using animal manure have also been common in the past. The medieval farming system in these areas was ecologically sustainable and could feed the then population of these regions that were much smaller than their present populations.”(Singh 2007:11)

Religion

In The year 1450 Germany was mainly following the Catholic Church. Most Germans believed in Catholicism. Germany had gained its Catholic ideas from the Roman Empire in the late seventh century and had maintained them. The ideas were brought over by Anglo-Saxon missionaries and the concepts stuck with Germany. (Grundmann 1995) On religious issues the church in Germany still reported to the Pope.

During this period in Germany people started to steer away from the church because churches had become corrupt and started selling indulgences (to buy your own or another’s way out of punishment) and other such items. (Ozment 1980) The problem with this is that the rich could just buy their way out of punishment and the poor had no way to be free from punishment. Another problem with this is that no one knew where the church was using the money that it gained from this or if it was even used for the church.

This corruption in the church is what started the 1400’s Reformation of the church in Germany. (Tracy 1999) The people were fed up with what the church was offering them so they set out to reform it. The reformations took place all through the 1400’s and didn’t end till the 1500’s.

During the 1400’s the printing press was also invented. The bible was the first book to be printed on it and many more were to come. While only the wealthy and the church owned these printed copies of the bible it was a huge step forward from writing them out.

Music

Around the time of 1450 in Germany, there was an oddly high amount of German composers (Janssen 242). Many of them wrote music mostly for voice but there are several compositions of instrumental music as well. Music was heard throughout Germany but was concentrated in South Germany where it was considered to be something of the high class (Janssen 243). Those who taught music were also well respected and some even considered to be noble. During this time period, the German composers perfected the methods of harmonizing voices (Janssen 243).
Music was most often heard in church which is why it was valued so highly by those in the upper classes. Songs were sung during Mass, often in the form of “plainchant.” A special type of plainchant is called “Gregorian Chant”, usually with a soloist or a group singing in unison (Janssen 242). German church music has its origins from the Roman Empire which ruled over Germany.

A famous German composer of the time, Adam von Fulda, was the first to write down the rules for composing music in a text called De Musica. He corrected many errors that happened with music composition, such as transposing, or moving a song to be higher or lower than the original key. The rules he wrote would be considered very general and vague today, but they were the first stepping stone to the music composition rules of today (Jeep 4).

Often music was set to poetry instead of music and lyrics being written at the same time (Reese 653). Songs were spoken, sung, or played. Minnesingers, the name came from Minnesang which means “love song,” were poets who wrote about love, appearing around 1150 (Jeep 525). They later began to apply music to their poems and quickly grew in popularity among the high class. In 1450, Minnesingers were considered to be noble, professional musicians However, the middle class was introduced to more contemporary music through the Meistersingers, which means “master singers,” and they were around during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The Meistersingers were hobby musicians and poets, their profession usually different trades (Reese 652). The songs they wrote were about many subjects, from moral themes, to political, to religious. They exposed the middle class to music (Reese 655). They formed small groups which then they competed against one another in contests (Reese 652).

During the 1400s, the Germans were known world-wide for their high quality instruments, especially the lute (Janssen 250), a guitar-like instrument, and the organ (Janssen 248). They were also well-known for their instrumental players and they were sought after almost as much as the instruments were (Reese 655-656). Priests and monks were known to be very good organists (Janssen 248-249). Instrumentalists were called Stadtpfeiffer, town pipers, and performed at different public events such as weddings (Reese 655). Female singers and instrumentalists were not unheard of, it was not strictly male, but they were not as common (Reese 656).
Other instruments around during this time period, to name a few, were flutes, violins, drums, trombones, trumpets, and the zink (cornet) and cromornes which were two types of woodwind instruments (Reese 655-656).

The organ, as mentioned earlier were made to be very high quality in Germany, and it was a German named Bernard who made changes to the organ that have remained to this day. He fixed the organ so its range would extend an octave higher and lower than before. He invented the first pedals for the organ, which are used to hold out notes and create different sounds. By the beginning of the 16th century, nearly all organs in Germany had pedals (Janssen 248). Pedals are still on organs today.

Rituals

During the 1400s, Catholic Germans had a strict policy on Marriage. They called it the "Reformed Wedding", the goal of the "Reformed Wedding" was to teach men and women their appropriate behaviors and roles in relation to each other (Karant-Nunn 45). They were taught to have a "Holy Household", that practi ced the Catholic faith. The engaged couple would also have to meet with members of the clergy for counseling, and to see if they were "fit" to marry (Karant-Nunn 47)

The actual wedding ceremony was always held in the morning. The church would not allow weddings during lent or advent. Every wedding ceremony was the exact same. The priest would always read Mark 10:1-9 (And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. King James Version) The verse was supposed to intimidate the couple about divorce and staying faithful to your spouse. The couples were also supposed to bring an offering to the church, usually a large sum of money or something of great value (Koslofsky). The priest would also teach the "Four Great Lessons". The first being about the ring. There was only one ring and it was for the bride, symbolizing the sacrament that can actually aid the pair in making a success of their union. The second lesson was the dangers of sex and being faithful to your spouse. The third lesson was that marriage is indissoluble. Lastly, the fourth lesson was on the duty or the wife: peacability, faithfulness, chasity, amiability, self discipline, modesty,sobriety and innocence (Koslofsky).

Child birth also came with lots of rituals. Pregnancy was a time of uncertainty for women due to the risk of pregnancy. Women formed groups that would support the pregnant woman and assist her in her needs. Until the mothers survival was assured, the group would remain. For the actual birth, men were NOT allowed in the room. Only the mid-wife and the wife. Once the child was born, the child would take on the father's status. However, the child was considered a heathen until their baptism (Althoff).

Death and dying also came with lots of rituals. The sacramental system of the church led people through every crisis. On the deathbed, the dying person was expected to do the following things: make confessions to the clergy, receive last holy communion, make arrangments for their family, make plans for their funeral, and met with the clergy so they could argue their salvation (Koslofsky). Funeral sermons were always important. The priest would speak on the person's salvation, comfort their survivors, and give a brief explanation on the persons life (Koslofsky).

These are some of the Rules that Germany will abide by for the World Simulation. For most of the rules I asked the class to vote on how we would operate in the world simulation. These are what they voted on.The main ground rules that were set by Proffessor Wesch that apply to all of the cultures will be enforced.Our entire group has been slipt up into five groups each with an assigned specifice task that they will delegate as the sim goes on.

Gender Roles:
.Women did not hold any form of power so their roles will be slightly altered for this.

• be standing behind the men for all political interactions in order to incorporate everyone
• hold no political power
• hold no land
• will help the men as needed
• shall advise on bartering.
• will be witness to the finalization of all bargains

* Women will pretty much run the home front and households unless attacked.
Men were most often educated, held the politcal power, and were land owners.

• Men will negotiate all political dealings
• be valid land owners
• finalize all transactions
• will be educated
• will lead any war tactics against other cultures and terrirtories

Proxmeics:

• For all bartering and political dealings we will shake hands then slap palms to finalize the agreement.
• Personal space is dictatated as needed

Courtesies:

• NO swear words known only to our culture will be used.
• NOobsecene gestures known only to our culture will be used.

My guess for our starting wealth is pretty high. We are one of the few groups of colonizers, so I don't think we will have an issue with defending ourselves should anyone attack us.
Mobility shouldn't be a issue for us either. Techonologically I think we are decently advanced so that will aid us should we decide to forcefully take over any other culture / colony.
As for trading partners, we will attempt to make fair bargains for all resources that we need, but if that fails we will more than likely try to take it by force.

History

• As a way of atoning for sins, the Church had begun to sell indulgences, which prevented a sinner from going to purgatory, often without even participating in confession. Luther found the practice to be abominable and in 1517 proceeded denounce the practice by nailing his Ninety-Five Theses in a public place. This act inspired widespread dissension against the Church--because all of Germany had read the theses. Luther was charged with heresy for his actions. (Veit 1952: 151-152) Eventually, theses grievances would lead to the formation of of a new sect of Christianity--Protestantism. (Veit 1952: 154) There was also a new-found emphasis on education following the spread of Lutheranism, which would later lead to the Enlightenment as more and more people saw the importance of universities. (Britannica 2010)

• The Revolution of 1789 was more than just a French movement--almost eh entirety of Europe agreed with "liberty, equality, and fraternity." Areas that bordered France became the source of liberalism in Germany. Many of Germany's intellectuals vehemently supported the revolution, but after the violence that began in 1793 became "disillusioned." Regardless, the revolution in France brought human freedom to the forefront of German consciousness. (Simon 1966: 73-78) Germany also developed a feeling of nationalism in Germany. (Simon 1966: 85) Germany was reorganized by Napoleon, after he abolished the Holy Roman Empire in August 1806 and formed the Confederation of the Rhine--which was under direct French rule. (Simon 1966: 89-91) Eventually following a defeat in Russia, Napoleon was pushed west of the Rhine, was asked to embrace boundaries of 1792. He couldn't and was removed from power and Europe was reorganized. (Veit 1952: 354-355)

• The 1800's brought about colossal change in the mindset of European nations and their cultures. Rationalism and Empiricism had led to creation of new technologies coming as a result of the spread of capitalism and the "British Example." Allowed for creation of a new money aristocracy. The factory system brought about massive change, as the people of Germany now had to work in impersonal and unhealthy factories (no longer had pride in making something), and now moved into industrial centers in overpopulated cities. Other than the United States, only Germany had accessible coal and iron deposits to complete with Great Britain. This Created an explosion in steam engine powered machinery and transportation. By the mid 1800's Germany was passing Great Britain in production. (Reinhardt 1950: 548-551) A reaction came from Karl Marx with his Communist Manifesto, as Marx argued that the workingman was being treated unfairly and should rebel against the new capitalist aristocracy. He argued for a universal state, in which there would be no class struggle. (Reinhardt 1950: 556-558) During this time a sense of individuality among all people arose. This feeling of individuality is shown throughout rest of German history, regardless of different views (nationalist, conservatives, liberal, and socialists). Based on Romantic notion of individuality. (Britannica)

• Bismarck created the Second Reich by absorbing German into Prussia. He had really created a constitutional government, as the Reichstag had control over the Emperor. Was Emperor William I most trusted chancellor and formed the strongest nation in Europe, which made Europe fearful. Built up alliances with Austria, Russia, and Italy. Tried to prevent imperialistic and war-like sentiments from growing in Germany--became the peacekeepers of Europe. (Reinhardt 1950: 607-608) Was dismissed by Prince William of Prussia (William II), because of the Prince's feeling that he was overshadowed by Bismarck's genius. (Reinhardt 1950: 617)

• Germany began its expansion in Africa. Later would claim Cameroon, The Marshall Islands, New Guinea, The Solomon Islands, Nauru, and the Shandong province of China. In the 1880's Europe (mainly England and Germany) agreed upon "spheres of influence," as a result of expansion in Africa and Asia being nearly finished. To continue colonizing (and compete with England), Germany had built a large navy by the 1890's, also in 1915 created chemical warfare. (Britannica)

• Adolf Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist Party (Nazi Party), and was appointed chancellor, and after President von Hindenburg's death took both titles to become both the Fuhrer and chancellor. He began to build up feelings of Aryan supremacy, would also begin to build up Armed forces despite European Treaties, and provoke crisis in Austria, the Sudetenland, and Poland. Hitler was able to have the German people "embrace" ideas of "tyranny, torture, and genocide." (Britannica)

• Germany was placed in the "sovereign authority" of the Allied Powers, and was divided between France, England, the United States, and the Soviet Union. France, England, and the United States combined their occupation zones into a single economic unit. In response the Soviet Union withdrew from the Allied Control Council and prevented access to East Berlin and East Germany from 1961-1989. In that time the majority of intellectuals and skilled workers fled to West Germany. During the occupation, West Germany became prosperous. (Britannica)

• The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) unexpectedly fell, and was triggered by the slow decay of the other Eastern communist governments and the Soviet Union. On November 28, 1989 East Germany announced a 10-point plan for reunification. The Federal Republic of Germany's government is now divided into two legislative houses (Federal Council and Federal Diet), a president (Head of State), and chancellor (Head of Government). The population was estimated in 2009 to be 82,000,000. Germany is now a member of the G8, which is a group of the leading industrialized countries, and is also one of the leading powers in the European Union, which serves to "enhance European political and economic integration." (Britannica)

Most historians based German interior designs on the paintings from that time period because many structures were lost over time.
A big influential designer of the late 15th century up until the mid 16th century was a man by the name of Peter Flotner (1485-1546).
Peter Flotner first became a painter and a wood carver since those were the most popular professions at the time. He later became fascinated
with interior design, (Oxford Online 2007).

He would train himself and become a pioneer of the Renaissance as a German Architectural Designer.
A lot of Peter's work is no longer standing however the Heidleberg castle is an example of such work.



Paintings of this time was described as International Gothic or Soft Style. Soft Style is known as images created by idealized beauty. Famous painter Albert Durer (1471-1528) is known as a very influential individual, (Google Books 2010). Albert Durer was often regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance. In fact, a lot of painters down the road often cited Durer as their biggest contributor and reason behind them becoming passionate. Albert Durer helped create modern standards of art in Germany, (Burton 2005).



Towards the end of the 15th century, personalities began to stand out in many artworks instead of the standard religious themes of the paintings. One painter who did just that was a man by the name of Michael Wolgemut. One of his most famous paintings, Dances of Death, exemplifies how painters began to take a stand in their art work. Dances of Death (Oxford Online 2007) is described as skeletons dancing with organs coming out. This painting helped signify Wolgemut's belief in a medieval superstition which as that many dead people would come out out of their corpses at night and dance before searching for victims. This deathly ritual was believed only to happen when the dead would be awaken during the last judgment which also signified the end of the world.










One of the most important pieces of technology during the 15th century was the movable printing press. In 1436 Johannes Gutenberg, who was previously a goldsmith had started designing and building the movable press. His printing press was the first to have been built out of metals instead of wood. It was also the first press to use an oil instead of water and it used two different printing materials, paper and a high-quality parchment, vellum. Also the types (letters, numbers, etc.) were made from alloys of tin, lead and antimony. The first book published by Gutenberg was the Bible in 1454. Each page in the Gutenberg's Bible was printed with 40-42 lines to preserve paper. There were only 180 copies of the Bible ever produced by Gutenberg, 135 on paper and and 45 of them on vellum.

Also around this time when guns were introduced in Germany. However, though the guns were powerful they were also very slow and inaccurate, became great symbols of war. The weapons even received nick-names such as 'Mad Margaret' 'Lion' or 'Monster'. Also cannons were used at this time, like 'The Ostrich', because it laid enormous eggs when the crop was full of gun-powder, which was sent to Strasbourg, France. In Germany they had started opening up training schools for people to learn how to become gunners. It soon would reduce the number of of the different types of guns and would standardize the calibre and ammunition. Also they started to make guns more methodical, as charges were carefully placed, the ranges were measured at different elevations.

Core Values

The picture to the left is a picture of the oldest state symbol of Europe. This is also among the oldest in the world. This is the Coat of arms of Germany (Scaglione 1991). Using the similar colors of the German flag. This symbol stands for invincibility. The Germans core values were placed around the Catholicism they followed. Their values were heavily influenced by religion. The Germans typically had a traditional family lifestyle where there was a mother and father living in the home. The males in the family got the jobs and the education(Althoff 2004). With Warband tribes the family and close friends joined the tribe and followed the male who was leading. They took after the beliefs and importance of the man who was leading their tribe.The hatreds and friendships of the father and other relatives were taken up by his descendants—suggesting that social cohesion among the Germans was founded on the bond of kinship (Dumont 1994).



By the start of the 15th century, coinage had begun more and more common. There were three different levels of coinage that ranged from gold, silver, and billion. These gold pieces were produced across Europe, all weighing about the same and of the same fineness. Germany’s florins, or gulden, also mimicked these coins. By the later 15th century, they had lost some weight and fineness, being brought down to about 19 carats instead of the universal 24. This was more commonly used within the state itself. For the larger part of Europe, they made an alternative that was more acceptable. Though these coins throughout Europe varied in shape and look, they had a universal system of coinage that was accepted by all countries. Germany and all other countries alike, they had different forms of coinage for different purposes. The florins were for average use, but for more prestigious uses, different coins were used for international banking and large political payments to other rulers.

The use of gold coins was limited in most part to nobleman, government officials, and traveling merchants on a larger scale. For the average man, gold was of no use. It became much more appropriate to pay these men in silver. Silver was a much more conventional way to pay things like rent, taxes, and wages. This coin was called a Blanc, which was made of half silver and half alloy of some sort. A slightly more valuable coin was a gram heavier, and made up of 23/24 silver. Other uses for this coin were to buy other commodities such as butter, wax, and things for everyday use.

The billion, also called “black money”, was the lowest of the low. Mainly used by city-dwellers, which were located mainly in larger cities such as London and Paris, this money was used for the smallest of things. A small amount of meat, bread or wine was about all this would buy. Not accepted by people of higher statuses for it extremely small value, it was very uncommon to be seen, and eventually its production was minimized or ended. Though the billion was not used by upper class, it was at times needed to buy things that could not be bought with the larger value Blanc or Florins. In times of great disparity, the billion was cut down to even smaller fractions to stretch further. Though this coin did contain some silver to make it not completely worthless, it only included about 1/23 silver and the rest copper.

Germany’s economy grew rapidly with the rest of Europe because of the modernization of monetary exchange. With the value of goods being very similar throughout, it made it easy to trade with one another. Germany did not do much trading outside the realm of Europe, reason being it’s a land locked country, other than the northern coastline of the North and Baltic Sea.



It would be impossible to sum up the Political structure of Greman in the last six hundred years so I'll just hit key points in the greman politics and how they tie into modren day greman political structure.
By 370 A.D., land hungry greman tribes were spreading southward and westward onto the Rhine-Danube Frontier. It was these tribes that would lead to the building of the Germanic political structure as well as help bring down the Holy Roman Empire the tribes of germany were lead by warchiefs and these tribes are quite small. These tribes would be the cause of many conflicts on the outshirts of the Holy Roman Empire known as the First Reich. However, During the early 13th century the tribes would have become nations under the rule of Warrior Kings. At this time the basic Germanic tribe was headed by what was know as a warrior king, much like Native American indian chiefs. These warrior kings were selected to be the leader of their tribes based on their ability to lead their armies into battle. Later in the year 1356 A.D. The Kingdoms of Germany were never entirely hereditary. Instead, ancestry was only one of the many factors that determined the succession of kings. The king was formally elected by the leading nobility in the realm, continuing the Frankish tradition (Franks were a large nation that grew from there tribe culture to a more stable society in the area which is now Modren day France). Gradually the election became the privilege of a group of princes's called the Electors and the Golden Bull of 1356 a document much like the Decelartion of Indepence fromally defined the election proceedings. These election would later be held in the Reichstag. The Reichstag is a bulding equivalent to the parliament building in England. In fact the Reichstag is still used as a policital building in Germany today, it is located in Berlin and is the seat of the German Parliament. Later in the mid 20th century the Nazi party in Germany came to power, they would later be know as the third Reich. Lead by their new dictator Adalf Hitler who came to power through the election of the once Republic of Germany. Hitler was so loved by his people that he took control over the people and the armies and bent them to his will. This would lead to World War II. After the defeat of the German forces in the war and the disapperence of Hitler it was reoriganized back into the Federal Republic of Germany, which it is still today.


Works Cited

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The German Language by R.Priebsch
Published 1958, PF3051.P75

A History of the German Language by John T. Waterman
Published 1976, PF3075.W31976

A Short History of the German Language by W. Walker Chambers
Published 1970, PF 3075.C5