Norman Castles, Domesday's Secrets, and Chrysostom's Controversy

1. From the week 8 documentary: What building innovation did the Normans bring to England? Hint: It was strategic, a status symbol, and a means of oppression. The documentary states that Castles are this status symbol of great regard that the Normans brought to England. In Kibworth, the castle was built atop a previous Roman mound at the center of the village, and levelled an estimated one-hundred-twenty houses to build the massive symbol, this being a dynamic to display their oppression and status. The fact that the castle was also built by the English, “by digging the trenches”, is another example of how these castles would be viewed as oppressive landmarks of the Normans. 2. What did the “Domesday” book record, and for what purpose? Hint: The “shameful” thing recorded so that not one....escaped notice. The “Domesday” book record was a survey of the land in England that was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, the documentary calls the book a “cataclysmic takeover” in England. The main purpose of composing the survey was to gain information on what regions owed taxes to the government during the reign of King Edward and a general census of the different villages and regions. When the survey was completed, not a single livestock animal was missed in the count from pigs to ox. The Normans and William were now aware of what land the English obtained, who lived where, and the livestock they owned. 3. From the week 9 documentary: What was Chrysostom’s goal in preaching? Hint—regarding coexistence. Assyrian Bishop of Antioch, John Chrysostom (also known as “golden mouth”) was determined not to allow both Jewish and Christian individuals to live together peacefully. In his sermons, he portrayed Jewish people as working with devils and demons, and collaborating and celebrating in their synagogues. He even went as far as portraying them as monsters who were not human, and sacrificed children in order to please the “devil’s outraging nature”. 4. From the week 9 documentary: What was the fate of Jewish tribes in Medina (Yathrib) once Muslim clans took control, and why? Jewish people had resided in Medina for centuries before Muslims came into the region, they were crucial in the cities’ functions including its market. Jewish in Medina were able to speak Arabic and even used the phrase Allah for God, but were unable to fully accept Muhammad as a new prophet and Islam in its entirety. Because they would not convert, the Jewish tribes were accused of treason. In the period between 624 and 627, two different Jewish clans were exiled from Medina and an entire other clan’s men were executed, their women and children enslaved in the process. Yet another example of Jewish communities being exiled and eradicated when other prominent religions move in. 5. From week eight’s files. What are the defects of Anna Comnena’s Alexiad? Anna Comena’s Alexiad was a detailed account of her father Alexius I Comnenus’ life as emperor in the Byzantine Empire in the time of the early Crusades. Although the work is a great insight and historical account of the period and the life of Alexius, it is ultimately unsuccessful in accurately portraying the chronology involved and the “excessive” amount of adulation Alexius I partook in during his life.