By: Camilo Diez

Chivalric code permitted knights to be disciplined and structured, this helped define the outcomes of many battles in the middle ages. The chivalric code was a set of laws that the knights needed to follow. A knight is a trained men of war. Knights needed to be aristocratic men because swords and armor were really expensive. Knights were courteous men and they were also good at battle. Knights did tournaments to prepare for battle. Sometimes they got killed at the tournaments. In battle weapons like bows, lances, swords and crossbows were used. Before the fighting each leader made a speech to his men. The battlefield was horrible, many man died and some were seriously injured. Knights were very heavily armed so that made them a lot of weight at the moment of fighting. The first knights appeared in England and France.

This is the chivalric code: Believe the Church's teachings and observe all the Church's directions. Defend the Church. Respect and defend all weaknesses. Love your country. Do not turn away before an enemy. A single coward could discourage an entire army. Even if the knights knew death was near, they would rather die fighting than show weakness. Show no mercy to the infidel, do not hesitate to make war with them. Perform all duties that agree with the laws of God. Never lie or go back on one's word. Be generous to everyone. Always and everywhere be right and good against evil and injustice.

Having knights was a great advance in war. It was an advance because knights with their armors they suffered less damage so it was more difficult to kill another person, also inventing the crossbow was a great advantage because the arrow had a longer trajectory than the bow´s arrow. The fact of knights being nobles was an accomplishment because it made the possibility of having better weapons than the peasants or people with less money. Having a set of laws was a great accomplishment because it helped the knights be disciplined, courteous and had to respect. If they did this then each knight liked the other knights so they worked better in team.

What made chivalry famous is the tales they say about it. For example, Arthur and the kingdom of Camelot. Also the sword in the stone and the knights of the round table. Knights are also famous for being structured and courteous. They are known for being brave and not fearing death.

The chivalric code was important because it told the knights to protect people and not to kill them. If knights when everywhere just killing people then many towns could disappear or maybe a war could be started. It could have been a total disaster if the code was never created.

(1) Knights having heavy armors and weapons was also a disadvantage because by having all that weight was difficult to move a fight. If they came out of water it was a whole lot harder to fight because you had the water´s weight and the armor´s weight. (2) It was difficult to fight to because you had to fight head to head and In group so it was hard to move your sword with other 2 swords beside you. (3) In that time the medicine was really poor so if you got hurt at battle there was a lot of possibility that you wouldn't’t survive. The knowledge about medicine had been lost during the middle ages. The doctors of that time were called physicians and they did not know a lot of medicines and cures.

The difficulty number 2 was surpassed by the invention of gun powder. By the invention of gun powder the cannons were invented. Then came the gun. By making this weapons it was not necessary to fight hand to hand and there would not be so many swords at the same time. This invention brought the time of knights down, that invention was the end of chivalry. The difficulty number 3 was surpassed in the time of the renaissance. In the time of the renaissance people started doing experiments and found ways to cure people.

The knights were important in the social live because they fought for their lords when they had to. A king would give land to a person in exchange of food or help when needed so when a king was at war the person with the land would give him soldiers and help. Knights did not have a high place in the social pyramid but they were essential to the daily life because if they did not work for lords then some people would not have land. They also were an example to everyone. They showed that they were men that worked, were brave and were not lazy

We benefit from their legacy because if they had not fought some battles then a city would not be from the country it is today or it wouldn’t exist because the expansion of territory wouldn’t happen so some settlements, later cities would not be established. We also benefit from their legacy because they left the message that every one can be courteous and that discipline is very hard to get if you don’t try because training for being a knight wasn’t easy.

I think that that the effort that the knights did made an impact in our lives. They were an example to us because they lived in a dark period in the history of the world but still they didn’t do bad things. They instead were good people that helped the ones that could not defend by themselves. They gave the best of them in every battle and never feared death so that is a behavior to admire.

C. 900 Chivalry starts c.1100s Tournaments are Held The crusades start and finish The hundred years war begins and ends c.1200s Gunpowder is invented

In conclusion knights are people to admire. Also the chivalric code because without it then many knights would have killed a lot of people without reason because in humanity someone always takes advantage of the power they have and they use it for mean things. If knights hadn't trained well then they would have lost many battles and many cities to their rival.

-Ttle: The ideal of chivalry Author: Gravett, Critopher Source: Knights, library book, page 40 Date published: 1993 Date accessed: Jan 30, 13 - Title: Courtly love no author Source: Columbia electronic encyclopedia, pg.1-7, 1p Date published: 11/1/11 Date accessed: Feb 4, 13 -Title: Going to battle Author: MacDonald, Fiona Source: How to be medieval knight Date published: 2005 Date accessed: 4/2/13 -Title: Tournaments no author Source: Columbia electronic encyclopedia Date published: 2011 Date accessed: 4/2/13 -Title: Medieval chivalry Author: Dr. Abels, Richard Source: The United States Naval Academy No date published Date accessed: 4/2/13 I used the history book.