1. It’s In The Cards- Using playing cards to represent Medieval Class Structure One individual’s interpretation

2. Disclaimer- This is only a theory- Any resemblance to the truth is only by luck Information received today should be viewed as the ravings of a individual with far too much time on his hands I repeat, this is only a theory

3. Rank the suites from highest to lowest

4. Spades Diamonds Hearts Clubs

5. Spades- Nobility Hearts- Church Diamonds- Merchants Clubs- Peasants

6. King of Spades Sword- symbol of power and authority Power was kept by military force Money was needed for army and weapons Nobility had standing armies to protect land

7. Feudalism- a political and economic way of governing land Fief- land which has been given by a lord to his vassal- in return for the land, the vassal owes the lord- military service, respect, payment in kind ceremony was approved and bless by the church Subinfeudation- dividing a fief which allows a vassal to become a lord to someone else- “landlord” landlord was given military service, respect, payment

8. Nobility- 5% of the population Church included Higher vassals Lesser vassals might include lesser sons Peasants- 95 % bound to the land

9. One king - a vassal to another king That king would still owe- military service, respect, payment in kind King of England vassal to France- Normandy, France Military service called for 90 service only

10. “Divine Right of Kings” Who died and left you king? Believed God picked this family Father to son Contract - king and people Right to Rebellion contract broken

11. King of Hearts- Sword shown, but not used- power to punish Hand over the heart- church’s power to forgive “Maya Culpa”-

12. King of Diamonds- Hands free- merchants need hands to work Economic power Financed nobility bigger role and voice in government

13. King of Clubs Orb- ancient symbol of the earth Peasants were ‘bound’ to the earth for life Sword- peasants made up the bulk of the fighting force

14. The Queens- Flower- symbol of womanhood and birth The ‘life’ of nobility runs through the queen

15. Jack of Spades- “Divine Right of Kings” family chosen by God Symbol of Infinity

16. Jack of Hearts- Role as teacher Quill copied the Bible by hand Dove’s feather- Peace and Love

17. Jack of Diamonds- No sword but a weapon Apprentice to their father I’m stretching on this one !!

18. Jack of Clubs Back turned to nobility- Every face card- but the Jack faces nobility Sign of respect acknowledging power and role of the nobility

21. Assignment- Objective-AF7c2- Analyzes the organizational structure of an existing art form for the purpose of creating an original interpretive piece. Each of you will create four playing cards, each with their own suit. You will design your cards to have different rank just as we showed today. Symbols, objects and the like will also be included and explained to me in written form Be sure to tie in the objects to the origin of the card which are shown.

22. Due date- 3-17-05 This is the Thursday before Spring Vacation. If you know that you will not be here, you are to get the cards to me before you leave. Be creative, original, and remember that you are limited only by your lack of imagination