Resenha de Michel Rouche

Review of “The Early Middle Ages in the West” (by MICHEL ROUCHE)

For people who are on the edge of survival, it has is more important than being. With this passage, the author of the text “The Early Middle Ages in the West” Michel Rouche, demonstrates how these peoples "barbarians" appropriated the Roman res publica, passing it to the private sphere. To get an idea of how life was worthless, just remember the Battle of Soissons, in which the king Clovis requested a vase of looting a church. However, a soldier broke with his francisca (sort of hatchet), Clovis then cracked the head of the soldier exclaimed, "So did you do with the vase of Soissons!"

A frank kingdom of visitor would be appalled at the manner of the theft could be punished by death, while for a murder paid only a fine. Killing an antrustião, a sort of royal guard, entailed a fine of 600 pence, the most severe penalty in homicide subject! Contrast, a slave who has caught stealing, it was castrated and tortured until exhaustion. The practice of castration was so common that it had to start punished.

The difficulty of the Germans to separate public life from private showing in the code of laws. The Burgundians had only six public law in 105 articles! Among other peoples, the king's rights and the tax authorities confused with the people.

In the monasteries, preached up a bucolic life. However, with the "Carolingian prosperity," the monks began to consume 1.5 kg of bread and 1.5 liters of wine or beer a day, a diet of 6000 calories, more than double recommended today. During the banquet increased by 50% the proportion. The slaves also joined the binge and beverage. , To eat including the royal palace, with his hands, from which comes the mapparius, "towel carrier", in charge of drying hands of the king. The habit of washing hands constantly, although toilet considered pagan by the Church. The mapparius to conquer the king's affection became duke or earl.

The "vassals" of the king were appear to