Outlaw Pirates Also Had Laws

The pirates of various areas in the medieval era and its subsequent centuries would operate like an organization. There is no doubt that the pirate costumes were highly disorganized, but their way of living was too organized that sometimes we get confused while reading about them, whether we are reading about the raiders or an authorized organization.

The pirate crews had their set or rules, which they were bound to follow. If someone does not follow them, then he/she might be the subject of punishment or execution. Different crews had distinct codes of conduct. Many of these crews would run under a democracy also. The person who would be a fierce fighter was elected as the captain. On the other hand, quartermaster was also decided through the election. If some problem would be found in the captain, then he might be expelled from his captaincy by the crew. Removal of Charles Vane from his captaincy for his cowardice and election of Calico Jack (John Rackham) is one of the best examples in this context.

Moreover, sometimes special compensation was offered to the raiders who were injured. There were some prohibitions also in many of the crews. For instance, gambling was banned as it would create the tension among different groups in the crew. Severe punishments were also given to the raiders on the punishable offence.

Some of the pirates started their new code of conducts, which presented their humanistic approach. We find the example of the famous Chinese female pirate Ching Shih, otherwise known as Zheng Yi Sao. She declared that anyone who would plunder the city which had already paid tribute (a form tax to the pirates), would be beheaded, and his head would be dumped in the ocean. Same treatment as declared for those who would steal from the treasury. Moreover, the rape of a female prisoner was also a severe offence that under her captaincy. She declared the same treatment for this, i.e., cutting off of head and dumping it into the ocean.

Such codes of conduct gave a distinct identity to the raiders. A number of people in the recent times seem to be influenced with these pirates of the previous eras. Some of these rules indicated that the freebooters were not as ruthless as they supposed to be. They also had the heart, and they would perform their activities under some rules and regulations. This may be one of the reasons why many of today’s people in the western world like to be a pirate for fun for some moments. If really want to make and look like a pirate or want costumes and clothes visit this website http://www.tobeapirate.com/

Beautiful Italian Art Reflected in Painting in the Middle Ages

It is a known fact that Italy was one of the prominent places, where art and culture flourished during the medieval period. Medieval costumes, sculptures and paintings, gained huge popularity across Europe. The renaissance period also started first in Italy and then spread throughout the continent. But, in the middle ages also, a great development was witnessed in the painting, in this country.

There were a number of factors behind the progress of painting in Italy. The western border of vast Byzantine Empire was occupied by Italy until the late eleventh century. Italy maintained a strong connection though Byzantium via trade, even after this area was under Norman rule in around 1071. This connection was best expressed in the art of that era, which was the early period of the middle ages. Huge popularity was gained by illustrated Bibles and Exultet Rolls in 1050. The liturgical scrolls contained the texts for the celebration of Easter. Such text was produced in the Benevento region of southern Italy. Early Christian painting cycle from the churches of Rome influenced miniature illustrations in the Bibles, which were related to the contemporary monumental Roman wall paintings.

In 1204, Constantinople was sacked by Christian armies of the Fourth Crusade. So, the precious objects from Byzantium reached Italy and impacted the art produced in the nation. The brightly colored gold-ground panels were proliferated during the 13th century. “Madonna and Child” by Berlinghiero is one of the best examples in this regard. He was one of the foremost painters of that era working in the Tuscan City of Lucca. Madonna’s gestures towards Christ are shown as a miniature adult, who puts on the medieval clothing like philosophers.

In the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, three great masters appeared in Italy, who gave their contribution in changing the course of painting. These great masters were Florentine Giotto di Bondone, Roman Pietro Cavallini and Sienese Duccio di Buoninsegna. The figures of Giotto seem to be volumetric rather than linear. The emotions which they express seem to be different. They are convincingly human instead of being stylized. A new type of pictorial paces was created by him with a measurable depth. On the other hand, a lyrical expressiveness and spiritual gravity to the formalized Italo-Byzantine tradition were brought by Duccio, who was a founder of the Sienese school of painting. He made a small devotional panel of the Madonna and Child. The gap was bridged by Duccio between the real world of the viewer and the spiritual world of the figures. He did so by means of illusionistic parapet. It was among first of its kind in Western painting. Some exceptional artists, who painted during this period, include Maso di Banco, Ambrogio, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Taddeo Gaddi. Refinement and elegance were added to the spare form of Giotto’s art by Simone Martini.

Besides the above mentioned ones, Fresco painting and panel painting were two distinct types of Italian styles.

Facets of Medieval Period

Kingdoms in the Beginning of the Medieval Times
The middle times history began in 500 CE, when development was started in society. The government of this society was very strong during that time. The kingdom was very powerful, and there was a harmony in society. The warriors often carried swords, which were made up of steel and their edges were much sharpened.

Clothing
There were a number of salient features, which were popular during that period. For instance, you were able to find the clothing of different styles. The upper class people always looked in distinct styles, in the middle ages, which were different from the modern era. At that time, the rich people would always wear the nice dresses, and they looked like real gentlemen. That clothing was often made up of woolen fabrics.

Peasants had their own styles. Peasants were labor-class farmers who always worked in fields. They also used to wear the woolen shoes in a field while cultivation of crops.

These medieval dresses became the fashion-statements for the people of the modern times.

Festivals and Entertainment
They also had many festivals where all the rich and poor people would enjoy together, and special forms of events were organized at that particular time like dancing, juggling and drinking. http://www.themiddleages.co.uk/ is great website for demonstration of medieval's time fashion, costumes and festivals. The tournaments were also organized in the middle ages, which were also a type of entertainment. There had been the variety of games at that particular period. Horse riding was one of the most popular frolics during that era. Music was an important part of the medieval society. They had professional musicians who travelled from one place to another. On the other hand, the upper-class people would like to be in the drinking moods, in some particular events.  There was also a theater in the medieval era for the enjoyment of the people.

Art and Craft
The crafts of the medieval ages were very nice and their styles inspired by the genres like gothic and byzantine. The medieval art is perfectly reflected in architecture in churches and castles.

Medicines
Inspired by Greeks and Romans, various medieval people were well-versed in the medicines. The infections related troubles were difficult to detect.