| Abstrakt: |
Silesia is the region of Poland where far-reaching cultural changes occurred at an early stage -- at the beginning of the Early Middle Ages -- as Germans developed and settled the land: the function of the large Slav central castles and the open settlements was now assumed by towns and villages founded under German law. From the 13th century, such orders as the Cistercians, Dominicans and Franciscans established themselves here, and the old ducal law (ius ducale) was replaced by the new German law. The process of cultural change was protracted; between the mid- 13th and mid-14th centuries it was intensive but did not have the same impact in every sub-region. Change was more rapid in the west and south of the country, for example in the duchies of Zagan and Schweidnitz-Jauer, but slower in the east, in the dukedom of Oels and in Upper Silesia. Now a feudal structure was established in Silesia too, which, as in the west, was based on the land law set out in the Sachsenspiegel. Unlike in the west, the social hierarchy in Silesia was relatively flat. Due to the skilful policies pursued by the Silesian dukes, the position of the indigenous nobles was initially greatly weakened, and the incoming nobles, mainly from the German Empire, were very dependent on the rulers. The enormous power of the latter was reflected in their large castles, in the vicinity of which it was primarily small motte castles or fortified residential towers that were built throughout the late Middle Ages. Although the power of the Silesian lower nobility constantly grew, and did so quite perceptibly from the mid- 14th century onwards, this class was able to consolidate its position completely only in the 16th century, which resulted in the construction of impressive residences and the formation of free lordships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
