warsofasoiaf

[warsofasoiaf]

What is the difference between slaves, serfs, and indentured servants?

Obviously, this is oversimplifying because the various rights of slaves and serfs could vary greatly from location to location and time period to time period.

Typically, the big distinguishing mark of chattel slavery is the ability to buy and sell people as property. The slaves are property of their owners to dispense with as they please. Serfdom, meanwhile, has the serfs as part of the land. Serfs typically cannot be bought or sold, and remain with the land holding that they are tied to. Indentured servants typically sell a contract of their unpaid labor for a set duration. These contracts could be sold the same way someone sold a loan, so it was possible (and indeed, very common) for the indentured servant to have their contract sold. The classic example of indentured servitude happened in passage to the New World. The indentured servant sold their indenture to a captain in exchange for passage, and when the captain arrived, he'd typically sell the indenture to large planters for a tidy fee.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#history #slavery #serfdom #indentured servitude

[warsofasoiaf]

If Ned had discovered Lysa’s role in Jon Arryn’s murder what punishment would she be given and how would her family have responded?

I mean, she murdered her husband - that's a capital crime. She's going to receive the highest penalty. She can't really go to the Watch, either, and there's no equivalent sentencing for women in Westeros to motherhouses. She's not going to get the Serala of Myr treatment, but I do imagine that she will be executed.

The Tullys would probably react in horror that Lysa murdered her husband. Hoster though, is so sick that the stress might further deteriorate his health.

Thanks for the question, Speedy.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#lysa tully #what if #laws and customs

[warsofasoiaf]

Does Roose know that Tywin plans to betray him over the rulership of the North?

I can't imagine that he doesn't strongly suspect treachery, but he also knows that his house isn't long for this world given that his only heir is Ramsay.

Thanks for the question, Ekendall.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#roose bolton

[warsofasoiaf]

By wanting to grant Ser Barristan lands and a keep in the Westerlands, rather than his native Stormlands, were the Lannisters hoping to make it seem like the great Barristan Selmy was still supporting their regime and dominion?

That's part of it probably, but I think the most important thing was to keep an eye on him and away from any other potential base of dissenting power. After all, you definitely want a bitter Barristan getting close to Stannis or Renly. At the time, there was a open feud between the Starks and Lannisters, and Renly's attempt to have Eddard seize Joffrey was probably known at this point.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#barristan selmy #speculation

[warsofasoiaf]

I was reading Sansa arriving at LF's keep today and... is a keep that small realistic? 3 floors, a few servants, that's it?

Yes, actually, that is very much a thing for very minor lords to essentially have a tower house with a small castle town surrounding it.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#feudalism

[warsofasoiaf]

Where do courtiers and other members of the royal court live in King’s Landing? I assume they rent a manse or something. Would a queen’s lady (like Taena to Margaery) live in the Maidenvault?

The Red Keep would have apartments for courtiers and their accompanying retinue. The Maidenvault was probably converted to guest visitors along with other locations that would have been purpose-built.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#red keep #royal court

[warsofasoiaf]

Was the real reason America was discovered because Europeans wanted pepper on their food?

More to undermine the Ottoman spice monopoly and make serious bank, but that is hard to fit into a song lyric.

[warsofasoiaf]

"When you say important, do you mean important in a writing for verisimilitude sense, or authentically as in they helped develop technology and industry in a historical sense?" I meant the latter.

There's historical debate on that. On the one hand, they vigorously enforced their monopoly control over their industry and stifled any form of competition, and often fiercely fought to prevent imports. Similarly, they were also very exclusive, particualrly as time went on, which could stifle innovation. On the other hand, they had the operational capital to produce at scale and negotiate for political privileges typically only afforded to aristocracy - and could do things like develop uncultivated land which was a benefit, and had the resources to help further along the infantry revolution.

On the whole, they were probably more net economic negatives than economic positives much the same as with any rent-seeking organization, but they did also provide a benefit to breaking the power of the aristocracy.

Thanks for the question, Jedi.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#economics #history

[warsofasoiaf]

Why was it called the Kingdom of Two Sicilies?

Because it was formed by the merger of the Kingdom of Sicily, capital city of Palermo, and the Kingdom of Sicily, capital city of Naples. Both Kingdoms were called the Kingdom of Sicily so it made sense that the new kingdom would call itself the Kingdom of Two Sicilies.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#history #italy #kingdom of sicily

[warsofasoiaf]

How are you doing lately, SLAL? I've been doing a chapter per day reread of the series past several months and reading RFTIT's CbCs along with them and... well, I got to the last one he ever did, so I've been feeling rather down as a result, so I just felt like checking in with how you were doing

I'm doing alright. It really does suck, I considered the professor a friend and his death is a very sad affair.

For me though, I focus on the positives in the short time that we knew each other. We had great discussions and a fun debate on where the Redgrass Field was on History of Westeros. His Renaissance pope was inspired by my scribe turned hedge knight, which is high praise that someone takes your work to push themselves to even greater heights. That's the best way I can think to honor the man.

RIP Professor, you will be missed.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#racefortheironthrone

[warsofasoiaf]

Hey there I have a question about trade guilds. Do the Seven Kingdoms and Free Cities have them and are they important in feudal society?

There are definitely guilds. The Sorrowful Men are mentioned to be a guild, the Tourmaline Brotherhood is a merchant association-turned-political clique in Qarth. In Westeros, Tyrion even says: "there is talk of treason in the guildhalls and markets." Now, GRRM doesn't devote a whole lot of wordspace to the guilds, but yes, they definitely exist.

When you say important, do you mean important in a writing for verisimilitude sense, or authentically as in they helped develop technology and industry in a historical sense?

Thanks for the question, Jedi.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#guild #worldbuilding

[warsofasoiaf]

“Thrice in his reign, King Aegon V Targaryen sent the forces of the Iron Throne to intervene and restore order to the west, but conflict resumed after the king's knights departed”…what forces of the iron throne is this referring to? Isn’t the goldcloaks the only closest to a royal army that the Iron throne has? Or is this referring to the direct vassals of the iron throne through the crownlands? Isn’t the whole point of feudalism is that the Kings have to rely on their vassals for military aid?

We actually see exactly what this looks like when Eddard dispatches knights to hunt down Gregor Clegane. So it's not necessarily Crownlanders that Aegon V dispatched, but knights, retainers, and other individuals that cam be assigned a task from their King.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#feudalism

[warsofasoiaf]

I don't think that's actually too far from what I'm saying. To actually have a city that can thrive in those areas, you need funding to support a caste of soldiers that aren't working the land - or to bribe the various khals to go elsewhere, along with the armorers and weaponsmiths you need to keep them in business. Funding would easily build up the mills and other resources you need to make a thriving settlement and defend it.

-SLAL

Is it realistic from a world building standpoint that the Rhoynar cities were never rebuilt? They were burned 1000 years ago and the Valyrians have been dead for 400 years + the Rhoyne is like the in-universe Nile river

The real question is, who would be willing to fund colonies to rebuild the Rhoynish cities? Cities like Ny Sar and the Sorrows (formerly Chroyane) are fairly far from bases of financial power that might be able to expend the liquid capital to fund a colony as it gets off the ground. Small settlements along the Rhoyne are a given, but rebuilding the Rhoynish cities as opposed to just squatting in the ruins and salvaging them for quarried stone might be a tall order without significant financial backing.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

[warsofasoiaf]

Is it realistic from a world building standpoint that the Rhoynar cities were never rebuilt? They were burned 1000 years ago and the Valyrians have been dead for 400 years + the Rhoyne is like the in-universe Nile river

The real question is, who would be willing to fund colonies to rebuild the Rhoynish cities? Cities like Ny Sar and the Sorrows (formerly Chroyane) are fairly far from bases of financial power that might be able to expend the liquid capital to fund a colony as it gets off the ground. Small settlements along the Rhoyne are a given, but rebuilding the Rhoynish cities as opposed to just squatting in the ruins and salvaging them for quarried stone might be a tall order without significant financial backing.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#rhoynar

[warsofasoiaf]

What was Harold Hardradas claim to England based on? Was it just 'I want it, so I'll take it'?

It was based on a supposed verbal agreement with Magnus the Good of Norway, who preceded Harald as King of Norway, and Harthacnut, King of England. The agreement stated that if either of them died without issue, the other would take over their kingdom. Harthacnut did indeed die without a son, though he favored supporting Edward the Confessor, and even Magnus believed he'd only have England in a war. After Magnus died, Harald inherited the claim.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#history #harald hardrada

[warsofasoiaf]

Did Mace know about the plot to have Margaery seduce Robert? When Varys discusses the conspiracy, he talks about Lord Renly and Ser Loras, implying that they thought of it. But did they tell Mace about their plans?

That's a fair question.

Mace was certainly down with the Joff and Tommen marriage, and has been explicitly mentioned in the text as wanting a grandson on the Iron Throne. So it seems like he would be involved, or at least tacitly approving of the plot. After all, the plot sort of falls apart if all this scheming happens but Mace decides to marry Margaery to someone else.

So yeah, Mace is definitely on board.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#mace tyrell #intrigue #speculation #margaery tyrell

[warsofasoiaf]

Why did Alexander keep marching East into Asia, why not go West into Europe?

Because east was Achaemenid Persia, the most mighty empire in all the world. West had nothing worth conquering.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#history #alexander the great