3. Influence of IslamInfluence of Islam
In the twelfth century,In the twelfth century,
Christian and IslamicChristian and Islamic
culture clashed throughculture clashed through
the crusades in the Holythe crusades in the Holy
Lands. Many of theLands. Many of the
returning crusadersreturning crusaders
adapted Islamic storiesadapted Islamic stories
and philosophies and thisand philosophies and this
is thought to be theis thought to be the
origins of chivalry andorigins of chivalry and
courtly love.courtly love.
4. Bound FeetBound Feet
The culture of foot binding appeared
approximately at the same time as the
fashion for long toed shoes prevailed in
Europe.
The Lotus Shoe
5. Courtly LoveCourtly Love
The relationship wasThe relationship was
always illicit i.e. thealways illicit i.e. the
woman was the wife ofwoman was the wife of
another, often a lord oranother, often a lord or
patron andpatron and
consummation of courtlyconsummation of courtly
love was virtuallylove was virtually
impossible.impossible.
"E d`amor mou castitaz"-
6. Woman worship & CourtshipWoman worship & Courtship
• Domnei - Gazing on aDomnei - Gazing on a
partly or fully undressedpartly or fully undressed
lady, andlady, and
• Donnoi - The two wentDonnoi - The two went
to bed but the lover hadto bed but the lover had
to prove the depth of histo prove the depth of his
love by avoidinglove by avoiding
intercourse.intercourse.
7. JesterJester
According to Orderic, a foolAccording to Orderic, a fool
called Robert stuffed thecalled Robert stuffed the
points of his shoes with flaxpoints of his shoes with flax
so they could be curled backso they could be curled back
in the form of a ram’s horn.in the form of a ram’s horn.
Subsequently he was givenSubsequently he was given
the ribald nicknamethe ribald nickname
Cornadus, meaning ‘Horner”Cornadus, meaning ‘Horner”
or Horny.or Horny.The Poulaine
8. Silly Walks and SyphilisSilly Walks and Syphilis
• Tabes DorsalisTabes Dorsalis
Syphilitic myelopathy is a disorderSyphilitic myelopathy is a disorder
characterised by muscle weaknesscharacterised by muscle weakness
and abnormal sensations.and abnormal sensations. Loss ofLoss of
proprioception causesproprioception causes coordinationcoordination
difficulties which contribute todifficulties which contribute to
problems of wide based walking.problems of wide based walking.
• General Paralysis of the InsaneGeneral Paralysis of the Insane
widespread damage to the nerveswidespread damage to the nerves
of the brain results in personalityof the brain results in personality
changes, mood changes,changes, mood changes,
hyperactive reflexes, abnormalhyperactive reflexes, abnormal
mental function includingmental function including
hallucinations and delusions,hallucinations and delusions,
decreased intellectual functioning,decreased intellectual functioning,
and speech changes.and speech changes.
9. The Court JesterThe Court Jester
"When the king was a"When the king was a
syphilitic semi-imbecile, asyphilitic semi-imbecile, a
jester even more grotesquejester even more grotesque
may have served as amay have served as a
useful stage prop,useful stage prop,
disarming criticism bydisarming criticism by
making the king look moremaking the king look more
nearly normal bynearly normal by
comparison and thuscomparison and thus
making the make-believemaking the make-believe
of kingship possible."of kingship possible."
10. Sex Toys & ProphylacticsSex Toys & Prophylactics
• In both Occidental andIn both Occidental and
Oriental Society shoe designOriental Society shoe design
may have been influenced bymay have been influenced by
promiscuity.promiscuity.
• Shoe masturbation providedShoe masturbation provided
protection from sexuallyprotection from sexually
transmitted disease and in thetransmitted disease and in the
case of the poulaine disguisedcase of the poulaine disguised
the symptoms of tertiarythe symptoms of tertiary
syphilis.syphilis.
12. AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
To all sources whoTo all sources who
made this presentationmade this presentation
not only possible, butnot only possible, but
more importantly,more importantly,
plausible.plausible.
Sincere thanks.Sincere thanks.