Deliberative oratory in the middle ages: The missing millenium in the study of public address

Abstract

An entire millennium is missing in our study of the history of political speaking. Deliberative oratory was extensively practiced in the middle ages, but it has been ignored by scholars because we have long been taught that it did not exist. The conventional wisdom, that political oratory faded away with the end of the ancient world arid was dead throughout the entire middle ages, is simply not true. This article illustrates the role of public address in feudal government. Before making any important policy decision, feudal lords summoned their men and asked for their “counsel. “At these councils, oratory played an important role in the decision making process.