Governing Pern

[C_ris]

How would people describe the government of Pern, before the discovery of AIVAS?

With which period of Earth history would you link/compare it?

[AnnMarie]

Easy: Fuedal

The Lord Holder is at the top. His holders are next in line, then the workers, and finally the drudges. Most of it is about having someone strong to lead in case of crisis, like Thread and plague. Also, the Apprenticeship methods were used in that era of Earth history. Only the Harper Hall, IMO, harkens back to an even earlier era: to me, there are a great many parallels between the Harpers of Pern, and the Bards of the ancient Celtic world.

[Lady Cin]

I'd say the closest match would be medieval England...knights (dragonriders), lords (LH, LdyH) and nobles (craftmasters). Then of course you have the peasants (holders) and ruffians (holdless/renegades).

[granath]

I'd put Lord Holders and Ladies among the nobility, equating them with the Lords of the Manor of medieval England. The Crafts do have an equivalent in medieval times, the Guilds. The Guilds had their Guildmasters, Masters, journeymen and apprentices just like the Crafts on Pern.

[Anareth]

I would say feudal oligarchy. The Lords seem to convene on some matters but have absolute dominion within their Holds. The dragonriders are somewhat subordinate as they don't, at least post-DE/RSR, seem to have a heck of a lot of say, but they and the Craftmasters can pull their people from service of a lord they don't like. They can't make policy for the general population, but it doesn't pay to PO them, either.

[C_ris]

Perosnally, I cannot see ANY pure represenation from history on Pern. Yes, there are similarities, but especially the inner workings of the Crafts and the Holds are in two very differnet time periods.

The Holds are very much like feudal period (9th century to about 15/6th century), Lords own the land, peasants farm it - though samll Holds were almost autonomous.
The Crafts are more like the Guild movements (17th century to 19th century) especially with the limited 'democracy' available in the choosing on the MasterCraftsman.
Whilst the dragonriders... i'd have to say the 18th century military - little chance of advancement from your 'place'.

[Nagetier]

Due to the meetings of Lords and whatnot, with their having to agree at the Conclave, the universal law, and yet the individual dominions ...

... it's a feudalcratic republic, folks.
(Just like Nivrim! -- okay, someone is arrogant about her RP world. :D)

[Anareth]

It would only be a republic if there were some sort of representation where people besides the Lords got to determine their vote. No one does--the Lord goes to Conclave, and can do basically anything he wants. No one back home is giving him any direction. It's not any sort of representative system, there is no method of removing a Lord whose people don't like him at the behest of those people (no voting of any kind, only supplication to the other Lords, even back when almost everyone was familiar with the Charter in DE/RSR.) It's a feudal oligarchy, with no representaiton or even meritocracy of any kind.

[B`dgyr]

Interesting points of view, everyone...but I don't think anyone has mentioned the small holders. they can't be equated with serfs, but not with regular farmers, either...I think I agree with Cin the most, though....

[Vyon]

I'd say mostly early European feudal rather than British - the holds are virtually small independent princedoms. :2cent:

[C_ris]

I'd say mostly early European feudal rather than British - the holds are virtually small independent princedoms. :2cent:
Good point Vyon. Would you care to elaborate upon that? :D

[fuzzypaws]

Definatly feudal. You have individual kingdoms (ie-weyrs, holds ,halls.) each is goverened in their own way by their own type of counsil but each is interdependant on the other. If the Holds do not tithe to the Weyrs how can the Weyrs do their job of protecting hold and hall? If the Hall does not share it's knowledge and personel (tithing in a different form) then the Weyr and Hold would be in bad shape when it comes to medical help and entertainment. So we all work together for the common good. With very few exceptions.