1. Developing society Norman kings and the House of Plantagenet
Performer - Culture & Literature
Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella,
Margaret Layton © 2012

2. 1. Norman kings William I (1066-1087)
William II ( ), called ‘Rufus’ because of his red hair
Henry I ( ), William Rufus’ brother
Stephen ( ), Henry’s nephew and the last Norman king
Performer - Culture & Literature

3. 2. The House of Plantagenet
Henry II ( ), Henry I’s grandson
Richard I ( ), the Lion-Hearted, third son of Henry II
John ( ), the Lackland, fifth son of Henry II
Henry III ( ), John’s son
Edward I ( ), Henry III’s son
Edward II ( ), Edward I’s son
Edward III ( ), Edward II’s son
Richard II ( ), Edward III’s grandson
Performer - Culture & Literature

4. 3. Henry II: Control of Barons
He destroyed all castles that had been built illegally during Stephen’s reign.
He hired mercenaries. Knights could pay a sum of money, the ‘scutage’, instead of giving the king military service.
Performer - Culture & Literature

5. 4. Henry II: the reform of justice
The king regained control of the justice system by creating travelling judges.
The law they administered was called
common law
The common law was used everywhere and based on local customs comparisons and previous cases.
It was different from the law administered in other parts of Europe, linked to the civil law of the Roman Empire and the canon law of the Church.
Performer - Culture & Literature

6. 5. Henry II and the Church
In medieval times the Church was very important.
The clergy wrote documents like receipts (showing you had paid your taxes) or contracts (when you sold your land).
The most powerful churchman in England was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Performer - Culture & Literature

7. 5. Henry II and the Church
Henry aimed at reducing the power of the Church.
He appointed his friend Thomas Becket as his Chancellor.
Once Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket became an opponent of the King, who claimed authority in investing the bishops.
The conflict between the King and Becket lasted for a long time until Becket was murdered by four knights sent by the King.
Performer - Culture & Literature

8. 5. Henry II and the Church
Europe was shocked by the murder of Thomas Becket.
After his death, Becket was made a saint, and Canterbury Cathedral became a shrine for pilgrims to visit.
Performer - Culture & Literature

9. 6. The Magna Carta Events leading to the Magna Carta:
King John became unpopular because:
he lost French territories;
he collected higher taxes to equal less income coming from the loss of a great mass of the French land.
In 1215 the barons
refused to pay the scutage;
conspired to resist the King;
occupied London;
made King John sign an important document, the Magna Carta.
Performer - Culture & Literature

10. 6. The Magna Carta The Magna Carta: promised freedoms to all people;
protected the rights of ordinary people;
gave England the basis of a legal system;
promised to have good and fair laws;
prevented any freeman from being punished without a proper trial.
Performer - Culture & Literature

11. 7. The birth of Parliament
From the earliest times, the kings of England had assembled nobles and other important subjects in the witan, or council, to advise them.
During the reign of Henry III assemblies were summoned. They included:
bishops;
noblemen;
knights of the shire;
two representatives from the towns.
The transition from the king’s council to Parliament was gradual. In 1295 the meeting of the king’s council was known as ‘The Model Parliament’.
Performer - Culture & Literature

12. 7. The birth of Parliament
By the close of the 14th century Parliament had assumed something of its modern form:
it had been split into the House of Lords and the House of Commons;
the Commons had acquired a crucial role in taxation and legislation.
Performer - Culture & Literature

13. 8. The Black Death,
The Black Death was one of the worst natural disasters in history.
It was caused by fleas, blood-sucking parasites, living on rats which infested the ship trading with Europe.
Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411)
The dead littered the streets everywhere.
Cattle and livestock roamed the country unattended.
Performer - Culture & Literature

14. 8. The Black Death, 1347-1350 The disease cycle
Fleas drank rat blood that carried the bacteria
Bacteria multiplied in flea gut.
Fleas bit human and regurgitated blood into human wound
Human beings were infected
Performer - Culture & Literature

15. 8. The Black Death, 1347-1350 Consequences of the Black Death:
High mortality rate: one third of England’s population died.
Enormous economic and social effects:
labour was scarce;
wages rose;
prices dropped;
better living conditions of peasants left alive.
Performer - Culture & Literature

16. 9. The War of the Roses, 1450-1500 Decline of the monarchy due to:
expenses of the Hundred Years’ War
increasing power of the House of Commons
civil war fought by the two rival families
the House of Lancaster
the House of York
Performer - Culture & Literature

17. 9. The Wars of the Roses, 1450-1500 Lancaster vs York
The House of Lancaster
Henry IV, Richard II’s cousin,
Henry V,
Henry VI,
The House of York
Edward IV, son of the Duke of York,
Edward V, Edward IV’s son, 1483
Richard III,
Performer - Culture & Literature

18. 9. The Wars of the Roses, 1450-1500 Main events of the war
Henry VI was weak and Lancastrians became unpopular.
In 1461 he was confined to the Tower by the son of the Duke of York, who seized the throne as Edward IV.
Edward V was murdered by his uncle Richard, Duke of Glouchester, who crowned himself as Richard III.
Richard III was killed by Henry, Earl of Richmond, at the battle of Bosworth in 1485.
Henry became Henry VII, the first king of the Tudor dynasty.
He married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV.
Performer - Culture & Literature