Medieval Era

Edward the Confessor Dies in 1066 The witan chose Harold II to be king, but William, Duke of Normandy, claimed that the throne had been promised to him by King Edward prior to the king’s death. William led his troops across the English Channel to claim the throne by force. The two men met at the Battle of Hastings, where Harold was killed, despite the fact that his forces had the military advantage by holding the “high ground.”

England under William I (the Conqueror) William suppressed the Anglo-Saxon nobility and confiscated their lands. He made sure that Normans controlled the government at all levels; therefore, the language of the government became French. This influence caused Old English to change to Middle English. William remade England along feudal lines.

England under William I (Continued) Also, for the first time, an inventory, known as the Domesday Book, was completed listing all English property. This compilation was necessary for William to create an efficient taxation system.

Feudalism Feudalism was a caste system, property system, military system, and a system of social behavior. It was based on a religious concept of hierarchy with God as the supreme overlord-landowner-general. The king, through divine right, controlled and watched over all the land, etc. Everyone became a vassal to those above him in the hierarchy. A vassal was a person who was in a subservient position.

A Succession of Kings Henry I, Stephen and Matilda, Henry II, Richard I, John I, Henry III, Edward I represent the line of kings that succeeded William I.

Henry II ( ) Henry is also known as Henry Plantagenet. His coming to power effectively ended Norman rule because his administration began to use Saxons again in governmental positions. Though he was Norman, he lived in England, and he was more English than French. He was a strongly committed ruler, who is known as one of England’s ablest kings. He placed his friend Thomas Becket, a Saxon, in positions of authority which ultimately set up the martyrdom of Becket for England.

King John I ( ) One of the sons of Henry II, John inherited debts incurred by Richard I (the Lion-heart), his brother, as Richard fought in the Crusades. John tried to raise money by raising taxes and cutting services, but his barons disagreed with John's actions. With the country on the verge of civil war, John was forced by the barons to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymeade.

Magna Carta (1215) King John promised not to tax land without seeking the approval of the barons. This is the first document to put restrictions on royal power.

Social Issues Towns began to grow because wealth was no longer limited to land ownership. People started owning small businesses and offering services to the nobility. The Black Death swept through England from killing one third (1/3) of the people. The Black Death brought the end of feudalism and produced massive labor shortages.

A Fight for the Throne Ends the Era Henry VI (House of Lancaster) and Richard of York fought for the throne in what became known as the War of the Roses.

Three Languages in England Aristocracy - French Saxon common people – Old English Scholarship and diplomacy - Latin (the influence of Catholicism)

Literature of the Era Romances: The tales of chivalry and knights led to improved attitudes toward women.

Poetry 1. Ballads - songs that tell stories. a. Folk ballads – composed by unknown singers and passed down for generations before being written down. b. Literary ballads – composed by known individuals and written down in imitation of the old folk ballads. 2. Poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer - the major writer of the time - wrote satiric and religious themes.

Dramas 1. Miracle plays – retold stories of the Bible. 2. Morality plays – allegorical plays of human struggles.

The End