The Middle Ages 1066-1485

Feudalism Class hierarchy – social and economic ranking King Lords –given land from King; supplied knights Serfs—farmed on Lords’ land

Code central to medieval social values Chivalry Code central to medieval social values

New Language French—used by nobility and courts Latin—for church, business, and scholarship

New Language English—for the common people Middle English emerges as the new language

The Crusades 1095-1270—Roman Catholic Church Military expeditions to the Middle East Wanted Jerusalem and the Holy Land Ultimately, failed to win these lands

Church vs. State (1162) Sir Thomas a Becket named Archbishop of Canterbury Becket opposed the king’s attempts to control the Roman Catholic Church Henry II had 4 knights kill Becket in Canterbury Cathedral Becket is canonized as a saint

The 100 Years’ War 1337-1453— series of France vs. England wars France was victorious Allowed England to break completely from France

The Black Death (1348) Bubonic plague Infected fleas carried by rodents Swelling, high fever, and body aches (die in about 5 days) Kills 1/3 of England’s people

Labor shortage Laboring class can now demand higher wages Move to the cities Breaking down the feudal system

The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterpiece 1st writer to use English in a major literary work Provides a cross section of society during the 1300s 17,000 lines of vivid poetry

The Canterbury Tales 29 pilgrims Frame tale—story that provides a vehicle for telling other stories 29 pilgrims Feudal system Religious life Trades/Professions

Pilgrimage: the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury The Canterbury Tales Pilgrimage: the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury