Middle Ages 1066-1485

Background At the end of King Edward’s reign, he was left with no heir to the throne. William the Conqueror, a duke from Normandy, claimed the throne which had been promised to him. In October of 1066, he and his soldiers from Normandy defeated King Harold of England in the Battle of Hastings.

Norman Conquest-lasting effects William established the feudal system, which entails a social hierarchy that effects men, women, and children. William divided the land among the men who supported him the most.

William the Conqueror Not as bad as you think. He wanted to conquer the Anglo-Saxons, not eliminate them. With his reign came cultural influence (French!!!)/unity, “administrative ability,” and “emphasis on law and order.” 118 Taxation was created based on what a person owned…thanks to The Doomsday Book…interesting title, check out page 118!

The Feudal System Feudalism labeled each person in all aspects of life (political, social, and economic). Was a caste system, property system, and military system

The Pecking order God was deemed as the “overlord” then the king was given “divine rights.” The king gave the lords and barons land. The lords assigned things to the lesser lords, knights, vassals, and serfs.

The underlings Vassals were aristocrats (like senators) who received land (a fief) from a lord and could serve that lord and other lords or become lords themselves with whatever land they divided out. They had to remain loyal to that lord, which wasn’t always the case! Thus the fights between lords and vassals were fought by their KNIGHTS

The underlings Knights were the warriors of the lords, who fought other knights to get more land. Often young male serfs were taken from their homes and trained in the ways of the knight. At the end of the feudal system, they more or less represented chivalry and good deeds.

Knight’s Code Be loyal to the lord. Adore a woman from afar-Courtly Love. Don’t fight an unarmed opponent.

The Underlings Serfs were the lowest of the rank They were bound to the land whatever they raised, they gave to their lord for protection against war and famine (Gang protection. Ha ha ha)

Poor Women! Women were not given a say in land holdings like they had during the Anglo-Saxon period. A woman’s job was based on her social rank. IF she was a serf, she raised children, took care of the house, and worked outside. If she were of higher rank, she raised the children and supervised her servents.

Bye-Bye Feudalism When populations grew outside of the castle walls, the feudal system could no longer maintain strict control.

Literature changes Romance rises- Sir Gawan and the Green Knight; this type of romance was not about love as we know it. Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales as commentary on cities and towns. Ballads are written about chivalrous deeds and other “average” people’s ideas.

“The Great Happenings” The Crusades inspired the knight in The Canterbury Tales by Geofrey Chaucer The Crusades was a “holy war” that was fought over 200 years. In the process of the war, Jews and Muslims were killed in the name of Christianity.

Quiz! Who was at the top of the Feudal system? A poem that tells a story is a/an _______. The Crusades lasted for over ______ years. Knights were warriors for ___________. The Norman Conquest happened in _____.

“The Martyrdom Of Thomas a Becket” Rose to power during King Henry II’s reign Since England’s religion was Catholicism, Thomas’s position as a chancellor then the head pope of the English Catholic Church, was perceived by Henry to be to his advantage against the Roman Pope who was more powerful than he!

Thomas Cntd Thomas sided with the Pope too much, which angered the king. In a fit of rage, the king had an outburst, which in turn made four knights think that the king wanted Thomas dead. After a hideous murder in the church, Thomas was labeled a Martyr and Henry had to deal with angry citizens and Church.

The Magna Carta Signed by King John in 1215 Though King John was backed by the Roman Catholic Church, he was forced by English barons to sign the document thus sealing the end of papal influence. It had no concerns for common ppl’s rights, but it did establish trial by jury and legislative taxation.

The Hundred Years War First war waged by England against France Based on claims that King Edward and King Henry V were rightful heirs to the French throne Helped develop a sense of national awareness and pride.

Good bye knights, Hello Yeoman! Yeoman- small land owners; relics of feudalism Were skilled with a long bow which shot yard long arrows that sailed over castle walls easily and penetrated knights’ armor. Were essential in the Hundred Years War Rose to acceptance in the new society

The Black Death Bubonic plague spread by fleas from infected rats 1348-1349 Caused labor shortages Nation’s population decreased by 1/3, which helped the lower class have more bargaining power over the lords.

Tying up loose ends. By the end of the Medieval Period, Henry VII’s marriage in 1486 stopped the feud between the House of Lancaster and the House of York (aka War of the Roses). He created the Tudor line-led to Henry VIII, which then led to Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign signaled the beginning of the Renaissance.