THE MIDDLE AGES

 From Normandy in France  Killed King Harold (in Hastings)  King Harold was the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings  This began the Norman Conquest (culture)  Affected the development of English history, character, and language WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

 Illegitimate son of Duke of Normandy  William said the throne was promised to him, so he took it  He was efficient and ruthless as a soldier  He did not want to eliminate the Anglo-Saxons, only rule them  He was of Viking origin  Defended his mother to townspeople by having their hands and feet cut off  Died from complications when he fell off a horse WILLIAM’S PERSONALITY

 Culture:  Emphasis on law and order  Administrative  Artistic tendencies  Democratic tendencies  Accomplishments:  William created the Domesday Book  Allowed people to be taxed  Buildings, cattle, land, etc.  Language and social social system in England NORMAN CULTURE/WILLIAM’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 Caste system, property system, military system, system of social behavior  Based in religion  Divine Right  God is most powerful  King is second to God  Classes are created  Weak rulers caused breakdowns in the system FEUDALISM

 Boys were trained to become warriors  They had a military obligation to their lord  Often trained in other houses besides their own  “Sir”  Based on Feudal ideal of loyalty  Followed chivalry: A gentleman’s code of conduct KNIGHTS

 Peasant:  Childbearing  House work  Hard Field Work  Upper Class:  Childbearing  Household supervision  All women were subservient to all men  No military or land-owning ability = no power WOMEN

 Non-Sexual  Examples:  Honor lady in battle by wearing her colors  Glorify her with words or poetry  Gain inspiration from her  *Different from physical love; may occur between a knight and a woman who is married to someone else COURTLY LOVE

 People began living closely in towns and cities  The merchant class had its own tastes and its own money  People were more free and not restricted by roles like knights/chivalry  More art and more travelers emerged  Social classes became more evident  Low  Middle  Upper EVOLUTION OF CITIES

 Christians vs. Muslims  Lasted three centuries: 11 th, 12 th, and 13 th ; ended in 14 th century  Wars that began shortly after the Norman Conquest  Prize: Jerusalem and the Holy Land THE CRUSADES

 “holy blissful martyr”  Pilgrimage to Canterbury after his death  Archbishop of Canterbury or Head of the Church of England  St. Thomas was killed after knights misunderstood King Henry  Church: Very popular; high on the social scale.  Ecclesiastical (religious) jobs were second to Noble ST. THOMAS A` BECKETT

 Church: Latin  Middle-class: Middle English (The language of The Canterbury Tales)  Upper-class/Educated people: French and Latin LANGUAGES