1. The Medieval Period occurred between
1066 & 1485

2. The Normans were descendants of the Vikings who invaded France in the 9th century.

3. The Normans adopted the ways of the French:
Became Devout Christians
Began speaking French
Began using Feudalism as
their political/economic
system

4. When King Edward of England died in 1066 there were several claims on his throne:
William, Duke of Normandy
claimed Edward had promised
the throne to him. He was
Edwards’s cousin & was
French .
Harold II of England also had a claim.
Edward actually appointed his
nephew Edgar, but he died before being crowned.

5. William led troops across the English Channel where he…
fought Harold II
at Hastings, known
as the Battle of Hastings
Killed Harold II
Became King of England

6. As William “the Conqueror” For the Doomesday Book (tax record)
After Killing Harold II, William went to London where he crushed ALL resistance. He then became known …
As William “the Conqueror”
For the Doomesday Book (tax record)
White Tower was the
portion he’s known for
building
Building The Tower of London as a fortress to defend against attack.

7. William set up all aspects of English Society like that of France….
Normans controlled
government.
Business was done in
both French & Latin.
England was remade
along Feudal lines.

8. William established common law:
The laws introduced by William the Conqueror after his victory at Hastings in 1066, had an impact on everybody in England. These laws were introduced by William to control the English. William has gained a reputation of being nothing more than a tyrant in England. However, these laws, designed to control a conquered nation, could have been a lot worse. At the start of his reign, William wanted to appeal to the English. He tried to learn the English language, as an example.
Along with the building of castles and the Domesday Book, these laws were part of William’s way of controlling the English population. However, what William would have seen as conciliatory behavior at the start of his reign, was not as well received as he would have wished for. After the rebellion in the north of England, Norman rule became far more harsh.

9. Feudalism This is a system that exchanges land for
Lords (nobles)
This is a system that
exchanges land for
Personal service & protection.

10. The Knights of the
Medieval Age TRIED to live by a code of
Chivalry. They were to be…
Honorable
Courteous
Brave
Skillful
Courtly Love

11. was interested in government understood the workings
Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou became Henry II of England. He was considered one of England’s ablest kings because he…
was interested in government
understood the workings
of the law…jury system, royal
courts, common law
Was the 1st to call himself
“King of England" not King of
the English

12. Because of his concern for legal matters, Henry II …
Found himself in
conflict with the
church.
Henry wanted to stop the abuse of power
Saw the Church as too
powerful
He disliked that the
church Put clergyman
on trial in church run
courts & abused this
power

13. To Fix his problems with the church, Henry…
Appointed his Friend
Thomas Becket as Arch-
bishop of Canterbury.
felt duped when his friend
didn’t help with his
plan.

14. Henry II became furious when…
…Becket told the Pope his plans about cleaning up the church, especially because the Pope sided with Becket.

15. Because of Henry’s anger…
"Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?"
4 of Henry’s knights
went to Canterbury.
Thomas Becket was
murdered in his
Cathedral.

16. Because All of Europe was horrified by the murder of Thomas Becket...
Henry condemned the crime.
Henry made a holy journey, or pilgrimage to Becket’s tomb

17. Thereafter, a journey to visit Becket's shrine at Canterbury became a common English means of showing religious devotion.
-INFACT-
Geoffrey Chaucer’s
characters in The
Canterbury Tales
make this same
journey.

18. Queen Berengaria:
She was the Queen of England, but she never even saw her realm.
She was wife of King Richard I, “The Lionheart.” In 1190 Richard succeeded his father, Henry II, on the throne of England. Henry’s wife was the imperious, scheming Eleanor of Aquitaine who arranged the marriage despite Richard being engaged to Alys, sister of King Philip II of France.

19. Although the first printing press was established at the end of the Medieval Period, much of the literature was still composed orally…
Folk ballads were sung or recited and passed down through the generations.

20. These ballads, along with most literature of the time, were written in poetic verse and told a story…

22. Ballads are written in Ballad Stanza

23. Ballads Continued

24. Ballads Continued

25. Sir Thomas Malory
Sir Thomas Malory (c – 14 March 1471) was an English writer, the author or compiler of Le Morte d’Arture, which is about the death of King Arthur. Since the late nineteenth century, he has generally been identified as Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire, a knight, land-owner, and Member of Parliament.

26. Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:
Hundred Years’ War…
fought France over land
Began in 1337 and ended in 1453
Began with Edward III
War of the Roses… literal
Civil War over who would be King
House of York…white rose
House of Lancaster…red rose
--Lancaster’s win when Henry VII kills King
Richard III at Bosworth Field.
--Tudor line begins

27. Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:
Crusades (1095, 1191, 1202, 1217, & 1270)
Part of Chivalry…knights should go on
holy quests.
Christians try to take Jerusalem from Muslims
Europeans gain knowledge in Math & Medicine
IV. Black Plague (1348)
caused by flea bites
Killed 1/3 of England’s population
Figuratively called “War of the roses” due
to red bumps caused by flea bites.
--”ring around the Rosie”

28. Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism: Weapons Long bow
Gunpowder …castles & knights useless
Other Factors
Labor was scarce (why?)
High Taxes
Repressive Laws
Basically…plague, war, taxes, laws, & invention
Killed Feudalism.

29. Medieval Life & Society

30. Medieval Life: Towns become cities…
A. Wool industry…especially up North
1. Sheep herders
2. Combing
3. spinning
4. weaving
5. dying finished cloth
people pay overlord with $, not land

31. Medieval Life continued…
B. Merchant Class emerges
1. Become rich (favors for nobility)
2. Enter the Gentry class
3. Some become nobility
4. Formed Guilds
a. Regulate prices & standards
b. Extended family life
c. Apprentice & journeymen
d. Masters

32. Medieval Life continued…
Guilds…formed for many workers
1. stonecutters
2. masons
3. carpenters
4. woodcarvers
5. glass blowers
6. stainers
The great Cathedrals were built at this time

33. Medieval Society continued…
D. Few comforts in Life
1. Travel was difficult
2. Travel was dangerous
3. Little variety in food
a. No sugar or potatoes
b. Food had to be seasoned
c. You grew it or caught it
d. Winter limited diet

34. Medieval Literature… Romance Literature A. King Author
B. Folk Poetry …ballads
C. Drama
1. Miracle plays
a. performed by Guilds
b. depicted bible stories
2. Morality plays
a. characters represented virtues
b. Characters represented vices
c. Told a moral