1. Period 1

2.  Nickname-”The Father of English Poetry”  Father- Prosperous middle class wine merchant.  Chaucer became a page in a Royal House when he was a teen.  Work as a page expose him to a world of high/born people.  Fought in a hundred years war in 1359 taken prisoner and held for ransom.

3.  In his 20’s- Court Official- travel abroad learn different cultures and literatures.  Influenced-by French medieval traditions  1 st writer to use Middle English in a major literary work which was the Canterburry Tales  Canterburry Tales gives a “Lifelike and engaging picture of a various strata of english society of the 13oo’s.  Born 1342—Died 1400

4. Christianizing England *596 Pope Gregory I sent missionaries to convert Anglo-Saxon to Christianity *By 650 most of England was Christian * Celtic monks brought Christianity to other parts of England *Religion came with education and culture Monasteries *Women and men dedicated their lives to work and prayer *English monks established libraries and schools *Alfred’s greatest achievement in this regard was the Anglo-Saxon chornicle Pilgrimages *An important shrine in Spain was Santiago de Compostela *Thomas a Becket was slain in 1170 One way to express religions devotion was to undertake a pilgrimage.

6.  When king Edward died in 1066, William of Normandy claimed the throne.  Harold II was chosen by the English group of elders, William the conqueror attacked, battle of hasting, which he won

7.  Following Norman conquest, Anglo-Saxons became subjects of the Norman aristocracy  William the conquer introduced feudalism to England  King John needing money for the military, imposed financial burdens on his barons