1. Medieval Period 1066-1485

2. Also called –The Middle Ages –Dark Ages People believed in the “divine order” –God destined man’s role in society God... Angels... Man... Animals... inanimate objects... Satan

3. Beginning of the Period William of Normandy defeats King Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king The Normans brought administrative abilities, law and order, cultural unity This intertwined with the Anglo-Saxons democratic and artistic tendencies Domesday Book – William inventoried nearly every property in England Brought feudalism to England

4. Rulers William I William II Henry I Stephen Henry II Richard I John Henry III Edward I Edward II Edward III Richard II Henry IV Henry V Henry VI Edward IV Edward V Richard III Henry VII

5. Bubonic Plague –Killed 40% of the population Rise of cities and towns creates new “free” group of people Development of classes –Middle –Upper-middle –Lower People of the Medieval Period

6. Feudal Class System

7. Women during the Medieval Period Always subservient to men Peasant women – childbearing, housework and field work Society women – childbearing, household supervision NO political rights

8. Chivalry A system of ideals and social codes, centering around knights Loyalty Page…Squire…Knight (Sir) Breaking these “codes” was a disgrace to the person and the institution of knighthood itself Helped to develop literature form “romance”

9. Medieval Church Unifying factor Continued to be a center of learning Organized Oxford & Cambridge Church had right to tax

10. The Crusades 1095-1270 Series of wars waged by Christians against Muslims over the Holy Lands Exposed Europeans to the Middle East’s civilization Lasted over 200 years

11. End of the Period Marked by the marriage of King Henry VII bringing the houses of York and Lancaster together. By ending the War of the Roses

12. Language–Middle English 1385 English becomes official language of all the people Grammar from old English + influence of rich French vocabulary Hundred Years War – intensifies patriotic feeling for the language

13. Literature First great work of this period Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Printing press invention at the end of the period allows common man access to books Ballads Romances - Arthurian legend Mystery and Miracle plays Morality plays

14. Canterbury Tales Gives an idea of life in the Medieval Period Story of a group of people on a pilgrimage from London to the shrine of martyr Thomas a’ Becket in Canterbury Cathedral Pilgrims on this journey from all walks of life

15. Ballads Literature of the common people Often about death, relationships Composed to commemorate events of importance Intended to be sung Often the tabloids of the time

16. Ballad Stanza Four lines per stanza abab or abcb rhyme scheme Four accented syllables in 1 st & 3 rd Three accented syllables in 2 nd & 4 th May contain refrain at the end of each stanza Often anonymous Contains incremental repetition Question/answer, dialogue

17. Arthurian Legend Legends usually begin with a historical fact. –Arthur – may have been a King who fought the Anglo-Saxons Most important source for the legends –Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory “the once and future king”

18. The End