The Medieval Period(1066-1485)

The Norman Conquest of 1066 Normans

descendants of the Vikings Invaded France and adopted French customs William, Duke of Normandy

Promised throne by King Edward but Council elected Harold II, so William conquered and killed Harold in Battle of Hastings

Became King of England on Christmas day at Westminster Abbey

Overthrew Anglo-Saxon England / instituted French culture

Norman England Roman Catholicism

became focal point of culture, including govt

French words replaced Anglo-Saxon words, as they were deemed more elite

govt instituted Feudalism

William,

Duke of Normandy

Feudalism Land was granted by the lord to the vassal in

exchange for service during the Act of Homage in 3 ways: personal use to the church to barons (lord’s supporters)

Land was called fiefs, and taxes & knights were supplied in retribution.

Land given to the knights was called the manor, and serfs worked this land.

The Plantagenet Reign (1154) Henry II

knowledge of govt & law wanted to change church’s rule in govt

Richard I put country in debt due to overseas fighting

John signed Magna Carter (no taxation w/o rep) beginning of constitutional govt in England

Henry III Instituted parliamentary govt (The Great Council of Elders)

Edward I Included free men into Parliament via election

Decline of Feudalism trade created the growth of towns towns organized into labor unions, which

overtook govt’s rule over the people

THEREFORE

wealth no longer based on land ownership

Bubonic Plague “Black Death” (1348-49) killed 1/3 of population of England WHY?

People lived so close together that disease festered and spread rapidly – land ownership was a privilege of the wealthy

RESULT? Labor shortage increased value of peasant work

The Later Middle Ages (14th- 15th centuries)

Lancasters replaced Plantagenets Henry IV, V, and VI

(subjects of Shakespeare’s history plays)

John Wycliff

Believed: church exploited the Bible church shouldn’t be the wealthy

Directed the translation of the Bible from Latin to English Hoped more people would read it and

understand it and agree with his thought

War of the Roses(1453)

Richard of York was appointed temporary King when Henry VI was sick

Would not step down when Henry VI recovered

Civil war broke out (Lancasters vs. Yorks) Red rose vs. White rose

Yorks won in 1461 Richard’s son Edward IV took throne

House of York Richard I Edward IV (1461-1483) Edward V

Just a boy He and his brother died “mysterious” deaths in

Tower of London while under protection of his uncle, Richard of Gloucester, who proclaimed himself King Richard III

Richard III

End of the War of the Roses Henry Tudor (Lancaster)

led rebellion against Richard III, killing him King Henry VII married Richard III’s niece, uniting the two

houses end of the civil war and the Middle Ages

Chivalry code of Knightly behavior respected way of life for all citizens Examples:

Loyalty and valor on/off battlefield Pledge service to a lady

Joust for her favor Rescue damsels in distress

Chivalry in Literature Troubadour

French poet wrote stories about chivalrous knights

Romance stories about chivalrous knights written in Romance-influenced languages

French Spanish Italian

King Arthur

Legendary king who instituted the Knights of the Round Table and code of chivalry

Made famous through Tales of the Celts Geoffrey of Monmouth

Norman scholar who wrote about K.Arthur

Development of English Language

PAST MERGED WITH PRESENT

Old

English

Latin -

used mostly in church and education Middle

EnglishNorman French –

used mostly in govt

Contributions to English

WHEN WHO WHAT HOW

1372

John

Wycliff

translation of Bible from Latin to English

encouraged people to learn to read and write

1454

Johann

Gutenburgmoveable type

faster copying of books, making lit more available

1476

William

Caxtonprinting press

faster copying of books, making lit more available

Poetry of the Middle Ages reflected the changes of English society and the

English language Poets:

William Langland Geoffrey Chaucer

Types: Lyrics – versus sung with accompaniment of a lyre Ballads – folk songs that told a story

Drama of the Middle Ages Miracle plays (mystery plays) from the Bible

Cycle plays – presented a Biblical history of human kind

Morality plays – taught moral lessons in the form of allegory