The Middle Ages

1066 - Duke William of Normandy invades England killing the last of the

Anglo-Saxon kings.

Normans brought:Normans brought:

Administrative abilityAdministrative ability Emphasis on law and orderEmphasis on law and order And cultural unity to the Anglo-And cultural unity to the Anglo-

Saxons’ more democratic and artistic Saxons’ more democratic and artistic tendenciestendencies

Domesday Book

• Inventory of every piece of property in England

• Created by William I

• First time in European history that people could be taxed based on what they owned

It was written by an observer of the survey that "there was no single hide nor a yard of land, nor indeed one ox nor one cow nor one pig which was left out".

The Norman Conquest helped The Norman Conquest helped to bring England into the to bring England into the mainstream of European mainstream of European

civilization.civilization.

FeudalismFeudalism

Caste, property and military pyramid Caste, property and military pyramid system based on a religious concept system based on a religious concept of hierarchyof hierarchy

GodRoyalty

Nobility – barons, dukes, earls, etc.

Knights

Clergy

Serfs

VassalVassal

Feudal tenantFeudal tenant Subject or retainerSubject or retainer

Primary duty of males above a serf Primary duty of males above a serf was military service to their lords.was military service to their lords.

Since feudalism was a military Since feudalism was a military system…system…

Women could not be warriors so they Women could not be warriors so they had no political rights had no political rights

Women were always subservient to a Women were always subservient to a man whether it be a husband, father man whether it be a husband, father or brotheror brother

A woman’s social standing depended A woman’s social standing depended completely on her husband or fathercompletely on her husband or father

ChivalryChivalry

Brought about by feudalismBrought about by feudalism A system of ideals and social codes governing A system of ideals and social codes governing

the behavior of knights and gentlewomenthe behavior of knights and gentlewomen

Chivalry CodesChivalry Codes

• Adhering to one’s oath of loyalty to Adhering to one’s oath of loyalty to the overlordthe overlord

• Observing rules of warfareObserving rules of warfare

• Adoring a particular lady was a Adoring a particular lady was a means of self-improvementmeans of self-improvement

Chivalry CodesChivalry CodesThe Ten Commandments of the Code of ChivalryThe Ten Commandments of the Code of ChivalryFrom From ChivalryChivalry by Leon Gautier by Leon Gautier Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt

observe all its directions. observe all its directions. Thou shalt defend the Church. Thou shalt defend the Church. Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself

the defender of them. the defender of them. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and

without mercy. without mercy. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be

not contrary to the laws of God. not contrary to the laws of God. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged

word. word. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the

Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

The Code of ChivalryThe Code of ChivalryFrom the Rifts: England From the Rifts: England

SupplementSupplement Live to serve King and Country. Live to serve King and Country. Live to defend Crown and Country and Live to defend Crown and Country and

all it holds dear. all it holds dear. Live one's life so that it is worthy of Live one's life so that it is worthy of

respect and honor. respect and honor. Live for freedom, justice and all that is Live for freedom, justice and all that is

good. good. Never attack an unarmed foe. Never attack an unarmed foe. Never use a weapon on an opponent Never use a weapon on an opponent

not equal to the attack. not equal to the attack. Never attack from behind. Never attack from behind. Avoid lying to your fellow man. Avoid lying to your fellow man. Avoid cheating. Avoid cheating. Avoid torture. Avoid torture. Obey the law of king, country, and Obey the law of king, country, and

chivalry. chivalry. Administer justice. Administer justice. Protect the innocent. Protect the innocent. Exhibit self control. Exhibit self control. Show respect to authority. Show respect to authority. Respect women. Respect women. Exhibit Courage in word and deed. Exhibit Courage in word and deed.

Defend the weak and innocent. Defend the weak and innocent. Destroy evil in all of its monstrous forms. Destroy evil in all of its monstrous forms. Crush the monsters that steal our land and Crush the monsters that steal our land and

rob our people. rob our people. Fight with honor. Fight with honor. Avenge the wronged. Avenge the wronged. Never abandon a friend, ally, or noble Never abandon a friend, ally, or noble

cause. cause. Fight for the ideals of king, country, and Fight for the ideals of king, country, and

chivalry. chivalry. Die with valor. Die with valor. Always keep one's word of honor. Always keep one's word of honor. Always maintain one's principles. Always maintain one's principles. Never betray a confidence or comrade. Never betray a confidence or comrade. Avoid deception. Avoid deception. Respect life and freedom. Respect life and freedom. Die with honor. Die with honor. Exhibit manners. Exhibit manners. Be polite and attentive. Be polite and attentive. Be respectful of host, women, and honor. Be respectful of host, women, and honor. Loyalty to country, King, honor, freedom, Loyalty to country, King, honor, freedom,

and the code of chivalry. and the code of chivalry. Loyalty to one's friends and those who lay Loyalty to one's friends and those who lay

their trust in thee.their trust in thee.

Courtly Love

• Nonsexual

• Supposed to make a knight braver and better by revering and acting in the name of a lady

• Example= wearing a lady’s colors in battle

Courtly Love Gone Wrong…

• Sir Lancelot and Guinevere

CitiesCities

Brought about new classes – lower, middle Brought about new classes – lower, middle and upper-middleand upper-middle

People were free, not tied to the land or People were free, not tied to the land or knighthoodknighthood

Led to “people’s art” – ballads, mystery Led to “people’s art” – ballads, mystery and miracle playsand miracle plays

Led to cathedrals and municipal buildingsLed to cathedrals and municipal buildings

CrusadesCrusades

Series of wars by European Series of wars by European Christians against Muslims with Christians against Muslims with Jerusalem and the Holy Land as the Jerusalem and the Holy Land as the prizeprize

Exposed English people to Eastern Exposed English people to Eastern math, astronomy, architecture and math, astronomy, architecture and craftscrafts

Thomas a Becket

• Murdered in his own cathedral by King Henry’s knights

• Led to a backlash against the king• The king lost all power in the

Roman Church• State became powerless to correct

widespread corruption

Medieval ChurchMedieval Church

Fostered cultural unityFostered cultural unity Continued as a center of learningContinued as a center of learning

Magna Carta (The Great Magna Carta (The Great Charter) 1215Charter) 1215

English barons forced King John to English barons forced King John to sign to curb the church’s powersign to curb the church’s power

Became the basis for English Became the basis for English constitutional lawconstitutional law

Hundred Years War (1337 – 1453)

First national war between England and France

England lost to France

The English began to think of themselves as British instead of Anglo-Norman

YeomanYeoman

Small landownerSmall landowner Gave birth to modern democratic Gave birth to modern democratic

EnglandEngland

Black DeathBlack Death1348 - 13491348 - 1349

Bubonic plague spread by fleas from Bubonic plague spread by fleas from infected ratsinfected rats

Killed 1/3 of the populationKilled 1/3 of the population Caused labor shortageCaused labor shortage Gave lower class more leverageGave lower class more leverage Led to the end of feudalismLed to the end of feudalism