The Medieval Period occurred between 1066 & 1485
Jan 05, 2016
The Medieval Period occurred between
1066 & 1485
The Normans were
descendants of the
Vikings who
invaded France in
the 9th century.
The Normans adopted the ways of the
French:
Became Devout
Christians
Began speaking
French
Began using Feudalism as their political/economic system
When King Edward of England died in 1066
there were several claims on his throne:
1. William, Duke of Normandy claimed Edward had promised the throne to him. He was Edwards’s cousin & was
French .
2. Harold II of England also had a claim.
Edward actually appointed his
nephew Edgar, but he died before being crowned.
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
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)
Building The Tower of London as a fortress to defend against attack.
White Tower was the portion he’s known for building
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.
Lords (nobles)
This is a system that exchanges land for Personal service & protection.
Feudalism
The Knights of the Medieval Age TRIED to live by a code ofChivalry. They were to be…HonorableCourteousBraveSkillfulCourtly Love
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
Because of his concern for legal matters, Henry II
…
Found himself in conflict with the church.
Saw the Church as too powerful
He disliked that
the church Put clergyman on trial in church run courts & abused this power
Henry wanted to stop the abuse of power
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.
…Becket told the Pope his plans about cleaning up the church, especially because the Pope sided with Becket.
Henry II became furious when…
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.
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
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.
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.
These ballads, along
with most literature
of the time, were
written in poetic
verse and told a
story…
Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:
I. Hundred Years’ War… fought France over land Began in 1337 and ended in 1453 Began with Edward III
II. 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
Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:
III.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”
Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:
V. Weapons Long bow Gunpowder …castles & knights useless
VI.Other Factors Labor was scarce (why?) High Taxes Repressive Laws
Basically…plague, war, taxes, laws, & inventionKilled Feudalism.
Medieval Life & Society
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
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
Medieval Life continued…
C.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
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
Medieval Literature…I. Romance Literature A. King Author
B. Folk Poetry …balladsC. 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