• 1/28 Focus:– Kings began to gain more power and

centralize power during the high middle ages

– England was one of the first countries in Europe to develop a strong central monarchy

• Do Now:–What was one characteristic of life in

Western Europe during the early Middle Ages?

Middle AgesThe High Middle Ages

Flashback

• After the fall of Rome Western Europe entered into the Dark Ages– lack of central authority – Decline of education and learning– Decline in trade and commerce – Development of Feudalism and the

Manorial System

•

The High Middle Ages• Between 1000 &

1500 Western Europe began to emerge from the Dark Ages

Popes and Kings• During the early

middle ages nobles and their knights held a great deal of power– Over time power

shifted to kings and the Pope

• Powerful kings came into power in England and France

•

England• Angles and

Saxons had invaded England in the 400’s

• Divided into separate kingdoms– Each had their

own laws and customs

England• England was

subject to frequent invasions from Vikings

• Alfred the Great– Saxon king– unites England

after stopping Viking advances

England• 1066 Alfred’s descendent

King Edward dies without an heir

• 2 people claim the throne – Harold Godwinson• Son of one of Edward’s

advisors–William of Normandy• Normandy was in

France • Claimed he had been

promised the throne by Godwinson

Battle of Hastings• Conflict breaks

over who should be king

• William wins the battle and becomes King of England – Harold Godwinson is

killed in battle• Shot through the eye

with in an arrow

William the Conqueror

• William begins to centralize power – Claims all land in

England as his property• Gave land to his

supporters

William the Conqueror

• Domesday Book – A survey of people

living in England, what they owned, and how much they could pay in taxes

– was used to create an efficient tax system

The Magna Carta• William’s descendants had

begun to abuse their power

• King John – Had lost most of the English

lands in France in a expensive war

– Began to raise to taxes on nobles

– Nobles were angered by his confiscation of lands and high taxes

– Raised an army and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215

The Magna Carta• Document which limited

the power of the king –Means “Great Charter”

• Laid the groundwork for “democracy” in Europe

• Established the British Parliament

The Magna Carta• Basic principles:– King could not raise taxes without the

approval of a council of nobles and clergy• Later became the British Parliament

– King could not arrest people without cause or take property without just cause• Habeas Corpus

– Had to be convicted by a jury to be sent to jail– The King had to obey the law; was not above

the law

Closure• Identify one way William the

conqueror established control of England.

• What was the purpose of the Domesday Book?

• Explain how the Magna Carta limited the power of the king?