an introduction to the middle ages and geoffrey chaucer english 12 ms. efford
TRANSCRIPT
An Introduction to the Middle Ages and Geoffrey
Chaucer
English 12Ms. Efford
Literature from This Unit
The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer
“Father of English Poetry” First author to write in English (Middle
English) [previously Latin] Educated Government official – work took precedence
over writing Worked on Canterbury Tales for 22 years;
never finished
The Middle Ages – Norman Invasion
1066 – Duke William of Normandy One-day long battle Defeated and killed King Harold of England William felt entitled to the English throne
(Edward, previous king, left no heirs) Combined Norman emphasis on law and
order with Anglo Saxon democracy and culture
Feudalism
Caste system (social class) Military system Property system System of social behavior
Top of the Ladder: William the Conqueror Barons, vassals, lower vassals, landless
knights, serfs
City Classes
Eventually many people left the country and moved to the cities
City classes not defined by the feudal system Upper, middle, lower Middle class = merchant class who
could afford what they wanted
Knighthood and Chivalry
Chivalry was a system of ideals that governed knights Loyalty to overlord Rules of warfare Adoration of a lady
Crusades & Hundred Years’ War
Crusades: Series of religious
wars to spread Christianity throughout Europe
Struggle against Muslims
Ultimately a failure Europe benefited from
contact with higher civilization of Middle East
Hundred Years’ War Battles between
England and France Lasted over 100 years
(1337-1453) Feud stemming from
Norman Invasion Militarily unsuccessful
for Britain; did increase sense of nationalism
Black Death
Highly contagious plague Spread through cities from fleas of
infested rats Killed 1/3 of people in England Gave more power to people in lower
classes Caused labor shortage Lower class workers willing to work could
negotiate wages and working conditions
Martyrdom of Sir Thomas a Becket
Thomas was a Norman who had great power in England as well as Catholic church (prime minister and Archbishop)
Sided with the Pope rather than the King
King Henry II (half joking) said he wanted Thomas put to death
Henry’s knights killed Thomas in the cathedral at Canterbury
Martyrdom of Sir Thomas a Becket
Saint Thomas the Martyr Made a saint and martyred by a cult
following who opposed the king People made pilgrimages to Canterbury
to honor Saint Thomas’s memory The Canterbury Tales are a fictional
collection of stories from a group of people making this pilgrimage to Canterbury
Worst Jobs in History
Middle Ages jobshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZrE1mVcB2k
(part 1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPgkfxuyBgM&NR=1
(part 2)