The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

1066-1485 AD1066-1485 AD

10661066

The year the Normans defeated the The year the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings.Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings.

William the Conqueror, a Norman William the Conqueror, a Norman (French), was now King of England.(French), was now King of England.

I. Norman Rule in I. Norman Rule in EnglandEngland

A.A. The A-S culture and Norman/French The A-S culture and Norman/French culture blended.culture blended.

B.B. Normans ruled less than 100 yearsNormans ruled less than 100 years

1. Brought 1. Brought FeudalismFeudalism: land divided : land divided among noble barons. Knights served among noble barons. Knights served barons. Lowest class were the serfs or barons. Lowest class were the serfs or peasants.peasants.

II. The Royal Houses of II. The Royal Houses of Plantaganet, Lancaster, & Plantaganet, Lancaster, & YorkYork

A.A. 1154-end of Norman Rule, beginning of 1154-end of Norman Rule, beginning of RoyaltyRoyalty

B.B. Plantaganet RulesPlantaganet Rules1. 11. 1stst one-Henry II—Increased King’s power one-Henry II—Increased King’s power and took it from the barons.and took it from the barons.

a. wanted also to lead Roman a. wanted also to lead Roman Catholic church. He had Catholic church. He had

Archbishop Archbishop Thomas Becket of Thomas Becket of Canterbury Canterbury murdered –murdered –1170.1170.

Continued..Continued..

2. 1215-King John signed Magna Carta. In 2. 1215-King John signed Magna Carta. In this document, he agreed not to raise this document, he agreed not to raise taxes without consent of barons. taxes without consent of barons.

3. Others—Richard the Lionhearted, John, 3. Others—Richard the Lionhearted, John, Edward I, Richard II (last one)Edward I, Richard II (last one)

C. Lancaster RulersC. Lancaster Rulers

1.1. 3 Kings: Henry IV, V, VI3 Kings: Henry IV, V, VI

2.2. Henry IV-went insane-gave rule to Henry IV-went insane-gave rule to uncle, the Duke of York, while he uncle, the Duke of York, while he recuperated.recuperated.

3.3. 1455-Henry VI got better, wanted 1455-Henry VI got better, wanted throne back. Duke fought & won—war throne back. Duke fought & won—war 30 years. “War of the Roses”30 years. “War of the Roses”

D. York RulersD. York Rulers

1.1. 11stst one-Edward IV-encouraged Wm. Caxton one-Edward IV-encouraged Wm. Caxton to make printing press.to make printing press.

2.2. Edward V-only 12 yrs old when he takes Edward V-only 12 yrs old when he takes throne—Uncle Richard III takes over—kills throne—Uncle Richard III takes over—kills Ed V and his brother—then takes throne—Ed V and his brother—then takes throne—Richard III killed in battle b/c of this.Richard III killed in battle b/c of this.

3.3. Henry Tudor takes over, distant relative of Henry Tudor takes over, distant relative of Lancasters.Lancasters.

Chivalric Live in Medieval Chivalric Live in Medieval EnglandEngland

a.a. Knights: fought French, journeyed to Knights: fought French, journeyed to Holy Lands, jousted in tournaments.Holy Lands, jousted in tournaments.

b.b. Chivalry: ideal knights must live by—Chivalry: ideal knights must live by—honorable, courteous, generous, brave, honorable, courteous, generous, brave, skillful in battle, respectful of women, skillful in battle, respectful of women, helpful to weak.helpful to weak.

IV. Religious LifeIV. Religious Life

a.a. Roman Catholic Church: all belonged—Roman Catholic Church: all belonged—Barons, Knights, serfsBarons, Knights, serfs

b.b. Knights fought for Church—crusades for Holy Knights fought for Church—crusades for Holy LandLand

c.c. Cathedrals were built during this timeCathedrals were built during this timed.d. Those who went on Crusades were Those who went on Crusades were

influenced by Moslems, natives of the Holy influenced by Moslems, natives of the Holy Land, through Arabic numerals, Algebra, and Land, through Arabic numerals, Algebra, and Arabic medicine.Arabic medicine.

V. City LifeV. City Life

A.A. 1349—Black Death/Bubonic Plague 1349—Black Death/Bubonic Plague killed 1/3 of the people of England.killed 1/3 of the people of England.

B.B. After plague—cities sprung up After plague—cities sprung up everywhereeverywhere

C.C. Work Guilds formedWork Guilds formed

D.D. End of Knighthood—invention of End of Knighthood—invention of gunpowder.gunpowder.

VI. StorytellingVI. Storytelling

A.A. Romances: stories with a blend of Romances: stories with a blend of chivalry, touches of love, magic & chivalry, touches of love, magic & marvelsmarvels

B.B. Folk Ballads: stories sung by common Folk Ballads: stories sung by common people.people.

VII. PilgrimagesVII. Pilgrimages

-long trips/journeys to holy places, popular in -long trips/journeys to holy places, popular in Medieval Christianity.Medieval Christianity.

-pilgrims travel long distances to toms of saints or -pilgrims travel long distances to toms of saints or other shrines (Rome, Holy Land)other shrines (Rome, Holy Land)

-pilgrims ask for divine assistance, give thanks, -pilgrims ask for divine assistance, give thanks, ask for miracles, do penance, show devotion.ask for miracles, do penance, show devotion.

-they felt pilgrimages were essential to Christian -they felt pilgrimages were essential to Christian beliefsbeliefs

-some still take pilgrimages today.-some still take pilgrimages today.

Canterbury, EnglandCanterbury, England

About 50 miles SE of LondonAbout 50 miles SE of London Major destination for English pilgrimsMajor destination for English pilgrims Site of Becket’s murder in 1170Site of Becket’s murder in 1170 People flooded to Cathedral to pay People flooded to Cathedral to pay

respects.respects.

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

1343-14001343-1400 Son of a wealthy merchantSon of a wealthy merchant Became a page in a royal houseBecame a page in a royal house Soldier, diplomat, royal clerkSoldier, diplomat, royal clerk 1359 captured during war, and his 1359 captured during war, and his

ransom paid by the kingransom paid by the king Traveled extensively throughout his Traveled extensively throughout his

employmentemployment

Chaucer continuedChaucer continued

Father of English Poetry—poems have Father of English Poetry—poems have never gone out of print; was even popular never gone out of print; was even popular in his own day.in his own day.

Buried in Westminster Abbey—Poet’s Buried in Westminster Abbey—Poet’s CornerCorner

Frame TaleFrame Tale

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

The story of a group of 29 pilgrims (plus the The story of a group of 29 pilgrims (plus the narrator) from varied walks of life who are narrator) from varied walks of life who are traveling from London to the shrine of Saint traveling from London to the shrine of Saint Thomas a Becket at Canterbury (about 50+ Thomas a Becket at Canterbury (about 50+ miles).miles).

The tales are stories they tell to pass the time The tales are stories they tell to pass the time as they travel.as they travel.

Pilgrims are gathered at The Tabard, an inn, at Pilgrims are gathered at The Tabard, an inn, at the beginning of the poem.the beginning of the poem.

Each pilgrim was to tell 2 tales on the Each pilgrim was to tell 2 tales on the way to Canterbury, and 2 on the return way to Canterbury, and 2 on the return journey.journey.

Prologue to The Canterbury Tales Prologue to The Canterbury Tales describes each pilgrim.describes each pilgrim.

Pre-reading VocabularyPre-reading Vocabulary AbsolutionAbsolution AccrueAccrue AdversityAdversity ApothecaryApothecary AstrologyAstrology PrivyPrivy RelicRelic WendWend IntoningIntoning penitentspenitents

ChivalryChivalry EcclesiastEcclesiast EminentEminent FelicityFelicity ParleyParley PestilencesPestilences SanguineSanguine UlcerUlcer solicitoussolicitous