History Review throughThe Middle English Period

Michael Cheng National Chengchi University

Feudalism

Comitatus vs. FeudalismEvolved from Germanic sippesHlaford or Eorl: Ring giverThanes: Fight to the deathFreemen or Ceorls– Geneatas, peasant

aristocracy, paid rent to their overlord

– Kotsetlas– Geburs

Theow: slave or bondsmenCeorls could become Thanes; Thanes could become Eorls

King BaronsKnightsSerfs– Freemen: 10% paid rent for

land– Villeins: land for work– Half-villeins: half the land,

all the work– Cottagers: no land, just hut– Bordars– Slaves

Serfdom was inherited; could never leave the land.

Villeins escaped to the cities for better work opportunities

Historical Map of France in 1422 - After the Second English Invasion

Illustrating

French and English Possessions

http://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive/france_1422.htm

End of Middle English Period

HOUSE OF LANCASTER

Henry IV 1399-1413

Henry V 1413-1422

Henry VI 1422-1461

HOUSE OF YORK

Edward IV 1461-1483

Edward V1483

Richard III 1483-1485

England has lost its continental possessions

End of the Middle English Period

1474 William Caxton prints his first book in English

1476 Caxton sets up shop in London

1423 Parliamentary records in English

1450 Town laws in English

1489 All statutes in English