The Medieval Period(The Middle Ages)1066—1485

1066-1485

William the Conqueror introduced feudalism to Great Britain

• Political and economic system based on a hierarchy of power and land ownership

• Basic premise: the king physically owned all the land

• William kept ¼ of England, gave ¼ to the church, and gave the remaining ½ to Norman (French) nobles (barons) who either paid William money or supplied him with warriors—knights

Feudalism: Each “level” pledged allegiance to the one above it.) God Pope (head of the church) King Barons Knights Bottom of hierarchy: Anglo-Saxon serfs that

had been conquered and not allowed to own land

Land Development To protect themselves, barons built strong

castles on their lands.

The church built many cathedrals and abbeys (monasteries and convents).

Primary Duties:

Males: swore military obligation

to their lords; became pages first, often

at a young ages of 9 or 10;

knighted in a ceremony known as “dubbing.”

Females: were always subservient

to a male relation; had no political rights; depended on their

husbands or fathers for social standing;

although subservient, had same rank as husbands. If husband was away, she controlled the household and lands.

Changes in England…

After William died—power struggles emerged. Henry II (William’s grandson) finally took control, establishing a judicial system.

Chivalry: The code encouraged knights to:

honor and protect ladies; fight in the name or honor of a lady—not

romantically but for self-improvement (courtly love);

swear an oath of loyalty to their overlords; fight according to the rules of warfare; go on holy quests (i.e. The Crusades).

The Martyrdom of Thomas Becket originally, an acquaintance of King Henry II

Pope--head of the church--Rome

Becket—Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the church in England

Struggle for power between Henry and his followers and Becket (archbishop).

Death of Thomas Becket…

While in France, Henry said, “Won’t someone rid me of this nuisance?!” (paraphrased… )

Four French knights took him literally and slew Becket in the Cathedral (at the altar)

Scandal followed—public support of king swung to support of church and allowed corruption to take place (in the church)

The Crusades

Christians vs. Muslims A series of wars in the 11th, 12th, and 13th

centuries Fought to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy

Land from non-Christians Ultimately, Europeans failed but benefited by

contact with higher civilization of the Middle East (math, astronomy, architecture, crafts)

Effects of the Crusades: The royal treasury was bankrupt;

The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 giving more power to the barons and less to the king;

The decline of feudalism began.

Why the decline of feudalism? Trade grew, in part because of the Crusades. As a result, the growth of medieval towns

expanded, and wealth no longer depended on land ownership.

As towns grew, merchants and craftspeople grew wealthier.

Taxes grew.

Problems:

Increasing populations in towns led to sanitation problems and disease;

The church was gaining power, and corruption within the church was becoming a problem.

The Black Death (also known as the Bubonic plague) 1348—1349 spread by fleas infected by rats

believed to have started on merchants’ ships from Asia

decreased the population by 1/3 caused a labor shortage continued to change feudalism—not as many

warriors and serfs

The Hundred Years’ War

Struggle between England and France Sporadic battles for over 100 years Began in 1337 Ended in 1453—England had lost almost all

of its French land holdings

The end of the Middle Ages, but not the end of this PPT… (Hang in… we’re almost done.) Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343—1400) Considered to be “father of English poetry”

and the greatest poet of the Middle Ages Spoken language at that time—Middle English Literature, science, politics, religion—Latin and

French Chaucer “lent respectability to the English

language.”

Chaucer, cont’d

Born into middle-class family just after the 100 Years’ War started

Became a “relatively important” government official

Captured and ransomed to the king Wrote The Canterbury Tales