The Medieval Period1066 - 1485

HISTORY

Edward, the Confessor, dies 1066 William of Normandy (the Conqueror)

claims Edward promised him the throne Saxon council chose Harold II as king Norman invasion (Battle of Hastings) –

Harold is killed, William claims throne

William suppressed Anglo/Saxon nobility and claimed land

Business now conducted in French or Latin

This threatened the continuation of English developing into a language

Feudalism

Feudal system – exchange of property for personal services

King owned the land – parceled it out to supporters (Lords)

Lords further subdivided to Barons who supplied tax money and knights

Knights in return for services received smaller land parcels called manors.

Peasants (serfs) worked the manors.

PLANTAGENETS Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry

Plantagenet comes to the throne (Henry II) Henry appoints Thomas Beckett Archbishop

of Canterbury Beckett defies the King and appeals to the

Pope who sided with Beckett—angers the King

Henry’s knights misunderstand his anger and murder Beckett in 1170

Henry condemned the crime by making a pilgrimage, a holy journey, to Beckett’s shrine in Canterbury

MAGNA CARTA Next king, Richard I, spend time and

money in overseas military expeditions. King John inherited the debts and tries to

raise money by taxing barons. Barons resist and John signs the Magna

Carta in 1215 (no tax without meeting with Barons

Beginning of constitutional government.

Black Death Trade expanded, formation of

guilds and apprenticeships—London flourishes

Plague swept England in 1348 and 1349—closer living conditions (unsanitary).

Led to labor shortage—peasants were now paid.

Feudalism starts to fade away.

Literature Lyric poetry – now either secular (love

and nature), or religious Ballad – folk song or story, i.e., Robin

Hood. Drama – church used this format to get

people to listen to Bible stories. Morality play – depicted the life of an

ordinary man and taught a moral lesson.

Canterbury Tales Written by Geoffrey

Chaucer (1343-1400) Series of stories told by

pilgrims journeying to shrine of St. Thomas a’ Beckett.

Printing Press Johann Guttenburg, German, invented

movable type in 1454 Came to England in 1476 Literature and specifically the Bible

now widespread. Canterbury Tales one of first pieces of lit copied on press.