The Medieval Period 1066-1485

English 10 Academic

The Medieval Period: Feudalism

A. Beginning Event: William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings and became the first English king.

B.He introduced the feudal system to England.Land Divisions in Feudal System

KingChurchBarons

1.Political & economic system2. King owned all land and

parceled (divided) it out3. Purpose: provide security4. Hierarchy - people couldn’t

move between classes/roles

• Rules kingdom• Owns all land & keeps 25% for himself• Divides up rest of land in exchange for

protection (25% Church, 50% barons/lords)King

• Nobles who swear their allegiance to the king in exchange for land

• Build castles to protect the countryside• Supply king with knights for protection• Govern land given to them

Nobles(Barons

/Lords) • Serve king, lords, people & God

• Protect kingdom• Get paid well• Sometimes given land by baron

Knights• Provide goods, services & food

for kingdom; make $• Rent from lord, can’t own land

Free Peasants (Merchants & Farmers)

• Approx. 90% of pop., many conquered Anglo-Saxons• Live on land, work for lord• Not paid; can’t own land

Serfs & Bound Peasants

Feudalism

The Medieval Period:

Heirs of William the Conqueror

A. Henry II 1.Reformed the judicial system2.Introduced juries & royal courts

B. Henry’s wife, Eleanor (a former French queen) brought the French concept of chivalry to England1.Strict set of rules for gentlemanly behavior2. Both a moral & behavioral code3.Combination of Christian & military values

(faith, modesty, loyalty, courtesy, bravery & honor)

The Medieval Period:

Heirs of William the Conqueror

C. Richard I (Richard the Lionhearted)1. Henry & Eleanor’s 1st son; heir to throne2.Ruled for 10 years3.Fought in the Crusades4.Was in France for most of his reign

D. John1.Richard’s brother2.Plotted to kill Richard while he was away3.Forced to sign the Magna Carta

Think Robin Hood!

The Medieval Period:

Heirs of William the Conqueror

3. John was forced by barons to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 because government was bankrupt

i. Beginning of democracy in England!ii.Limited royal poweriii.Gave more power to the nobles (barons)iv.Led to Model Parliament

• House of Commons• House of Lords

The Medieval Period:

Decline of FeudalismA. Towns began to grow

1.walls went around perimeter2.narrow, crowded streets3.houses built close together4.centers of trade & art5.Land ownership wasn’t the

only way to make money

B. Merchants & craftsmen formed guilds (groups/associations)

1.helped them unite & offered chance to advance2.improved quality of products & increased profits3.controlled flow & price of goods

The Medieval Period:

Decline of FeudalismC. Crusades

1. Series of military expeditions2. Christians tried to take Jerusalem from Muslims

3. Helped bring the development of an economy based on money

4. Increased trade (domestic & international)

D. Peasants were needed to fight in wars1. Opportunity for career path 2. Violates hierarchy of feudalism

E. Universities grew (Italy, Spain, France, England)

The Medieval Period:

End of Medieval PeriodA. The 100 Years’ War (1337-1453)

1.Off and on war between England and Francewho were fighting over control of the English throne

2.Helped lead to the War of the Roses3.Inspired Joan of Arc

B. Black Death: plague that killed 1/3 of Europe’s population (20 million+ people)

C. Ending Event: War of the Roses (1485-1487); Henry VII (Tudor) becomes king of England

The Medieval Period:

War of the RosesC. Ending Event of Medieval period: War of

the RosesTwo families claim to have power of English throne

House of York (white roses): Richard III House of Lancaster (red roses): Henry VII House of Tudor formed when Henry VII

(Lancaster) married Elizabeth I (York)

Eventually, Henry VII became king

The Medieval Period: Literature

A. Strong oral tradition: most stories recited, sung &/or acted 1. Most people illiterate2. Church used plays & songs to

instruct people who couldn’t read the Bible

3. Books written by hand ($, rare)4. Illuminated manuscripts –

elaborately decorated handwritten documents, usually done by monks

The Medieval Period: Literature

B. Popular Forms1.Folk ballads (poetry)2.Mystery & miracle plays (drama)3.Morality tales (literature)4.Romance tales (literature)5.Arthurian legends – King Arthur (literature)