The Medieval Period occurred between

1066 & 1485

The Normans were

descendants of the

Vikings who

invaded France in

the 9th century.

The Normans adopted the ways of the

French:

Became Devout

Christians

Began speaking

French

Began using Feudalism as their political/economic system

When King Edward of England died in 1066

there were several claims on his throne:

1. William, Duke of Normandy claimed Edward had promised the throne to him. He was Edwards’s cousin & was

French .

2. Harold II of England also had a claim.

Edward actually appointed his

nephew Edgar, but he died before being crowned.

William led troops across the English Channel where he…

fought Harold II at Hastings, known as the Battle of Hastings

Killed Harold II

Became King of England

After Killing Harold II, William went to London where he crushed ALL resistance. He then became known …As William “the Conqueror”For the Doomesday Book (tax record)

Building The Tower of London as a fortress to defend against attack.

White Tower was the portion he’s known for building

William set up all aspects of English Society like that of France….

Normans controlled government.

Business was done in both French & Latin.

England was remade along Feudal lines.

Lords (nobles)

This is a system that exchanges land for Personal service & protection.

Feudalism

The Knights of the Medieval Age TRIED to live by a code ofChivalry. They were to be…HonorableCourteousBraveSkillfulCourtly Love

Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry

Plantagenet, Count of Anjou became Henry II of

England. He was considered one of

England’s ablest kings because he…

was interested in government

understood the workings of the law…jury system, royal courts, common law

Was the 1st to call himself “King of England" not King of the English

Because of his concern for legal matters, Henry II

…

Found himself in conflict with the church.

Saw the Church as too powerful

He disliked that

the church Put clergyman on trial in church run courts & abused this power

Henry wanted to stop the abuse of power

To Fix his problems with the church, Henry…

Appointed his Friend Thomas Becket as Arch- bishop of Canterbury.

felt duped when his friend didn’t help with his plan.

…Becket told the Pope his plans about cleaning up the church, especially because the Pope sided with Becket.

Henry II became furious when…

Because of Henry’s anger…"Will no one rid me of

this troublesome priest?"

4 of Henry’s knights went to Canterbury.

Thomas Becket was murdered in his Cathedral.

Because All of Europe

was horrified by the murder of Thomas Becket...

Henry condemned the crime.

Henry made a holy journey, or pilgrimage to Becket’s tomb

Thereafter, a journey to visit

Becket's shrine at Canterbury became a

common English means of showing

religious devotion.-INFACT-

Geoffrey Chaucer’s characters in The Canterbury Tales make this same journey.

Although the first printing

press was established at the end of the

Medieval Period, much of the

literature was still composed

orally…

Folk ballads were sung or recited and

passed down through the generations.

These ballads, along

with most literature

of the time, were

written in poetic

verse and told a

story…

Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:

I. Hundred Years’ War… fought France over land Began in 1337 and ended in 1453 Began with Edward III

II. War of the Roses… literal Civil War over who would be King House of York…white rose House of Lancaster…red rose

--Lancaster’s win when Henry VII kills King Richard III at Bosworth Field.--Tudor line begins

Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:

III.Crusades (1095, 1191, 1202, 1217, & 1270) Part of Chivalry…knights should go on

holy quests. Christians try to take Jerusalem from Muslims Europeans gain knowledge in Math & Medicine

IV. Black Plague (1348) caused by flea bites Killed 1/3 of England’s population Figuratively called “War of the roses” due

to red bumps caused by flea bites.--”ring around the Rosie”

Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism:

V. Weapons Long bow Gunpowder …castles & knights useless

VI.Other Factors Labor was scarce (why?) High Taxes Repressive Laws

Basically…plague, war, taxes, laws, & inventionKilled Feudalism.

Medieval Life & Society

Medieval Life:Towns become cities…

A. Wool industry…especially up North

1. Sheep herders 2. Combing 3. spinning

4. weaving 5. dying finished cloth

people pay overlord with $, not land

Medieval Life continued…

B. Merchant Class emerges 1. Become rich (favors for nobility) 2. Enter the Gentry class 3. Some become nobility 4. Formed Guilds

a. Regulate prices & standards

b. Extended family life c. Apprentice & journeymen

d. Masters

Medieval Life continued…

C.Guilds…formed for many workers

1. stonecutters 2. masons 3. carpenters 4. woodcarvers 5. glass blowers 6. stainers

The great Cathedrals were built at this time

Medieval Society continued…

D. Few comforts in Life 1. Travel was difficult 2. Travel was dangerous 3. Little variety in food a. No sugar or potatoes b. Food had to be

seasoned c. You grew it or caught

it d. Winter limited diet

Medieval Literature…I. Romance Literature A. King Author

B. Folk Poetry …balladsC. Drama 1. Miracle plays a. performed by Guilds

b. depicted bible stories 2. Morality plays

a. characters represented virtues

b. Characters represented vices

c. Told a moral