The Middle Ages

(1066-1485)

The Middle Ages began in 1066 with the Norman Invasion.

• The Normans were originally Viking raiders who had settled on the coast of France.

• William, Duke of Normandy, led Norman and French troops across the English Channel to fight for the English throne.

Battle of Hastings• William defeated King Harold of England at the

Battle of Hastings.

• At Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, William “the Conqueror” took the throne of England as King William I.

Medieval Period was based on feudalism

Feudalism was a hierarchy based on the least powerful swearing

allegiance and loyalty to the person in power above him. It began with the

serfs and ended with the king and the Pope

Feudalism

• King William I introduced Feudalism to England.• The King owned all the land w/1/4 going to the Catholic Church.• It was a hierarchy

– King• Nobles /barons

–Knights»Serfs/peasants

Feudalism

Feudalism was an exchange of property for personal service.

1. The Lord granted property to the vassel.

2. Knights – professional soldiers – received small parcels of land called manors.

3. Serfs/peasants -- the lowest class – worked on the manors

Feudalism • Barons were encouraged to build strong

castles to dominate the countryside and defend their realm from attack.

Feudalism

• Great cathedrals and abbeys

were built on the new

church lands.

Chivalry • A code of honor intended to govern

knightly behavior.

Chivalry• Loyalty and valor on and off the battlefield• Pledge to serve and protect ladies• Go on holy quests – Crusades • French Poets – troubadours popularized this tradition in songs of gallant knights

• King Arthur – Celts told stories of this great hero

–His tales are considered legend

Crusades• Military expeditions in which European

Christians attempted to regain the holy city of Jerusalem from Muslim control.

LANGUAGE

• Latin – the language of the Church• French – government and education• Both of these languages contributed to

Middle English

Language

• The Norman Invasion caused the English language to change from its Anglo-Saxon (Old English)form to Middle English.

EDUCATION

• Universities became the chief centers of learning; scholars flocked to these religious communities

• Oxford – first English University• Cambridge

Great Plague

• 1314- First introduction of this pandemic• Peaked during the years 1348 and 1350• The Great Plague known, also as the Black

Death, killed 1/3 of the population in Europe.

King Henry and the Church

• Catholic church was growing in power; it dictated even the smallest details of an individual’s life.

• A misunderstanding took place between Henry II and his guards, resulting in the unintended death of Thomas A’Becket.

• Thomas A’Becket was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury

• Becket made an appeal to the Pope• Followers of Henry II killed Thomas

A’Becket in his cathedral

• Henry II condemned the crime; he made a personal pilgrimage to Becket’s tomb.

Major Invention • 1454 – Johann Guttenberg invented the

printing press• The first book to be printed on this printing

press was the BIBLE

Later…in England…

• In 1476 William Caxton set up the first movable-type press in England.

• He did NOT invent the printing press but was the first to use it in England.

• THE CANTERBURY TALES was the first work to be printed on Caxton’s printing press.

• The CANTERBURY TALES was the first work to be printed in Middle English

The Middle Ages ended in England in 1485 with the War of

the Roses.

G eoffrey C haucerG eoffrey C haucer

• GEOFREY CHAUCER• Chaucer is considered the 2nd greatest

English writer; Shakespeare is considered the first.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)Known as “The Father of English Poetry”

• Born into London’s growing middle class. His father was a merchant.

• He became an attendant to the royal court where he met his wife Phillipa.

• Chaucer spoke numerous languages:French, Italian, Latin, and Middle English.

• His work was very popular

• He was well-traveled

1343-1400

• Chaucer is the first person to be buried in the “Poet’s Corner” of Westminster Abbey.