The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

- - England gets French-ifiedEngland gets French-ified

The Battle of Hastings The Battle of Hastings – 1066 C.E.– 1066 C.E. Duke William of Normandy (William the Duke William of Normandy (William the

Conqueror, William the Bastard) crosses the Conqueror, William the Bastard) crosses the English Channel and defeats a force of Anglo-English Channel and defeats a force of Anglo-Saxon defenders led by King HaroldSaxon defenders led by King Harold– Felt that the crown of England was rightfully hisFelt that the crown of England was rightfully his– Meant to rule the Anglo-Saxons, not eliminate themMeant to rule the Anglo-Saxons, not eliminate them

Changed the course of English History; radically Changed the course of English History; radically effected the English character and languageeffected the English character and language

Introduced England to the European Introduced England to the European mainstreammainstream– Land divided up among Norman (French) royaltyLand divided up among Norman (French) royalty– Taxes paid to the French crownTaxes paid to the French crown– Christianity officially introduced to daily lifeChristianity officially introduced to daily life– Loyal Dependency replaced by FeudalismLoyal Dependency replaced by Feudalism

Tapestry depicting King Tapestry depicting King Harold’s death at The Battle of Harold’s death at The Battle of HastingsHastings

William the (Bastard) William the (Bastard) ConquerorConqueror

Feudalism – God’s Kingdom Feudalism – God’s Kingdom ComeCome

Social caste system set up to Social caste system set up to represent God’s Hierarchyrepresent God’s Hierarchy

King is essentially “God on Earth” King is essentially “God on Earth” (Doomsday Book)(Doomsday Book)

Like Loyal Dependency, but hereditary, Like Loyal Dependency, but hereditary, much larger, and extremely organizedmuch larger, and extremely organized

One’s status in feudalism was decided One’s status in feudalism was decided before birth.before birth.– To question one’s status or have ambitions To question one’s status or have ambitions

of social mobility was considered a sinof social mobility was considered a sin

Feudal Feudal StructureStructure God ordains the King;God ordains the King;

– King receives taxes King receives taxes (duties) from Lords(duties) from Lords

Lords/Vassals rewarded Lords/Vassals rewarded with land with land – use land to make money in use land to make money in

the market and/or the market and/or generate taxesgenerate taxes

Knights keep the order Knights keep the order – receive “room and board” receive “room and board”

and/or some opportunity to and/or some opportunity to make money off the landmake money off the land

Serfs grovel in the muck; Serfs grovel in the muck; – tied to land; get to go to tied to land; get to go to

heaven when they die. heaven when they die.

Chivalry and Courtly Chivalry and Courtly LoveLove Chivalry was a behavior code that governed Chivalry was a behavior code that governed

the actions (and psyches) of knights and the actions (and psyches) of knights and gentlewomengentlewomen– Governed rules of warfare (do not attack an Governed rules of warfare (do not attack an

unarmed knight, etc.)unarmed knight, etc.) HonorHonor BraveryBravery ““Knight’s Errands”Knight’s Errands”

– Governed behavior “at court” (upper class society); Governed behavior “at court” (upper class society); COURTESY (correct courtly behavior) was the COURTESY (correct courtly behavior) was the ultimate goal of the upper classesultimate goal of the upper classes

SpeechSpeech AppearanceAppearance Etiquette (dining, dancing, holding doors, etc.)Etiquette (dining, dancing, holding doors, etc.)

Courtly LoveCourtly Love

One of the most important elements of One of the most important elements of chivalric “courtesy.”chivalric “courtesy.”

Intended to give the Knight a model for self-Intended to give the Knight a model for self-improvementimprovement

Originated from the cult of the Virgin MaryOriginated from the cult of the Virgin Mary– Worship of “The Devine Feminine?”Worship of “The Devine Feminine?”

A knight swears dedication to a maidenA knight swears dedication to a maiden– Usually not his wifeUsually not his wife– Expresses that the women embodies earthly Expresses that the women embodies earthly

perfection; a reflection of the divineperfection; a reflection of the divine– Ideally, the relationship is non-sexual (oops!)Ideally, the relationship is non-sexual (oops!)– The knight must honor the maiden’s EVERY The knight must honor the maiden’s EVERY

REQUEST!REQUEST!– Wear’s her colors into battle; dedicates victory to herWear’s her colors into battle; dedicates victory to her

The problem with the The problem with the “Knight in Shining “Knight in Shining Armor”Armor” Led to new, more modern concept of loveLed to new, more modern concept of love

– Love used to be a combination of lust and businessLove used to be a combination of lust and business– After courtly love, it has become the “perfect union”After courtly love, it has become the “perfect union”

Idea that “there is someone for everyone”Idea that “there is someone for everyone” Image of the love sick man who is physically ill over Image of the love sick man who is physically ill over

loss of his lover.loss of his lover. Led to an improved view of womenLed to an improved view of women

– Men idolized them, thought them to be perfect in Men idolized them, thought them to be perfect in every wayevery way

Led to negative view of women (misogyny)Led to negative view of women (misogyny)– They are too pure for the world; must be protected They are too pure for the world; must be protected

from itfrom it– If women are perfect, then they can’t make mistakesIf women are perfect, then they can’t make mistakes– When they make mistakes, it gives men justification When they make mistakes, it gives men justification

for what is wrong in the world; blame women for for what is wrong in the world; blame women for everythingeverything

Feudalism: an imperfect Feudalism: an imperfect

arrangementarrangement Feudalism didn’t always work the way it Feudalism didn’t always work the way it

was supposed towas supposed to– If King or Overlord was weak, those who If King or Overlord was weak, those who

toiled under him would refuse to pay uptoiled under him would refuse to pay up small scale civil wars, castle sieges, etc.small scale civil wars, castle sieges, etc.

In the cities, a middle class developedIn the cities, a middle class developed– Free men; managed to gain some social Free men; managed to gain some social

mobilitymobility– Laughed in the face of Chivalry and CourtesyLaughed in the face of Chivalry and Courtesy– Changed (in many cases dumbed-down) Changed (in many cases dumbed-down)

poetry and the arts; made them more poetry and the arts; made them more “popular”“popular”

– Described in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Described in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The The Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

The Crusades (11c – The Crusades (11c – 13c)13c) Wars fought between Christians Wars fought between Christians

and Muslims for control of and Muslims for control of Jerusalem Jerusalem

Muslim empire was FAR MORE Muslim empire was FAR MORE advanced than Christian societyadvanced than Christian society

European war, not English warEuropean war, not English war The perfect errand for KnightsThe perfect errand for Knights

– Propelled the rise of chivalryPropelled the rise of chivalry– Supported the feudal systemSupported the feudal system

The Hundred Years’ The Hundred Years’ WarWar Considered the first great national warConsidered the first great national war Resolution of William the Conqueror’s Resolution of William the Conqueror’s

claims to the English Throne (Edward III claims to the English Throne (Edward III and Henry V)and Henry V)

No clear victor but:No clear victor but:– A distinctly ENGLISH character aroseA distinctly ENGLISH character arose– Small landowners, called Yeoman (see Small landowners, called Yeoman (see

Robin Hood), begin to replace the chivalric Robin Hood), begin to replace the chivalric knightsknights

– Effectively kills chivalry and undermines Effectively kills chivalry and undermines feudalismfeudalism

The difference between The difference between Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Anglo-Saxon and Medieval

LiteratureLiterature All these changes are evident in All these changes are evident in

English Medieval LiteratureEnglish Medieval Literature– New emphasis on ChristianityNew emphasis on Christianity– Pagan allusions and references remain Pagan allusions and references remain

(magic, animism, divine feminine, etc.)(magic, animism, divine feminine, etc.)– New focus on our relationship to society New focus on our relationship to society

(both earthly and heavenly) rather than (both earthly and heavenly) rather than our relationship with the universe and our relationship with the universe and wyrdwyrd..

Dramatic shift from the ID (Anglo-Dramatic shift from the ID (Anglo-Saxon) to the EGO (Medieval)Saxon) to the EGO (Medieval)