The Medieval The Medieval PeriodPeriod

Overview and Background to Overview and Background to Medieval LiteratureMedieval Literature

B. McDanielB. McDaniel

John F. Kennedy SchoolJohn F. Kennedy School

Berlin, GermanyBerlin, Germany

At the beginning (c. 500)At the beginning (c. 500)

Society was tribal (Anglo-Saxons)—Society was tribal (Anglo-Saxons)—England consisted of many small England consisted of many small kingdoms which were constantly kingdoms which were constantly fighting each other.fighting each other.

Christianity was all-importantChristianity was all-important Common factor: educated people Common factor: educated people

spoke/wrote in Latinspoke/wrote in Latin

CharlemagneCharlemagne

800 a.d. (Christmas Day) – crowned 800 a.d. (Christmas Day) – crowned Emperor.Emperor. Unified tribes, created stability.Unified tribes, created stability. People were able to think about other things.People were able to think about other things.

Monks refined writing system (Carolingian Monks refined writing system (Carolingian minuscule)minuscule)

Study of Latin (standardized language)Study of Latin (standardized language) 1050ish – poetry written in Proven1050ish – poetry written in Provençal (French)çal (French) People began to write in their own languages.People began to write in their own languages.

Development of the poetic form known as the Development of the poetic form known as the ““courtly romancecourtly romance””..

Last Anglo-Saxon KingLast Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor (very religious Edward the Confessor (very religious

man).man). William supported Edward in a problem William supported Edward in a problem

with the Daneswith the Danes Edward agreed that William would succeed Edward agreed that William would succeed

him as King of England. (Edward had no him as King of England. (Edward had no heirs.) But, when Edward died, Harold I (of heirs.) But, when Edward died, Harold I (of the Danes) expected to become King of the Danes) expected to become King of England.England.

Final outcome was Harold was crowned; Final outcome was Harold was crowned; William invaded England and defeated William invaded England and defeated Harold; William was crowned.Harold; William was crowned.

William’s InvasionWilliam’s Invasion

1066 – Battle of Hastings1066 – Battle of Hastings William the Conqueror of Normandy William the Conqueror of Normandy

took over the Anglo-Saxons.took over the Anglo-Saxons. Normans were descendants of a tribe of Normans were descendants of a tribe of

Vikings – Norsemen – who had invaded Vikings – Norsemen – who had invaded France. They had adopted French France. They had adopted French language and customs.language and customs.

William’s conquest changed William’s conquest changed every phase of English lifeevery phase of English life

Language:Language: Educated classes were taught Latin; Educated classes were taught Latin;

now they were taught French.now they were taught French. Language of court became French.Language of court became French. Peasants often spoke a mixture of Peasants often spoke a mixture of

French and English. (Caused English French and English. (Caused English language to change in sound and language to change in sound and rhythm patterns.)rhythm patterns.)

Literature:Literature: Became more refined.Became more refined. Court and peasants both enjoyed new Court and peasants both enjoyed new

songs from Scotland, Ireland, and songs from Scotland, Ireland, and England.England.

Court enjoyed medieval romances from Court enjoyed medieval romances from France.France.

Geoffrey Chaucer – Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales Thomas Malory –Thomas Malory –Morte d’ArthurMorte d’Arthur religious dramasreligious dramas

Government:Government: Normans instituted a stronger central Normans instituted a stronger central

government with stricter control over government with stricter control over finances, lands, and military.finances, lands, and military.

Local governmentLocal government Townships became manors, owned by a Townships became manors, owned by a

knight, noble, or the king.knight, noble, or the king. Cities were walled in and became Cities were walled in and became

military organizations.military organizations. The hundred – a territory allotted to 100 The hundred – a territory allotted to 100

military families. Had an assembly and military families. Had an assembly and a reeve (an official who supervised lands a reeve (an official who supervised lands for a lord)for a lord)

Shire – similar to a county. Had an earl, Shire – similar to a county. Had an earl, a bishop, and a reeve to govern. The a bishop, and a reeve to govern. The shire reeve became known as a shire reeve became known as a sheriffsheriff..

Central governmentCentral government

The King – supported by the army The King – supported by the army and the church; the head of and the church; the head of everythingeverything

The Witan – The King’s Council. The Witan – The King’s Council. Nobles appointed by the king. Made Nobles appointed by the king. Made laws, tried cases, chose the king’s laws, tried cases, chose the king’s successor.successor.

FeudalismFeudalism Before 1066, the King, his nobles, and others Before 1066, the King, his nobles, and others

owned land individually. The Norman kings owned land individually. The Norman kings confiscated all the land and apportioned it out, confiscated all the land and apportioned it out, or leased it, to their own dukes and knights.or leased it, to their own dukes and knights.

Kings owned land by “divine right”Kings owned land by “divine right” Order of the hierarchy:Order of the hierarchy:

KingKing barons (appointed by King)barons (appointed by King) vassals (appointed by barons)vassals (appointed by barons) landless knightslandless knights serfs (not free to leave the land they worked; were serfs (not free to leave the land they worked; were

“owned” by the men higher up)“owned” by the men higher up)

Each person swore an “oath of fealty” Each person swore an “oath of fealty” (allegiance) to the person next higher up.(allegiance) to the person next higher up.

Requirements of serfsRequirements of serfs

Had to attend their lord’s court in personHad to attend their lord’s court in person Entertain him on visitsEntertain him on visits Finance the knighting of the lord’s oldest Finance the knighting of the lord’s oldest

son, the marriage of his oldest daughterson, the marriage of his oldest daughter Pay ransom for the lord if and when he Pay ransom for the lord if and when he

was ever capturedwas ever captured Owed at least 40 days of military service Owed at least 40 days of military service

to their lord each year.to their lord each year.

A typical oath of fealtyA typical oath of fealty ““By the Lord before whom this sanctuary By the Lord before whom this sanctuary

is holy, I will to _____ be true and faithful, is holy, I will to _____ be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all and love all which he loves and shun all which he shuns, according to the laws of which he shuns, according to the laws of God and the order of the world. Nor will God and the order of the world. Nor will I ever with will or action, through word I ever with will or action, through word or deed, do anything which is unpleasing or deed, do anything which is unpleasing to him, on condition that he will perform to him, on condition that he will perform everything as it was in our agreement everything as it was in our agreement when I submitted myself to him and when I submitted myself to him and chose his will.”chose his will.”

Church hierarchyChurch hierarchy

The Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury supported the Norman king.supported the Norman king.

Monasteries were centers of Monasteries were centers of learning until universities were built.learning until universities were built.

Religion became the main influence Religion became the main influence of unity for England—brought of unity for England—brought together people of all social orders.together people of all social orders.

Changes in the Social Changes in the Social Order:Order:

Saxon—Saxon— KingKing Nobles (Earls)Nobles (Earls) OverlordsOverlords ReevesReeves VassalsVassals SerfsSerfs

Norman—Norman— KingKing Nobles (Dukes and Nobles (Dukes and

Earls)Earls) KnightsKnights Overlords, BishopsOverlords, Bishops Reeves, MayorReeves, Mayor VassalsVassals SerfsSerfs

MilitaryMilitary

Normans introduced a new military Normans introduced a new military class—Knighthood.class—Knighthood.

Each knight was required to be Each knight was required to be responsible for a quota of men responsible for a quota of men always ready to defend their leader always ready to defend their leader and their king.and their king.

Governed by the Code of Chivalry.Governed by the Code of Chivalry.

CommerceCommerce

Guilds – groups of merchants, Guilds – groups of merchants, tradesmen, and craftsmen who tradesmen, and craftsmen who monopolized the trade of a town; monopolized the trade of a town; controlled prices; settled disputes.controlled prices; settled disputes.

Eventually the Norman discipline Eventually the Norman discipline and learning fused together with the and learning fused together with the Anglo-Saxon inventiveness and Anglo-Saxon inventiveness and democratic ideals.democratic ideals.

Events that Events that dominated/influenced the dominated/influenced the

Middle AgesMiddle Ages The Crusades (1096 to 1200s)The Crusades (1096 to 1200s)

Wanted to regain the Holy Land. (Jerusalem was Wanted to regain the Holy Land. (Jerusalem was fought over for centuries.)fought over for centuries.)

Europeans benefited from the Middle Eastern Europeans benefited from the Middle Eastern civilization (math, science, architecture).civilization (math, science, architecture).

Impact on everyday life: the middle-class became Impact on everyday life: the middle-class became more important, education became more important.more important, education became more important.

The Martyrdom of Thomas a Becket (1170).The Martyrdom of Thomas a Becket (1170). Becket was Chancellor (Prime Minister) of England. Becket was Chancellor (Prime Minister) of England.

He had problems with Henry II because Becket He had problems with Henry II because Becket sided with the Pope on disagreements. Four of the sided with the Pope on disagreements. Four of the king’s knights murdered Becket while he was king’s knights murdered Becket while he was praying.praying.

The Magna Carta – signed in 1215.The Magna Carta – signed in 1215. This document was the basis of English This document was the basis of English

constitutional law. constitutional law. Originally intended to establish the Originally intended to establish the

rights of the “privileged” men rights of the “privileged” men Eventually used as the rights of all men Eventually used as the rights of all men Did not include women until after 1900.Did not include women until after 1900.

The Hundred Year’s War – 1337 – The Hundred Year’s War – 1337 – 1453 (116 years).1453 (116 years). England tried to take over France.England tried to take over France. This long war gave us Joan of Arc This long war gave us Joan of Arc

(French) and changed the nature of (French) and changed the nature of warfare from hand-to-hand combat to warfare from hand-to-hand combat to fighting with bows and arrows.fighting with bows and arrows.

The Black Death (the plague) – 1348 The Black Death (the plague) – 1348 – 1349.– 1349. Wiped out one-third of the population. Wiped out one-third of the population.

(Some sources claim up to one-half the (Some sources claim up to one-half the population died.)population died.)

Caused a labor shortage. Caused a labor shortage. Serfs were freed; created a new class of Serfs were freed; created a new class of

society.society.

All the new additions to English life All the new additions to English life were to the benefit of England, were to the benefit of England, although the English did not think so although the English did not think so at the time.at the time.