The Middle Ages or Medieval Period

c. 1066-1485

The Beginning• Battle of Hastings in 1066

• Duke William of Normandy (France) defeated the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold.

• William wanted to rule rather than destroy.• Anglo-Saxon property was divided among

William’s followers• First tax system created

Bilingual England

• After the Battle of Hastings, French became the official language of government, law, education, and upper-class life.

• Middle English continued to be spoken by the lower and middle classes.

• For about three hundred years, England was a bilingual country.

The Feudal System• The king owned all of the

land.• ~ 25% of land was granted

to the church• ~55% of the land was

granted to the nobles• The nobles and the church

would grant land to lower-ranking freemen who would promise knights when needed

• Peasants would work the land and provide food and pay taxes

The Church

• Roman Catholic Church • Preached a common set of

beliefs and values• The Church had its own

taxes, laws, and land• Could strongly influence the

king• The Church would accept

gifts and money in return for guaranteeing a person a place in heaven or favors.

• Opposing the church resulted in excommunication = going to hell.

The Crusades 1095-1291• Holy wars= Christians vs. Saracens

(Muslims)• The purpose was to rescue holy places

(primarily Jerusalem) from the Muslims• Crusaders received indulgences

(forgiveness) for past sins.• Total of 9 crusades: the first 5 had the

blessing of the reigning Popes.

Chivalry and Courtly Love

• Was a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights

• Stressed honor, courage, and courtesy

• “Moved” the rough medieval knight from the status of warrior to that of gentleman.

• Created by the Church to set rules for the “game” of war.

Courtly Love• Courtly love was, in its ideal form,

nonsexual.

• Brought about an idealized attitude toward women

• Did little to improve their actual position.

• A noble or upper-class woman’s value remained tied to the value of the lands she brought to a marriage.– Most marriages were arranged

– Women were still dominated by the male members of their family.

Medieval Romance

• Gallant love, chivalry, and heroism were portrayed in the King Arthur stories

• English writer, Sir Thomas Malory, later re-told the French versions of the stories in Middle English– Le Morte d’Arthur– The book was printed just

weeks before the last real battle with knights

Vernacular and Secular Literature

• Secular: non-religious literature (chronicles and miracle plays)

• Vernacular: Literature written in the common language–Middle English

The Black Death

• The Black Death, or bubonic plague, struck England in 1348 and continued to reappear.

• Highly contagious and spread by fleas from infected rats,

• Reduced the nation’s population by up to 1/2.

• The Black Death caused a labor shortage, leading to the serf’s freedom, women in the work-force and an end of feudalism.

The Hundred Years’ War1337-1453

• Joan of Arc: 16 year old girl who fought on the side of France with several victories. Claimed visions from God.

• The war resulted in new weaponry and war tactics

• Two English kings (Edward III and Henry V) claimed to be the heirs to the throne of France

A New England

• The English lost the Hundred Years’ War with France

• By the war’s end the yeoman (small landowners) had replaced the knights in armor.

• With this emergence of the yeoman class, modern, democratic England was born.

Language and Literature• English became the primary language (late

1300’s)– The Hundred Years’ War created a feeling of

patriotism– The majority of people spoke English

• Geoffrey Chaucer –– father of English literature– Wrote Canterbury Tales

• William Caxton– brought the printing press to England– This helped spread English.

Focus Question 1

• What were some of the effects of the Battle of Hastings on the Anglo-Saxons?– Lost their property– First tax system was created– French became the language of

government, education, and the upper-class

– French intermingled with the vernacular– England was bilingual for 300 years– Women were subjugated by men

Focus Question 2

• Describe the Church in the Middle Ages and the role that it fulfilled.– Roman Catholic– Sanctioned the first 4 crusades– Owned a large amount of land and property– Imposed its own taxes and fees– Had a strong influence over the king– The Church was very corrupt: gave

indulgences or forgiveness in return for money, gifts or favors

Focus Question 3

• What was the role or position of upper-class women in society?– Seen as property to be married off to form

alliances– Her value was based off of the lands she

brought to the marriage– Must remain pure and chaste– Women were under the control of their

fathers and then their husbands– Received little to no academic education

Focus Question 4

• During the Middle Ages, what were some events that had a great impact on England?– The Black Death or Bubonic Plague– The introduction of the printing press– The Battle of Hastings– The Crusades– The Hundred Years War– English becoming the official language – The end to feudalism

Focus Question 5

• Describe the different types and genres of literature as well as the important authors of the Middle Ages.– Secular: chronicles and miracle plays– Vernacular literature: Ballads and folk epics– Medieval Romances– Sir Thomas Mallory – Le Morte D’Arthur– Geoffrey Chaucer – Canterbury Tales