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The Medieval Period

The Medieval Period. 1066-1485. In the beginning…. The Normans invade England in 1066. William the Conqueror takes the crown. He brings Feudalism to England Feudalism: Political and economic system in which the king owned all of the land in the kingdom

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The Medieval Period

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  1. The Medieval Period 1066-1485

  2. In the beginning…. • The Normans invade England in 1066. William the Conqueror takes the crown. • He brings Feudalism to England • Feudalism: Political and economic system in which the king owned all of the land in the kingdom • William gave ¼ of land to himself, ¼ to the church, and the rest to loyal nobles (barons) • Barons give William warriors called knights • Barons swear their allegiance to the king, knights swear their allegiance to the barons, etc. • Defeated Anglo-Saxons are reduced to serfs (peasants), bound to the land

  3. Then… • William’s successors were less organized than he was, which resulted in barons fighting for land and power. • In 1154, Henry II takes over the crown • He is one of England’s most memorable rulers • Reformed the judicial system—instituted royal courts and initiated the formation of English Common Law. • His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, brought the Code of Chivalry with her from France.

  4. Code of Chivalry • Code by which knights lived by • The ideal knight respected and defended the church, his king, his country, and stood up to injustice • The qualities of a knight included: • Faith, modesty, loyalty, courtesy, bravery and honor • To honor and respect women • To go on quests, like the Crusades

  5. Successors • Richard the Lion-Hearted • Fights in the Crusades • John (Richard’s brother) • Signs Magna Carta in 1215 • Limits the funds royalty can spend and gives more authority into the hands of barons • John’s son, Henry III • Created an advisory council of barons that met regularly. • Edward I • Established the inclusion of commoners (House of Commons) as well as barons (House of Lords) in the council. (Parliament)

  6. Decline of Feudalism • Medieval towns begin to grow, which leads to a decline of feudalism since wealth was no longer based on land ownership. • Commoners are now getting more and more power. • The flipside to this is that the growth of towns meant crowding and poor living conditions which resulted in disease.

  7. Strife in England • Black Death killed one third of England’s population • 1.5 million killed between 1348-1350 • Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 • Abdication of Richard II • Supporter of Chaucer (Canterbury Tales) • Wars of the Roses • Civil War between the House of Lancaster and the House of York over the rightful heir to the throne

  8. Medieval Literature • Romance emerges – imaginative adventure story concerned with noble heroes, gallant love, chivalric code of honor, and daring deeds • Idealized world of castles, heroes, courtly love, and spells • This countered the real world of plagues, battles, and civil unrest • Religious faith was a vital element of the literature of the time period • King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table become the medieval heroes

  9. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight • Author is anonymous • Written c. 1400 in Middle English (language spoken after the Norman invaston of 1066 thru 15th century) • Important because: • Alliterative poetry • Epic poem • Medieval romance

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