The Middle Ages or Medieval Period

1
The Middle Ages or Medieval Period

• c. 1066-1485

2
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
  Williams followers
• First tax system created

3
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.

4
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

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.

8
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 womans 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.

9
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 dArthur
• The book was printed just weeks before the last
  real battle with knights

10
Vernacular and Secular Literature

• Secular non-religious literature (chronicles and
  miracle plays)
• Vernacular Literature written in the common
  language
• Middle English

11
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 nations population by up to 1/2.
• The Black Death caused a labor shortage, leading
  to the serfs freedom, women in the work-force
  and an end of feudalism.

12
The Hundred Years War1337-1453

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

• 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

13
A New England

• The English lost the Hundred Years War with
  France
• By the wars end the yeoman (small landowners)
  had replaced the knights in armor.
• With this emergence of the yeoman class, modern,
  democratic England was born.

14
Language and Literature

• English became the primary language (late 1300s)
• 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.
  

15
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

16
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

17
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

18
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

19
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 DArthur
• Geoffrey Chaucer Canterbury Tales