The Middle Ages 1066-1485

1. The Middle Ages1066-1485 OldLitBook pg.74 New Lit Book pg. 28

2. How and when did the Middle Ages start? • The Battle of Hastings: • King Edward the Confessor dies; Harold (the last AS king) claims the throne • Duke William of Normandy, Franch (illegitimate son of Edward’s relative) also claims the throne • William defeats Harold on October 14, 1066: the Norman Conquest • The Normans broughtadministration, emphasis on law, and cultural unity • The conquest combined Norman and Anglo-Saxon cultural elements • Old English (AS) + French (Normans) + Latin (Church) = Middle English • The Domesday Book: a complete inventory of all land, cattle, and buildings for the purpose of accurate taxes Ouch.

3. Feudalism and Knighthood • The Normans brought in a new social hierarchy called feudalism. It incorporated three systems: • Caste system (who was where, socially) • Property system (who owned what) • Religious system (who had what church power) • God was overlord; monarchs derived their power/authority from God (“divine right”); a king was born a king because God chose that person to rule • The primary duty of males above serf status was military service (knighthood): • Strict training (usually fostered in another lord’s home) • Once knighted, he gained the title of "sir" and full rights of his status • Chivalry: a code of conduct/manners for knights derived from this system: • A knight’s first duty was to defend lord, king, and Christ • A knight would treat women respectfully • A knight was brave and honorable (ie, he did not attack an unarmed opponent) • A drawback of the feudal system? Any system based around militarism and wealth meant that greed could easily lead to violence (corrupt vassals/lords)

4. The Feudal Pyramid POPULATION POWER GOD The POPE The KING NOBLES/VASSALS KNIGHTS MERCHANTS/ TOWNSFOLK SERFS

5. Women in Medieval Society Did women in the Middle Ages have any rights? • No. They had no political rights (couldn’t be soldiers) • A woman’s status was determined by the men in her life (father, brother, husband); she was subservient to them • A woman’s worth was measured by the value of land she would bring to new husband • The lives of peasant women consisted of child bearing, house work, field work, and usually death before age 40

6. Chivalry & Courtly Love • Some rules/benefits to chivalry involved a knight adoring particular lady: Winning her favor meant self-improvement; acting in her name made a knight braver • Courtly love • a knight adhered to a particular lady (usually not his wife) • wore her colors in battle/tournaments, glorified her in words. • However, the lady was always out of reach, set above her admirer (built-in drama for story tellers). • Courtly love was never physical. • Chivalry brought about an idealized attitude towards women (romance literature)

7. King Arthur • Who was he? • Son of the previous king raised in obscurity • Tutored by the wizard Merlin • Pulled a sword from the stone • Ruled the kingdom of Camelot • Knights of the Round Table known for great deeds (quest for the the Holy Grail) • Originally a Celtic/AS-era legend; advanced in the Middle Ages in songs, poems, and stories • Embodies the ideals of English society in any time period (especially this one): • Strong, fair ruler • Promoter of bravery and equality • Advocate of chivalry and courtly love • Kingdom fell apart because the rules of courtly love were violated (Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere)

8. Towns and Cities: Out from Under the Overlords • Medieval society originally centered around thefeudal castle, but as populations grew, people shifted to growing towns and cities • This made the feudal system obsolete since towns/cities allowed people to be free and independent of a feudal lord in the isolated countryside • The city classes: • Lower • Middle • Upper-middle • Merchant class • The “people’s art”: Freedom from feudal lords led to free expression in the songs, ballads, plays of ordinary people

9. Big Events in the Middle Ages! The Crusades (1095-1270): • A series of holy wars waged between European Christians and Middle Eastern Muslims over rights to Jerusalem and Holy Land • Europeans benefitted from contact with the Middle East through mathematics, astronomy, architecture, crafts • At this time, the Pope had absolutepower over most European kings (the Catholic Church was the only Church). • Murder of Thomas Becket (1170): • Friend of King Henry II, who appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury • Sometimes sided with the Pope over the King, angering his friend • Murdered by some of the king’s knights (later made a saint) • After Becket’s murder, king and state had less authority/involvement with church affairs, so bishops became corrupt with free reign

10. Big Events in the Middle Ages! The Magna Carta(1215): • Signed by King John • Heralded a return to older, democratic tendencies • Leaders were uncomfortable with too much central power • Ensured that all free men have rights of due process and trial by their peers • Led to current laws like trial by jury and legislative taxation The Black Death (1300s, recurring) • Known simply as The Plague • Spread by fleas from infected rats • 1/3 of all of England died • So many deaths created a labor shortage. Serfs’ status rose, ending the feudal system The End of the Middle Ages: • The collapse of feudal system • The rise of the Tudor Family (1485) • The Renaissance (to be continued….) Look how happy King John is! Spread of the Plague