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Medieval England

Medieval England. HST 121: Western Civilization to 1500. Outline. Roman Britain Anglo-Saxon institutions Norman innovations. Sources. Arthurian legend Bede (673-735) Monk at St. Peter ’ s monastery in Wearmouth Wrote The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

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Medieval England

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  1. Medieval England HST 121: Western Civilization to 1500

  2. Outline • Roman Britain • Anglo-Saxon institutions • Norman innovations

  3. Sources • Arthurian legend • Bede (673-735) • Monk at St. Peter’s monastery in Wearmouth • Wrote The Ecclesiastical History of the English People • Invented concept of annodomino (AD) and BC • Topic was the Christianization of England • Anglo-Saxon Chronicle • Yearly accounts kept by monks at several monasteries • Both secular and religious The Venerable Bede

  4. Roman Britain • The conquest • Julius Caesar • Claudius, 79 AD • Colonization • Control • Legions left in 410

  5. Germanic invasions • Germans came by boat in family groups • Using river system, they sailed inland until they found an area unsettled by other Germans • Set up their homestead and drove out or subdued locals • Organized into “hundreds” or townships

  6. Anglo-Saxon settlement Sub-Roman Germans Pre-Roman Romanized Roman Anglo-Saxons Post-Roman

  7. Characteristics of Saxon society • Fierce, warlike • All free men • Degrees of obligation • Leader of each boat was a warrior - thegn (degen = knife) • War leaders with the allegiance of many thegns and owners of vast amounts of land were called Eorls • Possessed own written language

  8. Anglo-Saxon kingdoms • The first kingdom was established in 519 • By 650, seven kingdoms had been established • These kingdoms were fitfully Christianized by missionaries from Rome • Alfred of Wessex (r.871-899) united seven kingdom into one • Unique institutional development

  9. Saxon institutions • Shires • Shire reeve - administrator • Sheriff duties • Taxes • Justice • Hundred rolls • Jury lists • Fyrd - militia • Writs • Administrative order • To be legal, it must be written down • Witan • Large secular and church landowners • Should be consulted

  10. The end of Saxon England • Danish invasion (1013) • Aethelred the Unred • Canute • Saxon restoration (1042) • Edward the Confessor • Last heir to Alfred

  11. The Conqueror as conservator • William realized the virtues of the Saxon system • Originally left Saxon landowners in place • Retained Saxon institutions • Shires • Sheriffs • Writs • Witan • Only replaced Saxon personnel after repeated revolts between 1067 and 1076 • New landowners (barons) pledged direct fealty to William • Even then, he retained Saxon forms and language for documents

  12. The Conqueror as Innovator • In 1085, William decided to go to war with King of France • His witan convinced him to survey his resources • He sent out census takers to assess all the realm • Peasants called this the “Domesday Book”

  13. Domesday England • Census takers went to each village and asked • Who owned land in neighborhood? • How much tax did they pay? • How many soldiers did they provide king? For two dates, 1066 and 1086 • First nobles, then commoners • Results were collated and discrepancies corrected • William knew more about his realm, and controlled it more tightly, than any contemporary monarch

  14. Further Norman innovations • William’s sons tried to buy loyalty of barons with gifts of land • Needed to exploit remaining resources more efficiently • Henry I - exchequer • Annual accounting of revenue • Henry II - law • Legal fees

  15. A little too much • King John pushed to far • Over 150 years, barons had come to think that they had rights • In 1215, they forced John to sign the “Great Charter”magna carta acknowledging their rights • Every subsequent monarch must pledge to observe these rights

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