The medieval period notes

1. The Medieval Period
1066 - 1485

2. HISTORY
Edward, the Confessor, dies 1066
William of Normandy (the Conqueror)
claims Edward promised him the throne
Saxon council chose Harold II as king
Norman invasion (Battle of Hastings) –
Harold is killed, William claims throne

3. William suppressed Anglo/Saxon
nobility and claimed land
Business now conducted in French
or Latin
This threatened the continuation of
English developing into a language

4. Feudalism
Feudal system – exchange of property
for personal services
King owned the land – parceled it out
to supporters (Lords)
Lords further subdivided to Barons
who supplied tax money and knights

5. Knights in return for services
received smaller land parcels called
manors.
Peasants (serfs) worked the manors.

6. PLANTAGENETS
Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry
Plantagenet comes to the throne (Henry
II)
Henry appoints Thomas Beckett
Archbishop of Canterbury
Beckett defies the King and appeals to
the Pope who sided with Beckett—
angers the King

7. Henry’s knights
misunderstand his anger
and murder Beckett in 1170
Henry condemned the
crime by making a
pilgrimage, a holy journey,
to Beckett’s shrine in
Canterbury

8. MAGNA CARTA
Next king, Richard I, spend time and
money in overseas military expeditions.
King John inherited the debts and tries to
raise money by taxing barons.
Barons resist and John signs the Magna
Carta in 1215 (no tax without meeting
with Barons
Beginning of constitutional government.

9. Black Death
Trade expanded, formation of
guilds and apprenticeships—
London flourishes
Plague swept England in 1348 and
1349—closer living conditions
(unsanitary).
Led to labor shortage—peasants
were now paid.
Feudalism starts to fade away.

10. Literature
Lyric poetry – now either secular (love
and nature), or religious
Ballad – folk song or story, i.e., Robin
Hood.
Drama – church used this format to get
people to listen to Bible stories.
Morality play – depicted the life of an
ordinary man and taught a moral lesson.

11. Canterbury Tales
Written by Geoffrey
Chaucer (1343-1400)
Series of stories told by
pilgrims journeying to
shrine of St. Thomas a’
Beckett.

12. Printing Press
Johann Guttenburg, German,
invented movable type in 1454
Came to England in 1476
Literature and specifically the Bible
now widespread. Canterbury Tales
one of first pieces of lit copied on
press.