The Medieval Period 1066-1485

William the Conqueror Brings French customs to Britain Feudalism: political and economic system in which the hierarchy of power was based on the premise that the king owned all the land in the kingdom William claimed ¼; gave ¼ to the church; parceled rest to loyal nobles Nobles repaid William with warriors call “knights”

The System Barons swear allegiance to king Knights swear allegiance to barons Continues down social ladder Bottom are conquered Anglo-Saxons Serfs- bound to land they could never own

Lord’s Rights All land besides what was owned by the king and the church was owned by a lord Towns formed on those lands had to follow the laws and pay the taxes that the lord imposed

The Language Spoke dialect of old French Norman French became the language of the English court, government business, and new nobility (also the people the scholars, cooks, and crafts people they brought with them) English became language of the conquered peasants

Middle English English soon incorporated thousands of words and many grammatical conventions from Norman French These additions created Middle English (much closer to what we speak today than Old English)

Women’s Roles Social position depended on that of her husband or father A woman and her property were always under custody of a man Should a husband be absent from home, the woman controlled the household and property Primary occupation=running their household Activities included: spinning, weaving and sewing

Architecture Barons encouraged to build large castles to ward off attacks Great cathedrals and abbeys built on new church lands

Battle Abbey (Hastings)

Durham Cathedral

Peterborough Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral

Alnwick Castle

Warkworth Castle

After William Power struggles among barons William’s son Henry I takes over Upon his death barons divide over Henry’s daughter Matilda and his Nephew Stephen In 1154 Matilda’s son Henry Plantagenet (Henry II) takes throne

Henry II One of Medieval England’s most memorable rulers Reformed judicial system Established royal courts Established a system of juries - HIS WIFE!!! Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor Former French queen Dowry included large French landholdings Locked in a tower by her husband for siding with her sons against him From French court brought ideals of : Chivalry Code of honor which governed knightly behavior Honor and protect ladies Go on holy quests

Sons of Henry II Richard I (Richard the Lionhearted) Spent much of 10 year reign fighting in the Crusades in France John (his brother) plotted against him while he was away Becomes king upon Richard’s death

The Crusades 1096-1270 Christian response to the expansion of Islam

John’s Influence Upon ascending the throne finds the royal treasury bankrupt from overseas warfare 1215 signs the Magna Carta “Great Charter” Limits royal authority by granting more power to the barons John’s son Henry III sees the start of an advisory council of Barons (parliament)

Edward I Henry III’s successor Establishes the inclusion of commoners (“House of commons”) as well as the barons (“House of Lords”) in the council All earliest steps toward democracy

Decline of Feudalism Commoners grow in power along with towns Merchants and craftspeople form “guilds” to control the flow and price of goods Also set up rules for advancing from apprentice to master craftsman Wealth no longer based exclusively on land ownership

Other effects of towns Crowding of people in towns results in spreading of diseases Center’s for learning Oxford University

The Hundred Years’ War Begins in 1337 between France and Britain Rough time; despite war had many hardships at home (Plague killing 1/3 of population) Peasant’s revolt of 1381

The War of Roses Fight for throne between: House of York (white rose) House of Lancaster (red rose) Ends with Lancastrian Henry Tudor killing Yorkist King Richard III. THIS EVENT MARKS THE END OF THE MIDDLE AGES.