The Medieval Period occurred between 1066 & 1485

The Normans were descendants of the Vikings who invaded France in the 9th century.

The Normans adopted the ways of the French: Became Devout Christians Began speaking French Began using Feudalism as their political/economic system

When King Edward of England died in 1066 there were several claims on his throne: William, Duke of Normandy claimed Edward had promised the throne to him. He was Edwards’s cousin & was French . Harold II of England also had a claim. Edward actually appointed his nephew Edgar, but he died before being crowned.

William led troops across the English Channel where he… fought Harold II at Hastings, known as the Battle of Hastings Killed Harold II Became King of England

As William “the Conqueror” For the Doomesday Book (tax record) After Killing Harold II, William went to London where he crushed ALL resistance. He then became known … As William “the Conqueror” For the Doomesday Book (tax record) White Tower was the portion he’s known for building Building The Tower of London as a fortress to defend against attack.

William set up all aspects of English Society like that of France…. Normans controlled government. Business was done in both French & Latin. England was remade along Feudal lines.

Feudalism This is a system that exchanges land for Lords (nobles) This is a system that exchanges land for Personal service & protection.

The Knights of the Medieval Age TRIED to live by a code of Chivalry. They were to be… Honorable Courteous Brave Skillful Courtly Love

was interested in government understood the workings Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou became Henry II of England. He was considered one of England’s ablest kings because he… was interested in government understood the workings of the law…jury system, royal courts, common law Was the 1st to call himself “King of England" not King of the English

Because of his concern for legal matters, Henry II … Found himself in conflict with the church. Henry wanted to stop the abuse of power Saw the Church as too powerful He disliked that the church Put clergyman on trial in church run courts & abused this power

To Fix his problems with the church, Henry… Appointed his Friend Thomas Becket as Arch- bishop of Canterbury. felt duped when his friend didn’t help with his plan.

Henry II became furious when… …Becket told the Pope his plans about cleaning up the church, especially because the Pope sided with Becket.

Because of Henry’s anger… "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?" 4 of Henry’s knights went to Canterbury. Thomas Becket was murdered in his Cathedral.

Because All of Europe was horrified by the murder of Thomas Becket... Henry condemned the crime. Henry made a holy journey, or pilgrimage to Becket’s tomb

Thereafter, a journey to visit Becket's shrine at Canterbury became a common English means of showing religious devotion. -INFACT- Geoffrey Chaucer’s characters in The Canterbury Tales make this same journey.

Although the first printing press was established at the end of the Medieval Period, much of the literature was still composed orally… Folk ballads were sung or recited and passed down through the generations.

These ballads, along with most literature of the time, were written in poetic verse and told a story…

Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism: Hundred Years’ War… fought France over land Began in 1337 and ended in 1453 Began with Edward III War of the Roses… literal Civil War over who would be King House of York…white rose House of Lancanster…red rose --Lancaster’s win when Henry VII kills King Richard III at Bosworth Field. --Tudor line begins

Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism: Crusades (1095, 1191, 1202, 1217, & 1270) Part of Chivalry…knights should go on holy quests. Christians try to take Jerusalem from Muslims Europeans gain knowledge in Math & Medicine IV. Black Plague (1348) caused by flea bites Killed 1/3 of England’s population Figuratively called “War of the roses” due to red bumps caused by flea bites. --”ring around the Rosie”

Factors Responsible for Ending Feudalism: Weapons Long bow Gunpowder …castles & knights useless Other Factors Labor was scarce (why?) High Taxes Repressive Laws Basically…plague, war, taxes, laws, & invention Killed Feudalism.

Medieval Life & Society

Medieval Life: Towns become cities… A. Wool industry…especially up North 1. Sheep herders 2. Combing 3. spinning 4. weaving 5. dying finished cloth people pay overlord with $, not land

Medieval Life continued… B. Merchant Class emerges 1. Become rich (favors for nobility) 2. Enter the Gentry class 3. Some become nobility 4. Formed Guilds a. Regulate prices & standards b. Extended family life c. Apprentice & journeymen d. Masters

Medieval Life continued… Guilds…formed for many workers 1. stonecutters 2. masons 3. carpenters 4. woodcarvers 5. glass blowers 6. stainers The great Cathedrals were built at this time

Medieval Society continued… D. Few comforts in Life 1. Travel was difficult 2. Travel was dangerous 3. Little variety in food a. No sugar or potatoes b. Food had to be seasoned c. You grew it or caught it d. Winter limited diet

Medieval Literature… Romance Literature A. King Author B. Folk Poetry …ballads C. Drama 1. Miracle plays a. performed by Guilds b. depicted bible stories 2. Morality plays a. characters represented virtues b. Characters represented vices c. Told a moral

Medieval Literature The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170 Murder on the altar's steps Becket was born in 1118, in Normandy the son of an English merchant. His family was well off, his father a former Sheriff of London. Becket benefited from his family's status first by being sent to Paris for his education and from there to England where he joined the household of Theobold, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket's administrative skills, his charm, intelligence and diplomacy propelled him forward. The archbishop sent him to Paris to study law and upon his return to England made him Archdeacon of Canterbury. Becket's big break came in 1154, when Theobold introduced him to the newly crowned King, Henry II. The two hit it off immediately, their similar personal chemistries forming a strong bond between them. Henry named Becket his Chancellor. Archbishop Theobold died in 1161, and Henry immediately saw the opportunity to increase his influence over the Church by naming his loyal advisor to the highest ecclesiastical post in the land. Henry petitioned the Pope who agreed. There was only one slight hindrance. Becket, busy at court, had never been ordained. No problem, Becket was first invested as a priest. The next day he was ordained a Bishop, and that afternoon, June 2, 1162, made Archbishop of Canterbury.

  If King Henry believed that by having "his man" in the top post of the Church, he could easily impose his will upon this powerful religious institution, he was sadly mistaken. Becket's allegiance shifted from the court to the Church inspiring him to take a stand against his king. In those days, the Church reserved the right to try felonious clerics in their own religious courts of justice and not those of the crown. Henry was determined to increase control of his realm by eliminating this custom. In 1163, a Canon accused of murder was acquitted by a church court. The public outcry demanded justice and the Canon was brought before a court of the king. Becket's protest halted this attempt but the action spurred King Henry to change the laws to extend his courts' jurisdiction over the clergy. Becket vacillated in his support of the king, finally refusing to agree to changes in the law. His stand prompted a royal summons to Henry's court at Northampton and the king's demand to know what Becket had done with the large sums of money that had passed through his hands as Chancellor. Seeing the writing on the wall, Becket fled to France where he remained in exile for six years. The two former friends appeared to resolve their dispute in 1170 when King Henry and Becket met in Normandy. On November 30, Becket crossed the Channel returning to his post at Canterbury. Earlier, while in France, Becket had excomunicated the Bishops of London and Salisbury for their support of the king.

  Now, Becket remained steadfast in his refusal to absolve the bishops. This news threw King Henry (still in France) into a rage in which he was purported to shout: "What sluggards, what cowards have I brought up in my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord. Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest." The king's exact words have been lost to history but his outrage inspired four knights to sail to England to rid the realm of this annoying prelate. They arrived at Canterbury during the afternoon of December 29 and immediately searched for the Archbishop. Becket fled to the Cathedral where a service was in progress. The knights found him at the altar, drew their swords and began hacking at their victim finally splitting his skull. The death of Becket unnerved the king. The knights who did the deed to curry the king's favor, fell into disgrace. Several miracles were said to occur at the tomb of the martyr and he was soon canonized. Hordes of pilgrims transformed Canterbury Cathedral into a shrine. Four years later, in an act of penance, the king donned a sack-cloth walking barefoot through the streets of Canterbury while eighty monks flogged him with branches. Henry capped his atonement by spending the night in the martyr's crypt. St. Thomas continued as a popular cultist figure for the remainder of the Middle Ages. References:    Abbot, Edwin A., St. Thomas of Canterbury (1898); Compton, Piers, The Turbulent Priest (1964); Hollister, Warren C., Medieval Europe: a short history (1975)  

Observations of a Monk Edward Grim, a monk, observed the attack from the safety of a hiding place near the altar. He wrote his account some time after the event. Acceptance of his description must be qualified by the influence that Becket's sainthood had on Grim's perspective. However, the fundamentals of his narrative are no doubt true. We pick up the story after the knights have stormed into the cathedral. "The murderers followed him; 'Absolve', they cried, 'and restore to communion those whom you have excommunicated, and restore their powers to those whom you have suspended.' "He answered, 'There has been no satisfaction, and I will not absolve them.' 'Then you shall die,' they cried, 'and receive what you deserve.' 'I am ready,' he replied, 'to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace. But in the name of Almighty God, I forbid you to hurt my people whether clerk or lay.' "Then they lay sacrilegious hands on him, pulling and dragging him that they may kill him outside the church, or carry him away a prisoner, as they afterwards confessed. But when he could not be forced away from the pillar, one of them pressed on him and clung to him more closely. Him he pushed off calling him 'pander', and saying, 'Touch me not, Reginald; you owe me fealty and subjection; you and your accomplices act like madmen.' "The knight, fired with a terrible rage at this severe repulse, waved his sword over the sacred head. 'No faith', he cried, 'nor subjection do I owe you against my fealty to my lord the King.'  

Observations of a Monk Edward Grim, a monk, observed the attack from the safety of a hiding place near the altar. He wrote his account some time after the event. Acceptance of his description must be qualified by the influence that Becket's sainthood had on Grim's perspective. However, the fundamentals of his narrative are no doubt true. We pick up the story after the knights have stormed into the cathedral. "The murderers followed him; 'Absolve', they cried, 'and restore to communion those whom you have excommunicated, and restore their powers to those whom you have suspended.' "He answered, 'There has been no satisfaction, and I will not absolve them.' 'Then you shall die,' they cried, 'and receive what you deserve.' 'I am ready,' he replied, 'to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace. But in the name of Almighty God, I forbid you to hurt my people whether clerk or lay.' "Then they lay sacrilegious hands on him, pulling and dragging him that they may kill him outside the church, or carry him away a prisoner, as they afterwards confessed. But when he could not be forced away from the pillar, one of them pressed on him and clung to him more closely. Him he pushed off calling him 'pander', and saying, 'Touch me not, Reginald; you owe me fealty and subjection; you and your accomplices act like madmen.' "The knight, fired with a terrible rage at this severe repulse, waved his sword over the sacred head. 'No faith', he cried, 'nor subjection do I owe you against my fealty to my lord the King.'  

"Then the unconquered martyr seeing the hour at hand which should put an end to this miserable life and give him straightway the crown of immortality promised by the Lord, inclined his neck as one who prays and joining his hands he lifted them up, and commended his cause and that of the Church to God, to St. Mary, and to the blessed martry Denys. Scarce had he said the words than the wicked knight, fearing lest he should be rescued by the people and escape alive, leapt upon him suddenly and wounded this lamb who was sacrificed to God on the head, cutting off the top of the crown which the sacred unction of the chrism had dedicated to God; and by the same blow he wounded the arm of him who tells this. For he, when the others, both monks and clerks, fled, stuck close to the sainted Archbishop and held him in his arms till the one he interposed was almost severed. "Then he received a second blow on the head but still stood firm. At the third blow he fell on his knees and elbows, offering himself a living victim, and saying in a low voice, 'For the Name of Jesus and the protection of the Church I am ready to embrace death.' "Then the third knight inflicted a terrible wound as he lay, by which the sword was broken against the pavement, and the crown which was large was separated from the head. The fourth knight prevented any from interfering so that the others might freely perpetrate the murder. "As to the fifth, no knight but that clerk who had entered with the knights, that a fifth blow might not be wanting to the martyr who was in other things like to Christ, he put his foot on the neck of the holy priest and precious martyr, and, horrible to say, scattered his brain and blood over the pavement, calling out to the others, 'Let us away, knights; he will rise no more.'