The Super basics of the middle ages and Medieval Literature 10 centuries covered in a short powerpoint

Medieval Times Feudalism Feudalism Knighthood Knighthood Women in Medieval Society Women in Medieval Society Chivalry and Courtly Love Chivalry and Courtly Love Art and Literature Art and Literature

Feudalism Pyramid system based on religious concept of hierarchy. Pyramid system based on religious concept of hierarchy. Caste system, property system, military system Caste system, property system, military system

Knighthood Primary duty of males above the serf class was military service to their lords Primary duty of males above the serf class was military service to their lords Strict training Strict training Once “dubbed”, the youth became a man with the title “sir” and full rights of warrior class Once “dubbed”, the youth became a man with the title “sir” and full rights of warrior class

Women in Medieval Times Women had no political rights Women had no political rights Subservient to a man, whether husband, father, or brother Subservient to a man, whether husband, father, or brother Husband or father’s social standing determined the degree of respect she commanded Husband or father’s social standing determined the degree of respect she commanded Childbearing Childbearing

Chivalry and Courtly Love Chivalry is a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen Chivalry is a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen Among its precepts were adhering to one’s oath of loyalty, observing certain rules of warfare, adoring a particular lady Among its precepts were adhering to one’s oath of loyalty, observing certain rules of warfare, adoring a particular lady Brought an idealized attitude toward women, but did little to improve their actual position Brought an idealized attitude toward women, but did little to improve their actual position Gave rise to a new form of literature- romance Gave rise to a new form of literature- romance

Characteristics that distinguished the Middle Ages Norman Conquest brought England into the mainstream of European civilization Norman Conquest brought England into the mainstream of European civilization Feudal system centralized military, political, and economic power in the crown Feudal system centralized military, political, and economic power in the crown Roman Church transcended national boundaries and fostered cultural unity among Europeans Roman Church transcended national boundaries and fostered cultural unity among Europeans The rise of towns and cities freed people to pursue their own commercial and artistic interests The rise of towns and cities freed people to pursue their own commercial and artistic interests Yeoman class paved the way for democracy in England Yeoman class paved the way for democracy in England Bubonic plague created a labor shortage that contributed to the end of feudalism and to the passing of the Middle Ages Bubonic plague created a labor shortage that contributed to the end of feudalism and to the passing of the Middle Ages

Medieval Literature of note for Pre-AP 10 Dante Allegheri’s Inferno Dante Allegheri’s Inferno Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince

Dante – Divine Comedy Allegorical tale of Dante’s journey through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil Allegorical tale of Dante’s journey through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil Part 1 – Inferno Part 1 – Inferno Part 2 – Pergatorio Part 2 – Pergatorio Part 3 – Paradiso Part 3 – Paradiso Calls out real people for their indiscretions Calls out real people for their indiscretions

Dante – Divine Comedy Hell (Inferno) is depicted as nine concentric circles of suffering located within the bowels of earth, each one worse than the last: Hell (Inferno) is depicted as nine concentric circles of suffering located within the bowels of earth, each one worse than the last: 1 – Limbo 1 – Limbo 2 – Lust 2 – Lust 3 – Gluttony 3 – Gluttony 4 – Greed 4 – Greed 5 – Anger 5 – Anger 6 – Heresy 6 – Heresy 7 – Violence 7 – Violence 8 – Fraud 8 – Fraud 9 – Treachery 9 – Treachery

Boccaccio- Decameron Allegory Allegory 100 stories 100 stories Frame story Frame story Running theme of “Wheel of Fortune” Running theme of “Wheel of Fortune” “Federico’s Falcon” “Federico’s Falcon” Boccaccio was a Dante Biographer Boccaccio was a Dante Biographer

Chaucer- Canterbury Tales Written at the end of the 14 th century Written at the end of the 14 th century Written in Middle English Written in Middle English Comparable to Decameron Comparable to Decameron Effectively displays large swath of human experience during 14 th century Effectively displays large swath of human experience during 14 th century Reflects Chaucer’s view of religion and social structure Reflects Chaucer’s view of religion and social structure Funny, lewd, ironic, clever, crass Funny, lewd, ironic, clever, crass

Middle English Example Written in Middle English- Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth Written in Middle English- Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath

Machiavelli-The Prince Dedicated to Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici, grandson of “Lorenzo the Magnificent” Dedicated to Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici, grandson of “Lorenzo the Magnificent” Printed version published posthumously in 1532 Printed version published posthumously in 1532 Political Philosophy for monarchs and tyranny Political Philosophy for monarchs and tyranny Immorality shocked contemporaries, and is still subject of serious discussion Immorality shocked contemporaries, and is still subject of serious discussion The general theme of accepting the aims of princes; such as glory, and survival, can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends The general theme of accepting the aims of princes; such as glory, and survival, can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends