From Beowulf to Macbeth (Post Beowulf = Middle Ages then Renaissance)

Remember the Brit. Lit. Time Periods: Anglo-Saxons Middle Ages Renaissance Restoration & 18th Century Romantic Period Victorian Period Modern World 1900-Present

Thus, we are jumping across… the following time period: Middle Ages

Up to… The Renaissance Time Period

Let us now time travel… After the Anglo-Saxon Period: The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages…briefly This is the time period we know as the medieval period

The Middle Ages…briefly Remember, this period begins with William the Duke of Normandy, “William the Conqueror” invading and defeating the Anglo-Saxons

The Middle Ages…briefly This was the age of FEUDALISM Hence there were lords, barons, knights, vassals, and serfs.

The Middle Ages…briefly This was the age of COURTLY LOVE and CHIVALRY

The Middle Ages…briefly Eventually, as the population in cities increased, trading with the East increased, and the middle class arose… The feudal system did die out

Other notable events in the Middle Ages: The CRUSADES ( ) took place during this time

Other notable events in the Middle Ages: The MARTYRDOM OF THOMAS a BECKET occurred during this time period.

Other notable events in the Middle Ages: The MAGNA CARTA (1215) was signed during this time period

Other notable events in the Middle Ages: The Hundred Years War ( ) was fought during this time period

Other notable events in the Middle Ages: The BLACK DEATH, or bubonic plague ( ) struck England during this time and greatly reduced the population (1/3)

TRANSITION… By the time King Henry VII’s 1486 marriage reconciled the warring houses of York and Lancaster, the Middle Ages were ending in England. Henry, a strong king, began the Tudor line that would lead to Elizabeth I. England’s Renaissance was about to begin

After the Middle Ages… The Renaissance

The Renaissance Renaissance = “rebirth” A renewed interest in classical learning - the writings of ancient Greece and Rome This movement began in Italy

The Renaissance HUMANISM was a new movement during this time period Humanists looked not only to the Bible but also to the Latin and Greek classics for wisdom and knowledge They combined classical ideals with traditional Christian thought in order to teach people how to live and rule. They wanted to harmonize these two sources

The Renaissance Part of humanism was questioning life and what exactly a “good life” was and how it could be led One famous humanist you may be familiar with is Thomas More and his best known work Utopia

The Renaissance The invention of the PRINTING PRESS (Johannes Gutenberg) helped spread this new emphasis on the humanities, as more books became available to more people than ever before

The Renaissance Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic church after he was refused an annulment from his first wife Catherine of Aragon Thus, Henry denied the authority of the pope and declared himself the head of the Church of England This marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation Protestant originally = “protest-ant” someone protesting against the Catholic church

The Renaissance Also, noteworthy… In 1588 the English Royal Navy handed the Spanish Armada their first defeat.

The Renaissance As previously stated, Henry VIII broke with the Catholic church This was done due to his quest for an heir The church WAS corrupt at this point in time also…so it was not a complete bad move

The Renaissance Henry VIII was known for his “flavor of the week” type of approach with women if they did not give him a male heir You may be familiar with the following saying regarding Henry’s wives: “Divorced, beheaded, died, Divorced, beheaded, survived.”

The Renaissance Henry was well know as the “Renaissance Man” Henry did have three children: Mary (Bloody Mary) Elizabeth Edward

The Renaissance Edward died at a young age of tuberculosis He was considered to have reigned from

The Renaissance Thus, Mary took the throne She reigned from

The Renaissance She was called “Bloody Mary” because of her strong belief in the Catholic church and she had about 300 of her non Catholic subjects burned at the stake

The Renaissance Mary eventually died childless and of a fever, and her sister Elizabeth took the throne

The Renaissance Elizabeth I “The Virgin Queen” reigned form and was one of the most brilliant and successful monarchs in history

Renaissance TIME OUT It should also be noted that a great amount of stellar literature arose out of this time period Some of the imfamous writers of the period include William Shakespeare, Edmund Spencer, John Donne, and John Milton…just to name a few:)

TIME IN …The Renaissance Elizabeth’s reign included many significant events/characteristics Some include her independence and power due to lack of marriage, her survival amidst many plots against her life…one being contrived by her cousin Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots…Elizabeth had her beheaded…

Yes, beheaded…

The Renaissance Basically, upon the death of the childless Elizabeth, the height of the Renaissance came to an end She was succeeded by her 2nd cousin James VI of Scotland James was a very troubled and weak leader…as was his son Charles I Thus, bye…bye Renaissance

ANY… QUESTIONS?