The Middle Ages 1066 – 1485 Norman Invasion – Crowning of 1 st Tudor King

“Medieval man was not a dreamer nor a wanderer. He was an organizer, a codifier, a builder of systems. He wanted ‘a place for everything and everything in the right place.’ Distinction, definition, tabulation were his delight. Though full of turbulent activities, he was equally full of the impulse to formalize them. War was (in intention) formalized by the art of heraldry and the rules of chivalry; “Medieval man was not a dreamer nor a wanderer. He was an organizer, a codifier, a builder of systems. He wanted ‘a place for everything and everything in the right place.’ Distinction, definition, tabulation were his delight. Though full of turbulent activities, he was equally full of the impulse to formalize them. War was (in intention) formalized by the art of heraldry and the rules of chivalry; sexual passion (in intention), by the elaborate code of love …. There was nothing which medieval people liked better, or did better, than sorting out and tidying up.” - C. S. Lewis 15 th century French manuscript Illumination – Enclosed Garden – four equal sections with fountain in the center

In October, 1066, a daylong battle near Hastings, England, changed the course of history. Duke William of Normandy, France, defeated and killed King Harold of England, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings. So began the Norman Conquest, radically affecting the English character and language.

William the Conqueror Claimed the throne as a cousin of Edward Claimed the throne as a cousin of Edward Efficient and ruthless soldier Efficient and ruthless soldier Wanted to rule, not eliminate Anglo- Saxons Wanted to rule, not eliminate Anglo- Saxons Encouraged their democratic & artistic tendencies Encouraged their democratic & artistic tendencies Great administrator – inventory of every piece of property in England (taxes based on ownership) Great administrator – inventory of every piece of property in England (taxes based on ownership) Centralized government – gave land to Norma lords who swore loyalty to him Centralized government – gave land to Norma lords who swore loyalty to him New language – French New language – French New social system replaced Nordic structure (Beowulf) New social system replaced Nordic structure (Beowulf)

Feudalism and Knighthood: Pyramid Power

Feudalism – based on a religious concept of hierarchy, with God as the supreme overlord ► Social system ► Caste system ► Property system ► Military system Feudalism brought a sense of form and manners that permeated life, art, and literature. This sense of formalism came to life most fully in the institution of knighthood and in the related practice, or code, of chivalry.

Women in Medieval Society: No Voice, No Choice ► No political rights ► Social standing depended completely on her husband’s or father’s status ► Always subservient to a man – husband, father, brother ► Have children, care for house ► Peasant woman – add hard field labor

Chivalry and Courtly Love: Ideal but Unreal ► Chivalry - A Code of Conduct ► Oath of loyalty to overlord ► Rules of warfare ► Adoration of a lady  Courtly Love ► Nonsexual – lady pure & out of reach ► Idealized attitude toward women

The New City Classes: Out from Under the Overlords ► Medieval Society centered around the feudal castle ► Population grew – towns and cities grew ► Feudal system died ► Growth of lower, middle, and upper- middle classes

The Great Happenings ► The Crusades Series of wars against the Muslims with the Holy Land as the prize Enormous benefit of contact with Eastern mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and crafts Enormous benefit of contact with Eastern mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and crafts ► The Magna Carta: Power to (some of) the people 1215, English barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta as an effort to curb the Church’s power. Later, became basis for English constitutional law

More Great Happenings ► The Hundred Years’ War The English lost the War with France, but by the war’s end the yeomen (small landowners) who had formed the nucleus of the armies had replaced the knights in armor. Modern, democratic England was born. The English lost the War with France, but by the war’s end the yeomen (small landowners) who had formed the nucleus of the armies had replaced the knights in armor. Modern, democratic England was born. ► The Black Death Caused a labor shortage, leading to the serfs’ freedom and to the end of feudalism