The Medieval Period
Historical Context bNormans conquer Anglo-Saxons bFeudalism - property for service
bNormans imposed superiority bFrench influence bDomesday Book – census in William the Conqueror bOverlords, feudal manors, knights, serfs bIn later part - swords replaced with guns; feudal order replaced with aristocratic code
bNorman rule ends in 1154 when Henry II takes throne bConflict with church bAppoints Becket who defies him bBecket is killed at Canterbury by knights loyal to Henry II during evening services bShrine prompts Crusades bKing John - Magna Carta
bNot to tax land without first meeting with Barons bLimit power of king 1215 bParliament begins to represent people bCrusades – 11 th century Turks take over Jerusalem (Holy Land) bAngers Christians
bPope Urban II calls for crusade to recover land in 1096 bStarts war between Muslims and Christians bTown Growth bBlack Death (plague)
bLancanster kings take over - Henry IV-VI b1381 revolt of feudalism failed bChurch strengthens - heretics prosecuted - Inquisition b War of Roses bHouse of York - white rose
bHouse of Lancaster - red rose bYork wins - Edward IV is king bRichard III takes over after mysterious death of Edward’s children in tower of London bRichard III is killed by Henry Tudor bRobin Hood Legend
Literary Movements bRoger Bacon - father of English philosophy bLatin influence bRomance – verse, prose, chivalry, courtly love bMovable type (Gutenberg) increased literacy
bLegend of Arthur bChaucer - Canterbury Tales bLyrics and Ballads bMystery and Morality plays - Everyman bWizards, dragons, supernatural bFantasy, adventure, courtly love bReligion and Chivalry
Writer’s Techniques bComposed orally bPrinting press bPoetry bProse near end of period bKennings balliteration