The Middle Ages The Story of Our Times Part II

The Norman Conquest Edward died in 1066 Saxon Council named Harold II as the King William the Conqueror took exception (objection) and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings. The official language of the Norman government was Norman French, or Latin.

The Norman Conquest William introduced feudalism Kings would parcel (give fragments) to barons Barons would pay fees and supply knights Knights were professional soldiers and had manors Peasants/serfs were the lowest class

Reign of the Plantagenents Norman rule ended in 1154 when Henry II came to the throne Thomas Becket was named Archbishop of Canterbury Henry’s knights murdered Becket in Canterbury Pilgrimages were a means to show religious devotion

The Magna Carta King John’s most pressing problem was debt The barons revolted against burdensome taxes King John signed the Magna Carta to advert civil war which placed a restriction on his royal power

Decline of Feudalism The Black Death swept England in , England suffered a shortage of labor Peasants value increased but their revolt was crushed in 1381

Decline of Feudalism In 1453, the War of Roses began between the House of York and the House of Lancaster Eventually, Henry Tudor (House of Lancaster) killed Richard III (House of York) in a rebellion The two Houses were united and the War of Roses ended when Henry VII marries Richard’s niece

Literature of the Middle Ages Lyric poems during this period were either secular or religious The usual topics of secular poetry are love and nature Many religious works were plays, these plays went from the church to the churchyard to the marketplace.

Literature of the Middle Ages The earliest dramas were miracle plays During the 15 th century the morality plays emerged

An Emerging National Identity In 1454 Johannes Guttenberg perfected the printing press The first movable-type press in England was introduced by William Caxton Caxton’s first project was the printing of Geoffery Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales