1. The Middle Ages, or
the High Medieval Era:

2. What happened to the Anglo-Saxons??!!
King Ethelred, a Saxon marries Emma,
a Norman
King Edward the Confessor, their son, dies
Harold Godwinson (Saxon), Harald Hardrada (Norwegian), and William of Normandy all claim the throne
Battle of Hastings in 1066

3. The Kings of England from 967 – 1066
King Ethelred II
Edmund Ironside
– Canute (Viking)
Alfred (son of Ethelred)
Harold Harefoot
(illetimate son of Canute)
– Hardicanute (Viking)
Edward the Confessor

4. Bayeux Tapestry* ∨ Depicts the William’s conquest
Edward, the Confessor ∨
Bayeux Tapestry*
Depicts the William’s conquest
Exact origin is unknown
Over 70 meters long

5. detail of Edward the Confessor from the Bayeux Tapestry

6. Harold II (Godwinson) Edward the Confessor’s Brother-in-law
Last Anglo-Saxon King

7. William of Normandy
(r )*
AKA
William the
Conqueror

8. Battle Abbey
and
Battlefield Park *

9. Battlefield from the Norman’s point of view, looking uphill *
Abbey, the assumed position of
Harold’s shielded forces ∨ ∨
Battlefield from the Norman’s
point of view, looking uphill *

10. Why Harold II lost?
Warriors tired from the Battle of Stamford Bridge against Harald
Warriors failed to listen to orders, breaking from the shield wall
Norman tactics: combining weapons and luring the army

11. Norman Legacy: Domesday Book: inventory of land, basis of taxation
Feudalism
French language

12. The Domesday Book
or Doomsday Book

13. Collected
information on:
Land
Landholders
Tenants
Woodland
Animals
Buildings
Other resources

14. Feudalism: the original
pyramid scheme
Lords: land owners
Vassals: retainers
Fiefs: land
The king was the lord of lords

15. “I thought we were an
autonomous collective.”
-peasant woman,
Monty Python and
the Holy Grail

16. Manorialism* strips of land, worked by Serfs
Manor House

17. Chivalry an elaborate code of conduct, manner, and behaviors
from the French word
chevalier: horse soldier
purpose: to reduce the
coarseness and violence
of medieval life

18. Code of Chivalry valor courage; face death’s inevitability
possess Justice and loyalty
protect poor and weak– widows, maidens, and orphans
love God and be willing to die for him
courtly Love
remain clean in flesh and spirit
generosity
gain and cultivate a positive reputation

19. “The Vigil,” by John Pettie

20. Becoming a Knight
Age 7– The son of a noble begins training, starting out as a page in the house of a lord. He learns manners and use of weapons
Age 15– He became a squire. He attended to his lord, spent time in military exercises.
Knighthood was reached when the squire became sufficiently skilled. No particular age.

21. "Chivalry," 1885,
Sir Frank Dicksee*

22. Courtly Love Idealized love
Describes the relationship between a knight and a lady of the court.
The lady was the muse, or inspiration, for the knight’s deeds.
Usually not between and a man and a wife
Served as a model for young ladies

23. “Lancelot and
Guinevere”*
Chivalry
corrupted

24. Rules of Hospitality Also called Guest/Host Relationship
Unwritten set of expectations between any visitor and his host. Visitors would often be strangers, travelers seeking refuge at any house along the way.

25. Hospitality Guidelines
Guest has free reign and should be treated with care and concern
Host is servant to his needs
Guest must conduct himself accordingly in dignified/formal manner, never taking advantage of the situation or generosity.
Host can allow no harm to guest, defending him at any cost, including life
Relationship embodies the “Golden Rule”

26. The Crusades: 1095-1270 Christians acting in the name of God
Attempted to seize Jerusalem and the Holy Land
Often associated with Chivalric Code
Also, often associated with
savage acts against humanity
Spread of Eastern ideas: math,
astronomy, architecture, etc.

27. Crusaders,
wearing the
iconic cross
on their chests

28. The Bubonic
Plague
AKA
The Black
Death

29. The Bubonic Plague Spread by fleas from infected rats
Killed ¼ of the European population, at least 25 million people
Spread by fleas from infected rats
Major wave occurred in England between , killing 1/3rd of England
Caused major work shortages, leading to freedom of serfs
STILL EXISTS TODAY!!!

30. Plague Suit, worn by medieval physicians

31. Gun Powder Discovered by Chinese in the 9th Century
Introduced to England around 1325
Changes warfare
forever
Muskets
Cannons
Ends Chivalry

32. CREDITS:
Scene 1 of Bayeux Tapestry,
Shot from Monty Python and the Holy Grail,
Close up of Edward the Confessor from the Bayeux Tapestry, Nash Ford Publishing,
Harold II image
“Aerial View of Battle Abbey” (c) Skyscan Balloon Photography
Public Domain,

33. William I by George Vertue (1648-1756), The Royal Collection © 2006,
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
Picture of Domesday Book on chest,
Page from the Domesday Book,
Page from Shepherd's Historical Atlas,
“Chivalry, by Sir Frank Dicksee on
Courtly Love information from
“Lancelot and Guinevere,” Giancola, Donato. From
Plague Suit images, from
Crusade Illustration from

34. For more information:
The United Kingdom’s government page on the monarchy
Essential Norman Conquest
English Heritage site about Battle of Hastings
Official Site for the Bayeux Tapestry
The Domesday Book