1. Background information on the Middle Ages
The Canterbury Tales
Background information on the Middle Ages

2. Write the notes in bold-these are your notes-you can shorthand.
Middle Ages Notes
Chaucer
Middle English
The Canterbury Tales
Feudal System
Religion
Black Plague
Thomas Becket
Crusades
Chivalry
Courtly Love
Please add whatever information you may be missing on your scavenger hunt.
Write the notes in bold-these are your notes-you can shorthand.
These notes and your scavenger hunt will help you understand The Canterbury Tales, which will then be helpful for the test!

3. Geoffrey Chaucer Father of English poetry
Born about in London
Educated, part of rising middle class
Insight into human characteristics
The Canterbury Tales is his most well known work
Wanted to educate the masses on the corruption in the Church

4. French was used by the aristocracy
Middle English
Latin was the language of the clergy (members involved with the church)
French was used by the aristocracy
Commoners spoke English (Middle English)
Vernacular- language of the people (This is how Chaucer wrote!)
English in 10 Minutes

5. The Canterbury Tales Usually satirical
Frame story- a story being told within a story
29 pilgrims, traveling from Southwark to Canterbury to the shrine of Thomas a Becket
Unfinished
Originally supposed to be 2 stories there and 2 stories back
Story begins in the springtime at Tabard Inn just outside London.
Each pilgrim will tell stories while on the trip. Host will judge stories

6. Chaucer’s England Social Structure
Society was divided into 3 states: clergy, aristocracy (nobility), and the commoners
Positions in the hierarchy were well defined
Clergy-responsible for people’s spiritual well-being
Aristocracy- responsible for defending the nation through military might.
Commons- laborers and producers

7. Feudal System Caste system King owned all the land in the country
Replaces the social structure of the Anglo Saxon Period
King owned all the land in the country
King granted land holdings to aristocratic tenants in exchange for military support
Aristocrats would grant land holdings to commoners in exchange for labor services that would allow the lord to cultivate and maintain the land

8. Clergy (1.5%) No one was born into the clergy
Aristocrats (1%) (upper levels) and commoners (97%) (lower levels)
Regular clergy (monks and friars) were males and sworn to a life of celibacy and poverty
Nuns didn’t have the same rights as the male clergy

9. Religion
Catholic Church, the official church of the kingdom during the Middle Ages
All Christians in that part of the world were under the authority of the Pope.

10. The Black Plague
1348 – Black Plague reached England and wiped out 1/3 of the population (3.75 million to 2.25 million)
The sudden collapse of the population sent prices skyrocketing
Resulted in the rise of the middle class because of the extreme loss. Labor became more valuable than land.
Resulted in the rise of the Middle Class because the extreme loss of life made labor became more valuable then land

11. Thomas Becket Appointed archbishop of Canterbury by King Henry II
King Henry II hoped that Thomas would side with him over the pope
The King’s plan backfired and Thomas ended up taking the side of the Church/pope over the King

12. Thomas Becket
Murdered in 1170 (Assassinated by followers of King Henry II in Canterbury Cathedral)
Was canonized as both Saint and martyr following his murder
The Shrine of Saint Thomas of Becket became a popular destination for religious pilgrimages during the Middle Ages

13. Crusades Occurred during the the 11th,12th, and 13th centuries
A series of religious wars called by the Pope
GOAL of the Crusades: to restore Christian control of the Holy Land
Crusades had an enormous influence in Europe during the Middle Ages

14. Chivalry
Chivalry- system of ideals and behavior that governed both knight and gentleman
Included things such as:
- oath of loyalty to overlord
- rules of warfare
-adoration of a particular lady (courtly love)

15. Courtly Love
Courtly Love- Belief that acting in the name of a lady would help a knight be more brave and successful