1. Unit 3 The Medieval Period 1066-1485
Battle of Hastings 1066, William defeats Harold II
4 years of bloody fighting…killed all English nobility
Set up “fiefdoms” (estates) ruled by French barons
Norman Conquest ended Anglo-Saxon Period, brings in the Medieval Period
1095 The Crusades begin
1099 Crusaders win Jerusalem
The Norman Conquest
878 Alfred the Great defeated the Danes
Danes began looking for other lands, invaded northern France
The Norse=North Man= Normandy
1066 English King died (Edward the Confessor); chose Harold II as king
Duke William of Normandy (Edward’s cousin) claims the throne is his…invades

2. Unit 3, slide 2 Effects of Norman Conquest
The effects on English language were shattering
English becomes lower class language…Norman French is higher
Very little ENGLISH Literature
ANGLO-NORMAN Literature (Norman French)
Very practical, no nonsense; religious lit, not entertaining
They imported French lit for entertainment (Marie de France)
*Important innovation: rhymed stanzas
Normandy was part of England
French influence declined, and English became primary language again.

3. Unit 3, slide 3 Medieval Society
William the Conqueror had brought the feudal system to England
Feudalism: system by which England was run in Middle Ages
“Vassalage”: loyalty that a lesser member of society owes to a higher member in exchange for favors
King owns land…grants it to barons
There were 180 “tenants in chief”
Barons must be loyal to king, pay taxes, and provide soldiers
Bottom of social order: peasants=villeins=serfs (gradually become “freemen” who become the tradesmen)
From top to bottom: (vassals)
Pope
King
Earl
Duke
Knight
Serf

4. Unit 3, slide 4 The Catholic Church & Themes
Catholic Church was really powerful, had grand cathedrals
Pope--Cardinal--Archbishop--Bishop--Parish Priest
1170 Murder of Archbishop of Canterbury: Thomas a Becket
Common Themes in Medieval Lit: religion, Bible stories, saints, sermons, sin
Common Themes:
“momento mori” (reminder of death)
“contemptu mundi” (contempt for the world)
“danse macabre” (dance of death)
Bestiary: type of church-related lit that contains descriptions of exotic beasts and allegories

5. Unit 3, slide 5 the 3 C’s
CRUSADES (1095+): holy wars to recapture Jerusalem from Moslems
Crusaders brought back Persian and Arabic stories, esp. Persian love poetry: idealized view of women
Influences devotion to Mary
CHAUCER: Canterbury Tales
Stories made up on pilgrimage to Canterbury, spot of martyrdom of Becket
CHIVALRY: romance (means adventure)…standards of knightly conduct, trials, courtly love, quests (the Holy Grail)
Example: King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table
Ballads: oral poetry of common people, songs (like Robin Hood)
Medieval Drama: originally in churches…Biblical skits.
Moved into the courtyards: mystery plays (Bible), miracle plays (saints), morality plays (virtues & vices)

6. Unit 3, slide 6 Politics
Politics: feudalism, traveling judges, common law, Parliament (representative rulers)
1215 Magna Carta: document that limits rights of the king
1381 Peasant Revolt (begins the lower class’ struggle for liberty and human rights)
Years War – France vs. England over possession of French lands
Joan of Arc ( ) France won back its land (she’s not the only reason)
Oxford & Cambridge are founded
Guilds, Middle Class…towns & population increase
mid 1300’s Black Death (bubonic plague) kills 1/3 of England
John Wycliffe ( ) translated Bible into English…eventually leads to Protestant Reformation
1476 William Caxton – movable type
War of the Roses (Lancasters vs. Yorks)