1. The Middle Ages

2. Norman Conquest
October 1066 Duke William defeats King Harold, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings
Radically affected English history, language, and culture
Culture reflects both Anglo-Saxons and Normans
Brought emphasis on law and order
Provided cultural unity
Brought England into the mainstream European civilization

3. William the Conqueror
Illegitimate son of the previous duke of Normandy
Believed the throne should be his
Efficient and ruthless soldier
Wanted to rule the Anglo-Saxons (not wipe them out)
Gave land from fallen English lords to his own men

4. The Domesday Book
Due to William, an inventory of almost every piece of property was created
People were able to be taxed based on ownership for the first time

5. Feudalism Based on hierarchy
Centralized military, political, and economic power

6. Feudalism

7. Knighthood Males above the Serf class were expected to be warriors
Training
Started at an early age
Trained away from home
“Dubbed” hit on the shoulder to prove his knightliness
Knightly Code
Strict rules of conduct grounded on loyalty

8. Chivalry
Comes from the French word “chevalier” (knight who rode a horse)
Complete code of conduct
Loyalty to king
Faith in Christianity
Fair fighting
Respect for women
Aid to those in need

9. Courtly Love
Knights had “special” female fans of high position – she was “out of reach”
The knight would wear her colors or say kind things about her
Idealized attitude about women
Did not change women’s social status
Lead to the “Romance” literary genre

10. Women No rights Always subservient to a man (father, husband, brother)
Her level respect depended on her “man’s” status
Perceived value was the worth of the land she brought into a marriage

11. City Classes
People started moving to the cities as the population grew
City Classes developed
Lower
Middle
Upper Middle
Free from power of lords
Created art and literature for themselves

12. The Crusades
Series of wars between European Christians and Muslims
Jerusalem and the Holy Land as prize
Exposed Europe and England to Middle East civilization

13. Thomas à Becket 1118-1170 Norman
Rose to great power under Henry II (Henry hoped to gain power in disputes with the Church through Beckett)
Named Arch Bishop of Canterbury
After Beckett took the pope’s side in too many disputes, King Henry stated “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”
4 of Henry’s knights took him literally and murdered Beckett in his own cathedral

14. Thomas à Becket Named Saint Thomas the Martyr Led to
Backlash against Henry II
Corruption in the Church

15. The Church Fostered unity throughout Europe
Continued to be the center for learning
Monasteries the libraries and publishers of the time
Latin remained the international language of the educated
The Pope = the king of all kings

16. The Magna Carta 1215 King John was forced to sign
Weakened the Church’s growing power
Became the basis for English constitutional law

17. The 100 Years War 1st national war England vs. France
Based on claims to the French throne by Edward III and Henry V
Forced a cultural shift away from knights to yeomen (small landowners)
Shift of power to yeoman after the fall of feudalism which paves way for democracy

18. The Black Death 1348-1349 Highly contagious
Spread through fleas from infected rats
Reduced the population by 1/3
Created labor shortage
Gave the lower classes more power
Fall of feudalism/Serfs free