Medieval Period Notes

Medieval Period1066-1485

Begins with the Battle of Hastings
Harold, King of England was defeated by William the Conqueror
Government Under William the Conqueror
Strong governmental system, in place for 21 years.
Norman and Saxon elements fused into a national English character.
England was a powerful force in Europe.

Law Under William the Conqueror
Written public documents.
Common law developed.
Contrast in previous system where laws were different for various classes of people.
Law of primogeniture gave first born son exclusive rights to titles, lands, estates.
Some laws were still settled by ordeal.
Jury system developed in opposition to these violent tasks that determined one’s innocence or guilt.

Thomas a Becket
Henry II’s Lord Chancellor
Became Archbishop of Canterbury
Defended claims of the church
Went against the king’s wishes
Murdered by knights
Saint of the church
Hero of the people

Economy
Feudalism
People were vassals of the overlords.
Overlord owed allegiance to the king.
System meant loyalties (military and money) paid to the overlord.
Doomsday Book – Book of Judgments, properties
Listed all landowners and their holdings.

Church
Promoted unity from 11th to 15th century
Predominant language was Latin.
(Language of the church and educated persons)
Church grew and prospered.
Abbeys and monasteries were main centers of learning.
Oxford and Cambridge were established during the 13th century.
Great period of population growth.

Life
Austere, travel was difficult and dangerous.
Relieved by pageantry of religious festivals and festivals (jousting, etc).

Life
Most people lived in the country and were connected to a feudal manor.
Herding became a major industry.
Wool industry, merchants developed.
Rising middle class, merchants.

Crusades
Desire to rescue Jerusalem from the Turkish.
Christian Europe was exposed to Arabic culture.

Chivalry.

Medieval Literature
Romances – tales of the Knights, dragons, wizards

Chaucer – first great figure in English literature
Well-known name (oral tradition, anonymous works before his time)
Sharply realistic writer
Great poet and story-teller.
First of the poker-faced humorists.

Literature (Continued)
Miracle Plays – stories of the Bible
Morality Plays – sophisticated dramatic allegories with characters representing vices and virtues.

Canterbury Tales – frame story
Three important groups in the Tales:
Feudal, ecclesiastical, urban
Royalty is not presented.

General Facts
30 people on way to shrine
Each pilgrim to tell two tales going and two tales returning.
Drew lots to see who would go first

Harry Bailey – host of the Tabard Inn and judge of the tales
Use of dramatic contrast, harmony among characters.