Transcript Medieval Period

Medieval Period
1066-1485
Battle of Hastings to the Battle of
Bosworth Field
Characteristics of the Medieval
Period
Medieval Period was based on
feudalism
Feudalism was a hierarchy based on
the least powerful swearing
allegiance and loyalty to the person in
power above him. It began with the
serfs and ended with the king and the
Pope
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The Norman Conquest of England created a
powerful Anglo-Norman entity and brought
England into the mainstream of European
civilization
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The feudal system centralized military,
political, and economic power in the Crown
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The Roman Church transcended national
boundaries and fostered cultural unity
among Europeans
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The rise of cities and towns freed people to
pursue their own commercial and artistic
interests
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The Magna Carta weakened the political
power of the Church and laid the ground
work for later English constitutional law.
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• Exposure to Eastern civilization as a result
of the Crusades broadened Europeans’
intellectual horizons
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The ideals of chivalry improved attitudes
toward but not the rights of women
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The rise of the yeoman class paved the way
for democracy in England
Characteristics of the Middle
Ages (cont)
• The bubonic plague created a labor shortage
that contributed to the end of feudalism and
to the passing of the Middle Ages
Important Events and People in
the Middle Ages
William the Conquerer
William led the Normans against the
Anglo Saxons at the Battle of
Hastings. He won and brought a new
language and methods of organization
to England
Battle of Hastings
(August 25, 1066)
Called one of the most influential
battles of all time, the Battle of
Hastings brought the Normans to
England to replace Harold I on the
throne.
Domesday Book
Often called Doomsday Book–
William the Conqueror had
everyone’s personal property
catalogued so he could tax it.
Crusades
For almost 200 years Western Europe
under direction from the Popes
attempted to “recapture” the Holy
Lands, especially Jerusalem.
Catholic Church
• Most influential and powerful institution in
Europe
• Dictated even the most insignificant details
of individuals’ lives
• Participated in Inquisitions
• Controlled intellectual thought until the
Renaissance
• Place of power and education
What did the Crusades do?
• Depopulated parts of Europe
• Introduced Europe to a more cultured, learned
civilization
• Opened trading routes
• Introduced Europeans to spices and perfumes
• Eventually broke the power of the Catholic
church (helped to) by ushering in the
Renaissance
Bubonic Plague strikes England
1348
Called the Black Death– estimates
say that 10 to 50% of Europeans died
of the black death. So many people
died that there was a shortage of labor
which eventually helped to bring
about the middle class.
Saladin
Famous Muslim leader who opposed
the Christians during the Crusades.
Thomas a Beckett
Archbishop of Canterbury who was
murdered by the knights of Henry II.
Canterbury Cathedral honors this
English martyr. He also was the
martyr celebrated in the Canterbury
Tales.
Henry II
Son of Maude (Matilda) Henry II inherited the
throne after Stephen. Although he is best known as
the monarch who caused the death of Thomas a
Beckett he ruled an extensive empire, restored
order, triumphed over the nobility and fought the
Church. He also restored royal justice, the
beginning of the modern trial by jury. In short, he
brought efficiency and a degree of fairness to
government.
Henry’s fight with the Church
Henry wanted to do away with the
concept of “benefit of clergy” or
immunity from the king’s justice. Any
wrongdoer who could read Latin
could claim to be a cleric. Also Henry
wanted to nominate his own bishops.
Guilds
First labor unions made up of skilled
craftsmen. Guilds are the beginning
of the middle class.
Chivalry
Chivalry was a code of conduct based
on the process of becoming a knight.
Adherence to oaths of allegiance and
rules governing fighting were basic
precepts of the code.
William Wallace
Legendary hero of Scotland (Braveheart), he
fought against Edward I and the English takeover of Scotland. The Scottish lairds were
jealous of his popularity and power and betrayed
him to Edward. Although he was executed, his
spirit influenced the Scots to continue fighting
against England.
100 Years’ War (1377-1453)
The Hundred Years War was a series of wars
between England and France. The background of the
Hundred Years War went as far back as to the reign
of William the Conqueror. When William the
Conqueror became king in 1066 after his victory at
the Battle of Hastings, he united England with
Normandy in France. William ruled both as his own.
100 Years’ War (con’t)
• Under Henry II, the lands owned by England in
France became even larger and the kings who
followed Henry found the land they owned in
France too large and difficult to control. By 1327,
when Edward III became king, England only
controlled two areas of France - Gascony in the
south and Ponthieu in the north.
100 Years’ War (con’t)
• In 1328, Charles IV of France died. Charles did
not have any sons to take over his land and all his
brothers were dead. He did have a sister called
Isabella. She was the mother of Edward III and
Edward believed that because of this, he should be
king of France. However, the French decided that
a cousin of Charles, Philip, should be crowned
king.
100 Years’ War (con’t)
• Edward was furious but he was not in a
position to do anything in the late 1320’s.
By 1337 he was ready to fight for what he
believed was his and he declared war on
Philip. Edward was not only willing to fight
for what he believed was his - the crown of
France - but also he feared that Philip was a
threat to his possessions in France Gascony and Ponthieu.
Joan of Arc
Most famous figure of the 100 Years’War, Joan of Arc
was a peasant girl who led the French forces against
the English– since the French king was too inept. She
claimed that God talked to her, and she was militarily
successful for two years until she was captured in
Burgundy and sold to the English. The English
considered her a “hot potato” so they gave her to an
ecclesiastical court which accused her of witchcraft
and eventually burned her at the stake. She became
canonized as a saint in the 20th century.
Authors and Works of the Middle
Ages
Song of Roland (written 1100)
Roland was a French hero who drove
the Moors out of France and back to
Northern Africa. The Song of Roland
is considered to be the French
national epic.
Everyman
A morality play to teach a lesson to
its viewers. It’s about a character
named Everyman who confronts
Death and has to find which of his
friends will go with him.
Dante Aligheri
(writes Devine Comedy 1307)
Author of the Devine Comedy which
is comprised of The Inferno,
Purgatorio and Paradisio.
Decameron
Written by Boccaccio, the Decameron
1350’s is a set of tales principally
about love and the corruption of the
clergy. The Decameron is said to have
been an influence on Chaucer.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
(1375)
A tale about Arthur’s knights and the
Round Table, Sir Gawain accepts the
Green Knights challenge to exchange
blows. The story might really be
about redemption and sin.
Canterbury Tales (written 1387)
Canterbury Tales was written in
Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer
who is often called the father of
English poetry. He is credited with
making English respectable. Until
Chaucer most literature and
documents of importance were done
in Latin.
Ballads
Orginally dervied from a French word
which meant dancing song, ballads
were composed with music in mind
with their rhythm and meter. Ballads
are poetry of the people and their
topics are ones of everyday life– lost
love, death, betrayal, the supernatural
and relationships
English Monarchs
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William the Conquerer
William II (Rufus)
Henry I
Stephen and Maude
Henry II
Richard I
John
Henry III
Edward I
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Edward II
Edward III
Richard II
Henry IV
Henry V
Henry VI
Edward IV
Edward V
Richard III
Norman Monarchs
William I
William the Conquerer
won Battle of Hastings 1066
Norman (French)
William II
"Rufus"
William I left England to him
powerful and so nobility disliked him
Robert
William I left him the provinces in France
wanted England too
was weak so nobility in England thought he'd be better than Rufus
Henry I
reigned 56 years
son died in the Wreck of the White Ship
left throbe to daughter Matilda (Maude)
Wreck of the White Ship and Civil
War
Angevin
Henry I
dies thinking Maude will be Queen
Maude
marries Geoffrey of Anjour
Henry II
King of England
after Stephen dies
according to treaty
Henry's brother
Stephen
nephew of Henry
grabbed throne
caused Civil War
Henry I died without a son to succeed
him. Before his death he had made all of
his nobles swear allegiance to his
daughter Maude. However, when he died
his nephew Stephen grabbed the throne
England’s Civil War
Maude, aka Matilde, battled over the
throne for almost 19 years. Stephen
claimed that a woman shouldn’t rule.
The battle raged until Stephen’s only
son died, leaving him with no heir.
Through treaty Stephen agreed that
Matilda’s son (Henry II) would
inherit the throne after Stephen’s
death
Offspring of Henry II and
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Henry II
Type title here
Richard I
the Lionhearted
only spent 10 months in England
reigned 10 years, went to Crusades
Eleanor of Aquitaine
King John I
called "Lackland"
weak and vicious
signed the Magna Carta 1215
From John to Edward III
King John
Type title here
Henry III
Type title here
Edward I
Longshanks
began war with Scotland and William Wallace
Established national Parliament
Edward II
weak and gay
gave resources to gay partners
murdered
Edward III
excellent monarch
reigned 50 years
began 100 Years' War
War of the Roses (or a war
between cousins)
War of the Roses
Edward III
Type title here
Edward
Black Prince
died in prime of life
jouster
John of Gaunt
regent for Richard II
controls England for 14 years
turned England over to Richard
Edmund of Langley
York
Richard II
abdicated throne
starved to death in
1399
Henry IV
Henry of Bolingbroke
grabbed throne from Richard II
Lancaster
Richard
Henry V
m French king's daughter
named to succeed Charles VI
Richard Plantagenet
Henry VI
weak government
hereditary madness
probably killed by Richard III
Edward IV
deposed Henry VI
unpopular marriage
Richard III
died at Bosworth Field
1485
ended Plantagent line
Edward V
12 years old
"ruled 2 months"
disappeared from Tower
Richard
10 years old
disappeared with brother
both murdered by Richard III
Elizabeth
York
face on cards
marries Henry Tudor
Clarence
executed in a vat of wine
at head of revolt
War of the Roses
Lancaster Henry of Bolingbroke, son of John of
Gaunt, seized the throne of England from his
cousin Richard II. Richard futilely attempted to
save his life by “abdicating.” Accounts vary, but
apparently Richard starved to death in a dungeon.
Henry then became Henry IV, but descendants
from the Yorkist side of the family (who had a
better claim to the title) objected– for the next
three generations.
The Yorkists take over
The Lancasters kept the throne through
the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V, but
during the reign of Henry VI the Yorks
realized that they had an opportunity to
depose a weak king. Yorkist Edward IV,
along with help from his brother Richard,
captured and killed Henry VI and took
over the throne of England.
Edward IV dies
Much to the disgust of everyone
Edward IV married Elizabeth
Woodville, a member of a much
disliked family. When Edward died
his children Edward V and Richard
were taken by their uncle Richard
(soon to be Richard III) to the Tower
of London– for safety sake.
Elizabeth of York negotiates with
Henry Tudor
The boys turned up missing, and Richard
proclaimed himself king. Edward IV’s daughter
Elizabeth negotiated with Henry Tudor ( a
descendant of John of Gaunt) to oppose her
uncle, defeat him in battle, and subsequently
marry her and become king.
Battle of Bosworth Field—the
end of the Medieval Period
Henry Tudor and his allies challenge Richard
III and his reluctant allies at Bosworth Field.
Richard is killed at the Battle and the ruling
house of Plantagenet changes to Tudor, the
Medieval Period ends, and the Renaissance is
ushered in.