Transcript Middle English Period - scostain

Middle English
Period
(1066-1485)
By Jesse B., Jessica P., Sofi R., and Jen D.
Important Events
The Invasion of England 1066
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On January 5, 1066 King Edward of England died after ruling his
country for 23 years. Since King Edward had no heirs and only
distant relatives a three way rivalry for the crown started. Harold
Godwinson was one of the contenders being the second most
powerful man in England and Edward’s advisor. Edward also
wanted Harold to take the throne at his death but William the Duke
of Normandy also wanted the English Throne. He believed he
should inherit the throne because he was blood related to Edward,
since he was a distant cousin. William also said that King Edward
did not want Harold to take the throne because Edward had
anointed William to inherit it.
The Invasion of England 1066 Cont…
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The last contender for the throne was Harald Hadrada who was
already the king of Norway. He argued that Edward gave the rights
of kingship to Harald’s father if Edward should have died and since
he was the heir he should inherit the throne.
Harald Hadrada attacked England first but Harold Godwinson
was there with England’ finest soldiers. Harold was able to hold
them off and eventually defeat Hadrada’s Viking army but he had
no time to rest for as soon as he defeated them he heard word that
William had landed in southern England.
Harold hastily went south with his army to prepare for battle but it
proved that William and his troops were too much. Harold was
killed in battle and William was declared king of England on
Christmas day 1066.
The First Crusade 1095-1099
 The First Crusade was launched by Pope Urban II. The intentions
were to conquer the city of Jerusalem and rid the Christians in the
East of Muslim rule. This was considered a “Holy War” and the
pope said that anyone who died on this crusade would go directly to
heaven. Some people who volunteered actually wanted to free
Jerusalem of Muslim rule and others went just so there sins could
be forgiven in the eyes of God. People from many countries
marched for Jerusalem and in 1099 it was conquered.
The Second Crusade 1147-1149
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The Second Crusade was launched when County of Edessa fell by
Pope Eugene III. County of Edessa was a state that the the
crusaders established after the first crusade. Louis VII of France
and Conrad III of Germany were to lead the crusade. They each
brought there own army from there country and marched towards
Jerusalem separately. On there way there both armies were
ambushed by Seljuk Turks killing many of the crusaders. In 1148
Conrad and Louis made it to Jerusalem with some of there army.
They decided to have a siege on the city of Damascus but the city
proved to be too strongly fortified. Defeated, what was left of the
army retreated.
Knights Templar
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The knights templar are the most well known military order of the
crusades always being recognized with there red cross symbol on
there chest. They were made to be shortly after the first crusade.
There job was to make it a safe journey for people who want to
make a pilgrimage to the city of Jerusalem. There organization only
survived from donations from people and when the crusades turned
out to be failures the fame collapsed along with financial support
Third Crusade
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The Third Crusade lasted from 1189 to 1192 and is also known as
the Kings’ Crusade. It was an attempt by the European leaders to
re-conquer the Holy Lands of Saladin. Henry II of England and
Phillip II of France joined together to lead a Crusade against the
Egyptian and Syrian forces of Saladin. King Henry died in 1189,
which left Richard I in command of the English. Frederick I
Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, led a massive army across
Anatolia, but died from drowning before reaching the Holy Land
therefore many of his troops were discouraged and went home. On
September 2, 1192, King Richard and Saladin signed a treaty in
which Jerusalem would remain under Muslim control, but unarmed
Christians would be allowed to visit the city. This failure would lead
to a Fourth Crusade six years later.
Black Death
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The Black Death was one of the earliest pandemics in history. It is
sometimes known as the Bubonic plague. It lasted from 1347 to
1350. It ravaged cities causing widespread hysteria and death,
killing over one third of the population of Europe. This massive loss
in population affected all aspects of society, including trade, the
church, music and art. As a result of death in the church, written
language was almost lost and whole churches were abandoned.
Signing of the Magna Carta
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The Magna Carta was signed in 1215. It is one of the most
influential documents in English history. It was not intended to be a
lasting statement of legal principle, rather a practical solution to a
political crisis. It prevented the King from the use of tyrannical
behavior and required the King to renounce certain rights and
respect certain legal procedures, as well as accept that his will
could be bound by law. All of the clauses of the Magna Carta,
except for three, have now become obsolete, though its
reinterpretation throughout the centuries has guaranteed its status
and longevity.
War of the Roses
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For thirty years, a bitter struggle for the English throne was waged
between two branches on the same family, the House of York and
the House of Lancaster, both descended from Edward lll. Each
house was represented by a rose, which is why it is known as the
War of the Roses. The first fight broke out in May of 1455. The
War of the Roses ended when Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian,
defeated King Richard III, a Yorkist at the battle of Bosworth Field
on 22 August 1485. After the battle, Henry Tudor became King
Henry Vll of England and Wales. Henry Vll (representing the
Lancaster family) married Elizabeth of York (representing the York
family). This marriage united the two families. Henry created the
Tudor rose, containing both the White Rose of York and the Red
Rose of Lancaster. It symbolized the end of a struggle between
York and Lancaster.
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Many of the famous poems and books looked back upon in great
respect were published in the Middle English period. Major writers
of this age was Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Gawer,
Robery Henryson and The Pearl Poet, these men were the known
as the Ricardian Poets.
Geoffrey Chaucer born 1344 and died in approx. 1400, his birth
date is unknown. He was the son of a wine merchant and he had a
very active public life. He fought in the hundred years war and in
1374 he was appointed to Controller of Customs. During those 12
years he wrote "Troilus and Criseyde" and "The Canterbury Tales"
which contained 84 manscripts.
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Popular Ballads, became present in the Middle English Period. The ballads
were originally songs intended for interpreting a dance, but the narrative
element gradually became more important and the ballad became what it
still stands for: a song that tells a story. They deal for the most part upperclass individuals and families and are hence aristocratic rather then
democratic in tone. The popular balads almost all belong to the late Middle
Ages; the literary ballads began to be written in the late 18th century as the
result of the romantic revival of interest in the Middle Ages. Some of the
many ballads of that time were Edward, The Three Ravens, The Twa
Corbres and Sir Patrick Spens.
William Langland was an English poet, who was famous for his remarkable
14th century poem "Piers the Plowman". This poem was in the time of
Edward VI, who considered worthy of being printed especially with the
poem indicating a desire for reformation in religion. This became such a
successful and still effects today with the Piers Plowan, 3 different versions
all using either A, B or C which people still use today to identify methods of
poems through the poets.
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The Pearl Poet, this was a name given to a man named Pearl
who was an author of poetry and was a contemporary of
Geoffrey Chauar, John Gower and Will Langland. The found
poems were "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", "Patience",
"Cleanness" and "Saint Erkenwald. The poem are only
proven to exist from a single surviving manuscript, now held
in the British Library. His poetry is conversant with learning,
shows an interest in technical vocabulary about hunting and
the court, the landscape of his region and has an interest in
poverty as a Christian virtue. His poems were educational
and honourably mentioned.
Advances In
Literacy
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“Middle English literature is a southern, Gallic Literature
stressing love and tenderness as much as strength and
courage, and possessing a gaiety and delicacy seldom found
in Old English.”
The warrior (old epic) is replaced by the knight (romance) in
this era of literature.
The Knight
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In the Middle Ages the Knight was seen as a figure of justice and
virtue. It replaced the basic Warrior in most written work at this time.
Why? Because a knight has such much more class. Always having
to follow a set of virtues.
The virtues included:
* Mercy (Towards the poor and oppressed. They were supposed to be harsh with evil-doers.)
* Humility
* Honor
* Sacrifice
* Fear of God
* Faithfulness
* Courage
* Utmost graciousness and courtesy to ladies
The Knight Cont…
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As time went on the Knight went from being viewed as someone on
horse back. To a strong warrior. So simply a status figure that was
given to someone during times of active battle.
Knighthoods are still issued in:
 * The United Kingdom
 * The Netherlands
 * Denmark
 * Malaysia