The Medieval Period

The Medieval Period(1066-1485)

The Norman Conquest of England

• In 1066, the English King, Edward the Confessor, died.

• His cousin, Harold II, was crowned king.

• Their cousin, Duke William of Normandy, also wanted the throne.


• The Duke, also known as William the Conqueror, invaded England in September of 1066.

• He defeated King Harold in the Battle of Hastings.


• The Normans left a terrible mark on the English people.

• They killed most of the English nobility.

• Also divided the country into estates called fiefdoms, ruled by barons.

Anglo-Norman Literature

• The Norman conquest also deterred the continuation of the English language.

• English became a language of the lower class.

• High-borns only spoke French.


• Production of literature came to a near stand-still.

• Monks continued to produce some writing.

• Commoners composed songs in English.

• Very little of this material survives today.


• Most literature written during this period of time was in French.

• It tended to be practical and no-nonsense.

• Much consisted of religious works geared towards self-improvement rather than entertainment.


• The most important literary technique introduced was the rhymed stanza.

• It replaced Anglo-Saxon verse almost overnight.

• Became the primary form of poetry in England.


• The upper class used English again, and English was once again considered the nation’s primary language.

• By the middle of the 13th Century, England lost Normandy and severed ties with France

The Organization of Medieval Society

• William the Conqueror introduced the political system of feudalism to England.

• All land and people belonged to the king.

• Kings granted land to barons, who in turn granted lands to lesser nobles.

• Barons rose armies and fought for the kings. They also paid taxes to support the courts.


• The lowest members of society were the peasants, or serfs.

• They lived and worked on the nobles’ land and could not leave or marry without permission.

• They barely ate and suffered from disease.

• Gave almost all of their earnings to their lords.


• Feudal society was based on the hierarchy of vassalage or servitude.

• Higher powers provided land and protection for lower powers.

• Lower powers provided food and services for higher powers.

The Influence of the Church

• The Catholic Church had tremendous wealth and power.

• Countless grand churches were built in the new Romanesque and Gothic styles.


• Many religious leaders also served as government officials.

• Political leaders and clergymen often quarreled.

• The most famous example was when the king’s men murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury.


• Much of medieval literature deals with religious subjects and themes. Two of the most used themes were:

• Memento mori: reminder of death.

• Contemptu mundi: contempt forthe world.


• People also went on religious pilgrimages, or journeys to sacred places, which were often the subject of stories and poems.

• Most famous example is The Canterbury Tales.


• From the 11th to 13th Centuries, the Churchsponsored a series of Crusades.

• These Holy Wards were fought in hopes of recapturing Jerusalem fromthe Muslim people.

• Christians from all over Europe fought, returning with Persian and Arabic literature.

• This poetry tended to idealize women.

Romance, Chivalry, and Courtly Love

• The Crusades and devotion to the Virgin Mary contributed to the development of unique literature known as romance.

• We think of romances as love stories, but they are also adventure stories.

• Deal with battles, crusades, tournaments, jousts, and love of knights.

• Portrayed standards of knightly conduct, known as chivalry.


• Romances present a series of adventures testing the knight’s virtues.

• The trial may take the form of a quest, or a journey to a far-off placeto complete a mighty task.


• The most famous quest was for the Holy Grail, or the cup Jesus used at the last supper.

• Knights also frequently hadto rescue or win the favor of fair maidens.

Medieval Literature

• Ballads: simple narratives in four-line stanzas that served as entertainment for the common people

• Some ballads recorded historical events.

• The most famous ballad of the period was the tale of Robin Hood.

Medieval Literature

• Medieval Dramas: plays performed in churches that centered on Bible stories and saints’ lives

• Mystery Plays: told stories of the Bible

• Miracle Plays: told stories of the lives of saints

• Morality Plays: represented abstract virtues and vices as characters

Political Developments in the Medieval Period

• Henry II introduced a system of traveling judges whose rulings made up common laws.

• Created legislative law in the form of Parliament.

• King John heavily taxed the common people and was highly unpopular.

• He was forced to sign the Magna Carta, which lessened the power of kings and strengthened the power of the people.

Political Developments in the Medieval Period

• In 1381 the English people first demanded individual liberty and human rights in the Peasant’s revolt.

•They marched on London, armed with stones and farming tools.

•The revolt failed and its leaders were executed.

Social and Cultural Changes in the Medieval Period

• The founding of Oxford and Cambridge promoted learning.

• A middle class of free merchants emerged.

• They gathered around mills and processed wool into cloth.

Social and Cultural Changes in the Medieval Period

• In the mid 1300s, the bubonic plague, or Black Death, killed 1/3 of the population.

The End of the Medieval Period

•From 1455 to 1485, England was torn by the War of the Roses.

•Two rivaling houses withroses for crests (York and Lancaster) vied for the throne.

• The war ended when Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III of House Lancaster.

Documents

The Medieval Period