The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

1066 – 14851066 – 1485Norman Invasion – Crowning of 1Norman Invasion – Crowning of 1stst Tudor Tudor

KingKing

““Medieval man was not a Medieval man was not a dreamer nor a wanderer. dreamer nor a wanderer. He was an organizer, a He was an organizer, a codifier, a builder of codifier, a builder of systems. He wanted ‘a systems. He wanted ‘a place for everything and place for everything and everything in the right everything in the right place.’ Distinction, place.’ Distinction, definition, tabulation were definition, tabulation were his delight. Though full of his delight. Though full of turbulent activities, he was turbulent activities, he was equally full of the impulse to equally full of the impulse to formalize them. War was (in formalize them. War was (in intention) formalized by the intention) formalized by the art of heraldry and the rules art of heraldry and the rules of chivalry; of chivalry; sexual passion (in intention), by the elaborate code of love …. There was nothing which medieval people liked better, or did better, than sorting out and tidying up.”

- C. S. Lewis

15th century French manuscript Illumination – Enclosed Garden – four equal sections with fountain in the center

In October, 1066, a daylong battle near Hastings, England, changed the In October, 1066, a daylong battle near Hastings, England, changed the course of history. Duke William of Normandy, France, defeated and course of history. Duke William of Normandy, France, defeated and killed King Harold of England, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings. So killed King Harold of England, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings. So began the Norman Conquest, radically affecting the English character began the Norman Conquest, radically affecting the English character and language. and language.

William the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror• Claimed the throne as a cousin Claimed the throne as a cousin of of EdwardEdward• Efficient and ruthless soldierEfficient and ruthless soldier• Wanted to rule, not eliminate Wanted to rule, not eliminate Anglo-Anglo- SaxonsSaxons• Encouraged their democratic & Encouraged their democratic &

artistic tendencies artistic tendencies • Great administrator – inventory Great administrator – inventory of of every piece of every piece of property in property in England (taxes England (taxes based on based on ownership)ownership)• Centralized government – gave Centralized government – gave land land to Norma lords who to Norma lords who swore swore loyalty to himloyalty to him• New language – FrenchNew language – French• New social system replaced New social system replaced Nordic Nordic structure (structure (Beowulf)Beowulf)

Feudalism and Knighthood: Feudalism and Knighthood: Pyramid PowerPyramid Power

Feudalism – based on a religious Feudalism – based on a religious concept of hierarchy, with God as the concept of hierarchy, with God as the

supreme overlordsupreme overlord

► Social systemSocial system► Caste systemCaste system► Property Property

systemsystem► Military systemMilitary system

Feudalism brought a sense of form and manners that permeated life, art, and literature. This sense of formalism came to life most fully in the institution of knighthood and in the related practice, or code, of chivalry.

Women in Medieval Women in Medieval Society: Society:

No Voice, No ChoiceNo Voice, No Choice

► No political rightsNo political rights► Social standing Social standing

depended completely depended completely on her husband’s or on her husband’s or father’s statusfather’s status

► Always subservient to a Always subservient to a man – husband, father, man – husband, father, brotherbrother

► Have children, care for Have children, care for househouse

► Peasant woman – add Peasant woman – add hard field laborhard field labor

Chivalry and Courtly Love: Chivalry and Courtly Love: Ideal but UnrealIdeal but Unreal

► Chivalry - Chivalry - A Code of A Code of ConductConduct

► Oath of loyalty Oath of loyalty to overlordto overlord

► Rules of Rules of warfarewarfare

► Adoration of a Adoration of a ladylady

CourtlCourtly Lovey Love

► Nonsexual – Nonsexual – lady pure & lady pure & out of reachout of reach

► Idealized Idealized attitude attitude toward toward womenwomen

The New City Classes: Out from The New City Classes: Out from Under the OverlordsUnder the Overlords

►Medieval Society Medieval Society centered around the centered around the feudal castlefeudal castle

► Population grew – Population grew – towns and cities towns and cities grewgrew

► Feudal system diedFeudal system died►Growth of lower, Growth of lower,

middle, and upper-middle, and upper-middle classesmiddle classes

The Great HappeningsThe Great Happenings► The CrusadesThe Crusades

Series of wars Series of wars against the Muslims against the Muslims with the Holy Land with the Holy Land as the prizeas the prize

Enormous benefit of Enormous benefit of contact with Eastern contact with Eastern mathematics, mathematics, astronomy, astronomy, architecture, and architecture, and craftscrafts

► The Magna Carta: The Magna Carta: Power to (some of) Power to (some of) the peoplethe people

1215, English barons 1215, English barons forced King John to forced King John to sign the Magna Carta sign the Magna Carta as an effort to curb as an effort to curb the Church’s power. the Church’s power. Later, became basis Later, became basis for English for English constitutional lawconstitutional law

More Great HappeningsMore Great Happenings

► The Hundred Years’ The Hundred Years’ War War

The English lost the War The English lost the War with France, but by the with France, but by the war’s end the yeomen war’s end the yeomen (small landowners) who (small landowners) who had formed the nucleus had formed the nucleus of the armies had of the armies had replaced the knights in replaced the knights in armor. Modern, armor. Modern, democratic England was democratic England was born.born.

► The Black DeathThe Black Death

Caused a labor Caused a labor shortage, leading to shortage, leading to the serfs’ freedom the serfs’ freedom and to the end of and to the end of feudalismfeudalism