This document summarizes events in England between 1066 and 1485: 1) William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066 after Edward the Confessor's death, establishing Norman rule and gradually replacing Anglo-Saxon culture with Norman-French culture. 2) Feudalism became the dominant economic and social system, and the French language was used among the aristocracy. Chivalry also became an important influence on nobility. 3) Events like the signing of the Magna Carta, the Black Death plague, and the Wars of the Roses weakened the monarchy and feudal system, while the Renaissance began to take hold in England by the late 15th century.

1. 1066-1485

2. Duke of Normandy, cousin of Edward the Confessor; believed Edward had promised throne of England to him Harold, earl of Wessex crowned king after Edward’s death Norman Invasion, October 1066—Battle of Hastings Language—Norman and Anglo-Saxon elements  Middle English Established Domesday Book

4. William and his progeny remain dukes of Normandy and kings of England French = language of aristocracy Introduced feudalism, which displaced the comitatus

6. “The bond between lord and vassal was affirmed or reaffirmed by the ceremony of homage. The vassal knelt, placed his clasped hands within those of his master, declared, ‘Lord, I become your man,’ and took an oath of fealty. The lord raised him to his feet and bestowed on him a ceremonial kiss. The vassal was thenceforth bound by his oath ‘to love what his lord loved and loathe what he loathed, and never by word or deed do aught that should grieve him.” —Morris Bishop, historian

7. Code of Chivalry: influenced life, art, and literature Military service to lord Trained from early age (page, squire, “knighted”) Upon knighthood, titled “Sir”

8. No political rights Subservient to husband, father, or brother Husband or father’s social standing determined hers Peasant women: childbearing, housework, hard field work Noblewomen: childbearing and household supervision

9. Chivalry: system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen Oath of Loyalty to overlord Observing certain rules of warfare Adoring a particular lady = Courtly Love Courtly Love Non-sexual Wear lady’s colors in battle Glorify her in words, be inspired by her Lady remains pure and out of reach; set above admirer

10. Women idealized, but position in society not improved Romance: a new form of literature about a hero, who often has the help of magic, who undertakes a quest to conquer an evil enemy Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Many other King Arthur stories

11. Upper, middle, and lower classes  outside feudal system Own tastes in the arts and ability to purchase  “art of the people” Entertainment Ballads: story songs sung in alehouses and by firesides Mystery and miracle plays performed by guilds, or craft unions Fabliaux—bawdy tales like “The Miller’s Tale”

12. The Crusades (1095-1270) The Martyrdom of Thomas à Becket (1170) The Magna Carta (1215) The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) The Black Death (1348-1349) Wars of the Roses (1455-1485)

13. Series of holy wars between Christian Europe and Muslims over control of holy sites like Jerusalem Pope Urban II: Christians had a duty to free Jerusalem and other holy cities from Muslim rule Contact with Middle Eastern civilization: Mathematics Astronomy Architecture Crafts

14. Thomas à Becket: c. 1118-1170 Norman chancellor (prime minister) to King Henry II (reigned 1154-1189) King a vassal to Christian church; pope very powerful Henry appointed Becket to Archbishop of Canterbury Becket took his job seriously, sided with pope Four knights of Henry’s murdered Becket in the cathedral at Canterbury Becket canonized a saint

15. King John forced to sign in 1215 Granted certain rights to his barons Basis for English constitutional law Trial by jury Legislative taxation Restrictions on royal power

16. England and France Based on weak claims to French throne by Edward III (reigned 1327-1377) and Henry V (reigned 1413-1422) Unsuccessful for English, but fostered development of British nationalism Representation shifts from knight to yeoman; chivalry lives on mainly in romances

17. Probably bubonic plague; highly infectious disease spread by fleas from infected rats Reduced population of England by 1/3 Labor shortage Lower classes  more bargaining power Freedom for serfs, end of feudalism Peasant Revolt, 1381 Contributed to end of Middle Ages in England

18. Dispute over throne between descendants of children of Edward III: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster  House of Lancaster (red rose) Edmund Duke of York  House of York (white rose) Civil War  crown changed possession several times until Henry Tudor, distant cousin of Lancastrians, rebels against Richard III and married Richard’s niece, uniting the families The end of the Wars of the Roses established the Tudor dynasty and ended the Plantagenet dynasty, and event that ushered in the Renaissance in England

19. Slide 2: William the Conqueror from the Bayeux Tapestry . Public domain. Slide 3: Animated Bayeux Tapestry , via YouTube. Slide 7: Codex 081 Walther von Klingen, via Wikipedia. Public domain. Slide 8: Christine de Pizan Writing . Public domain. Slide 9: “Chivalry.” http://blogs.mit.edu/CS/blogs/eialba/archive/2007/08/16/65242.aspx Slide 10: The Green Knight by Julek Heller. http://www.webgalactic.net/clarkscenter/pics/lj_julek_heller/index.html Slide 14: Murder of Thomas Becket , 15 th century manuscript, Lambeth Palace Library, London. Public domain. Slide 15: Colorized engraving of King John signing the Magna Carta. © Bettmann/Corbis. Fair use for educational purposes. Slide 17: A Dance of Death , woodcut attr. to Hans Holbein the Younger from Liber Chronicarum . Public domain.