The Medieval Period
1066-1485
The Feudal System
• After William
“conquered” England,
he established a system
of land ownership that
came to be known as
“feudalism.”
• “The system is an
elaborate chain of
loyalties, with rent, so
to speak, paid to the
overlord.” [Handout]
The Church
• The Medieval Church
flourished in this time
period, uniting all in a
single Christian
commonwealth.
• The Church was
responsible for:
–
–
–
–
–
Publishing
Learning (education)
Town Fairs
Social Gatherings
Religious Services
• Corruption?
Medieval Life
• Most people were attached
to a feudal manor.
• Early in the middle ages,
people were farmers, but as
the period progressed,
herding became more
profitable.
• Thus, more people took
their wages from the wool
industry and established
towns – effectively ending
feudalism.
The Crusades
• Crusades begin as a
desire to rescue
Jerusalem from the Turks
and thus save and spread
Christianity.
• Though the Crusades
started nobly, they ended
poorly (raiding & looting).
• They did, however,
establish the idea of
“chivalry.” [ideal rather
than code of conduct]
Medieval Wars
The Hundred Years War
The Wars of the Roses
• 1337-1453
• France vs. England
• England was driven from
France
• 1455-1485
• Civil war between the
House of York (white) and
the House of Lancaster (red)
• Henry VII succeeds Richard
III and unites families (Tudor
line), ending the medieval
period.
Medieval Literature
• The Romance: “Tales of chivalry to
which were added a love interest and
all sorts of wonders and marvels –
fairy enchantments, giants, dragons,
wizards, and sorceresses.” [example =
King Arthur and the Knights of the
round table]
• Miracle Plays: “Rough dramatizations
of Biblical stories” where evil is often
a comic character. [example =
retelling of Adam & Eve]
• Morality Plays: “Elaborate and
sophisticated dramatic allegories in
which characters representing
various virtues and vices confront
one another.” [example = Everyman]
Chaucer
• 1340?-1400
• He was an affluent member of the
court (diplomat).
• The first truly great figure of
English literature.
• “He was not only a great poet and
a fine storyteller but also the first
of the poker-faced humorists.”
• Canterbury Tales (begun in 1386
but never finished) is more of an
example of humorous realism than
Romance.