Middle Ages Notes for Quiz
Battle of Hastings
-In October 1066, Duke William of Normandy (France) defeated and killed King Harold
of England, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings. So began the Norman Conquest.
-Significance: Great influence on English history, character, and language; the Normans
never withdrew from the country as did the Romans
Who was William the Conqueror?
-He was the illegitimate son of the previous Duke of Normandy, a cousin of Edward the
Confessor of England (English king)
-Edward died childless earlier in 1066, and Harold, Early of Wessex, was crowned
-In 1066, came across English Channel with an army, invaded, and claimed the throne
by right of conquest (what was rightfully his)
-William was an efficient and ruthless soldier who did not eliminate the Anglo-Saxons
but assumed rule over them
-Eventually a blending of A-S and Norman cultures
-Awarded his followers many of the lands previously owned by A-S Lords (often
through arranged marriages)
-Established a feudal system
Domesday Book
-One of William’s great administrative feats—an inventory of nearly every piece of
property in England including land, cattle, and buildings, for the purpose of taxation
-This was the first time in European history people could be taxed based on what they
owned
-Often referred to as the Doomsday Book which implied a judgment of worth without
bias (last judgment from the Bible)
The Feudal System Pyramid
God—King—Barons (Lords- powerful landowners)—Knights (Vassals- did work or
military service for feudal lords in exchange for land)—Serfs (servants to lords and
vassals, bound to their master’s land)
Women in Medieval Society
-Women had no political rights (lost the right to own property of A-S society)
-Woman was subservient to the man
-Primary function was to bear children
-Social standing depended on husband or father’s status
-Church at this time viewed women as inferior to men
Chivalry/Courtly Love
-Chivalry is a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and
gentlewomen
-It included an oath of loyalty to the overlord, defense of the overlord and king, defend
Ch, observe rules of warfare, and adore noblewomen
-Code of Conduct covered whom to defend (knight’s lord, king, and Ch faith), how to
treat a lady (courtly love), how to help others, and how to resist urge to run away if
captured
-Courtly Love: revering and acting in the name of a lady would make a knight braver
and better; asexual; lady was pure and out of reach; created “idealized” attitude toward
women
-knight adored lady and was inspired by her and glorified her in words
Benefits of the Crusades
-1095-1270- series of holy wars waged by Euro Christians against the Muslims with
prize being control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land
-Euros failed to hold Jerusalem (ultimately unsuccessful)
-benefits from contact with Middle East: mathematics, astronomy, architecture, crafts
-Euro Christians experienced public libraries in Damascus and Baghdad, wealthy cities
like Cairo providing links to spice trade, universities like Al-Azhar University in Cairo
(one of oldest universities in world), medical knowledge (first accurate study of
smallpox and measles)
Assassination of Thomas a Becket
-Thomas was a Norman who had risen to great power as chancellor under Henry II
-Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II as a potential ally for Henry against
Pope
-Becket often sided with Pope
-Dec 1170, Henry raged, “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”
-4 of Henry’s knights murdered Becket in his cathedral; public outraged; Becket deemed
a martyr and created a backlash of problems for Henry with Rome
-The Canterbury Tales Pilgrims are going to the Shrine of Saint Thomas a Becket
The Magna Carta (The Great Charter)
-Signed by King John at Runnymede in 1215 under pressure from English barons
-Attempt to curb Church’s power and protected rights of aristocracy
-Became basis for English constitutional law (originally intended for aristos only)
Structure of Canterbury Tales?
-Frame story