• 1/28 Focus:
– Kings began to gain more power and
centralize power during the high middle ages
– England was one of the first countries in
Europe to develop a strong central monarchy
• Do Now:
– What was one characteristic of life in
Western Europe during the early Middle
Ages?
Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages
• Between 1000 &
1500 Western
Europe began to
emerge from the
Dark Ages
Popes and Kings
• During the early
middle ages nobles
and their knights
held a great deal of
power
• Over time power
shifted to kings and
the Pope
• Powerful kings came
into power in
England and France
•
England
• Angles and
Saxons had
invaded England
in the 400’s
• Divided into
separate
kingdoms
– Each had their
own laws and
customs
England
• England was
subject to
frequent invasions
from Vikings
• Alfred the Great
– Saxon king
– unites England
after stopping
Viking advances
England
• 1066 Alfred’s descendent
King Edward dies without an
heir
• 2 people claim the throne
– Harold Godwinson
• Son of one of Edward’s
advisors
– William of Normandy
• Normandy was in France
• Claimed he had been
promised the throne by
Godwinson
Battle of Hastings
• Conflict breaks over
who should be king
• William wins the
battle and becomes
King of England
– Harold Godwinson is
killed in battle
• Shot through the eye
with in an arrow
William the Conqueror
• William begins to
centralize power
– Claims all land in
England as his
property
• Gave land to his
supporters
William the Conqueror
• Domesday Book
– A survey of people
living in England, what
they owned, and how
much they could pay in
taxes
– was used to create an
efficient tax system
Closure
• Identify one way William the
conqueror established control of
England.
• What was the purpose of the
Domesday Book?
• Explain how the Magna Carta limited
the power of the king?
• 1/29 Focus:
– The power of kings grew and the nature of
the monarchy changed across Europe during
the middle ages
– In 1215, England instituted the Magna Carta,
which placed limits on royal power
• Do Now:
– What is the importance of the Battle of
Hastings?
The Magna Carta
• William’s descendants had
begun to abuse their power
• King John
– Had lost most of the English
lands in France in a expensive
war
– Began to raise to taxes on
nobles
– Nobles were angered by his
confiscation of lands and high
taxes
– Raised an army and forced
King John to sign the Magna
Carta in 1215
The Magna Carta
• Document which limited
the power of the king
– Means “Great Charter”
• Laid the groundwork for
“democracy” in Europe
• Established the British
Parliament
The Magna Carta
• Basic principles:
– King could not raise taxes without the approval
of a council of nobles and clergy
• Later became the British Parliament
– King could not arrest people without cause or
take property without just cause
• Habeas Corpus
– Had to be convicted by a jury to be sent to jail
– The King had to obey the law; was not above
the law
France
• Was ruled by the
Carolingian Dynasty
from 843-987
– Charlemagne
– Kings after
Charlemagne
gradually lost power
and control of large
parts of France to
nobles and the
English
France
• The Capetian
Dynasty ruled
from 987-1328
– Expanded control
of French kings
over France
• Contributed to a
conflict with
England known as
the 100 Years
War
The Holy Roman Empire
• Empire grew out of
part of
Charlemagne’s
Empire
– Charlemagne had
been crowned Holy
Roman Emperor by
the Pope
– Future rulers were
crowned by the pope
after being chosen
by nobles
•
Power of the Popes
• Popes were powerful
spiritual leaders but also
developed political power
during the Middle Ages
– Popes claimed authority
over rulers
• This often led to conflicts
between Popes and kings
– The investiture
controversy
Power of the Popes
• Pope Gregory VII tried to
expand the political power of
the pope
– The pope can be judged by no one;
– The Roman church has never erred and never
will err till the end of time;
– The pope alone can depose and restore
bishops;
– He alone can call general councils and
authorize canon law
– He can depose emperors;
– He can absolve subjects from their
allegiance;
– All princes should kiss his feet.
Closure
• Explain how the Magna Carta limited
the power of the king?
• What legislative body in Britain
developed from the council formed in
the Magna Carta?