William the Conqueror
King John
Joan of Arc
Lesson 11-7
Horrible Histories – The Measly Middle Ages
WS - Weaponry of the Middle Ages
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• TN SPI
– 6.6.3 Describe ways in which individuals can
change groups (William of Normandy, King John)
– 6.6.2 Recognize the impact of individuals on
world history (William the Conqueror, Joan of Arc)
– 6.4.3 Identify the development of written laws
(Magna Carta)
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William the Conqueror
King John
Joan of Arc
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Birth of Nation-States
• Feudalism was based on a patchwork of
kingdoms ruled by kings and lords.
• Over time, kings became more powerful and
large areas of Europe united under one ruler;
leading to the end of feudalism.
• During the 1100s these small kingdoms gave birth
to nation-states; a strong central government
with a single ruler – the monarch or king.
• Kingdoms grew larger with the royal marriage of
two rulers, and Christianity continued to
influence daily life.
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William the Conqueror
• During the AD 900s, the Vikings conquered
part of western France. The region became
known as Normandy.
• By AD 1000s, a Viking descendant named
William ruled the land.
• William, king of Normandy, was also a cousin
of King Edward of England.
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King Edward of England
• When Edward died, William believed he
should be king of England.
• In 1066, William along with his army of
knights crossed the English Channel and
landed in England.
• It was there where he fought the Battle of
Hastings.
• William became known as William the
Conqueror.
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Accomplishments of William
• Ruler of Normandy (France)
• Invaded England in 1066 and declared himself
king of England. Battle of Hastings
• Set up a system of Feudalism in England giving
large land grants to the knights who helped
him in battle
• Took the first census in Europe since Roman
times – called the Domesday Book.
– A count of people, manors, and animals
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William the Conqueror
• King William spent much of his time crushing
revolts against him.
• He proved himself a strong ruler who dominated
his nobles.
• William died at the age of 50 when his horse fell
and crushed him.
• The kings who followed him – Henry I and Henry
II – further increased the power of the king.
• King John, the son of Henry II, would soon face
the anger of English nobles.
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England
English
Channel
France
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King John Angers the Nobles
• John, the son of Henry II, became king of
England in 1199.
– He quickly increased his wealth and power.
– He heavily taxed the citizens.
– He jailed his enemies unjustly without a trial.
– He seized Church property.
– He tried to block the pope’s choice for bishop of
England.
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The Magna Carta
• On June 15, 1215, two-thousand angry
nobles gathered and presented King
John with a list of demands.
• Called the Magna Carta, John was
forced to sign the document limiting the
power of the king.
• The Magna Carta created the “Great
Council” of lords and clergy who were
consulted before the king could make
decisions.
• The Great Council eventually became
the Parliament, a law making legislature
and unified England into a nation.
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Accomplishments of King John
• King John signed (forced) the Magna Carta.
• This document:
– Limited the power of the king/monarch
• Established that people have rights and the power of
the government should be limited
– Created a Great Council or Parliament
• The king could no longer collect taxes unless Parliament
agreed
• Habeas corpus – could not imprison indefinitely
without a trial
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Hundred Years’ War
• Despite the growth
of nation-states,
Western Europe was
not at peace.
• The Hundred Years’
War was fought
between England
and France from
1337 to 1453.
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Causes of the War
• Several events caused the war:
– Royal marriages allowed English kings to govern
and control French lands.
– England and France both wanted control of the
English Channel.
– Each nation wanted to control trade in the region
and the wealth that it brought.
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Joan of Arc
– became one of France’s greatest
heroes.
– was the daughter of a peasant
farmer.
– was very religious and believed
she saw heavenly visions.
– dressed as a man, cut her hair
short and convinced Charles,
heir to the French throne, that
God called her to lead the
French forces at the Battle of
Orleans.
– was given armor, attendants,
horses, and a special banner to
carry into battle.
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The War Drags On
• As the war went on, fought by one king and
then another, England won most of the
battles.
• The tide turned in 1429 when a peasant girl
called Joan of Arc took charge of the French
forces at the Battle of Orleans.
• Under Joan’s command, the French defeated
the English and led her forces to victory in
other battles.
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The War Drags On
• In 1430 Joan of taken prisoner and
accused of witchcraft and wearing
men’s clothes.
• She was convicted and burned at
the stake.
• Joan became a martyr, and her
death inspired the French to win
many victories.
• By 1453, the English had been
driven from most of France.
• France was on its way to
becoming a strong, united nation.
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Accomplishments of Joan
• Had a vision to save the nation of France
• Led the French against an invasion by England
(Hundred Years’ War)
• Defeated the English army at the Battle of
Orleans
• Was tried by the English for witchcraft and
was executed – burned at the stake
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Results of the War
• Kings became more powerful and noble
influence declined
• Modern boundaries of England and France
were set and unified both into separate
nations
• Feudalism ended
• England began to look to distant lands for
trade and conquest (increase wealth,
colonies, spread Christian beliefs)
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New Weapons
• Two new weapons were used on the
battlefield during the Hundred Years’ War:
– Longbow - This weapon was generally between four to six feet in
length and could hurl arrows with uncanny accuracy and speed.
– Crossbow - The Medieval crossbow was reintroduced to England
by William the Conqueror and the Normans in 1066. The crossbow
range was 350 – 400 yards but could only be shot at a rate of 2 bolts
per minute.
– Cannon - Castles could not withstand the firepower of cannons
and armored knights became less valuable in battle. (gunpowder from
China reached Europe in the 1300s)
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