3. Battle of hastings Considered one of the most important events of England’s history King Harold is killed—he is the last Anglo-Saxon king. France begins it rule over England
4. William the conqueror Illegitimate son of the previous duke of Normandy Cousin of the English king Claimed the English throne belonged to him Sailed from Normandy to challenge the Anglo-Saxon king Photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
5. England under william Brought administrative skills—more law and order and cultural unity Built an inventory of most property and began charging taxes Divided land up for his followers These men moved to England and brought feudalism with them. This displaced the ways described in Beowulf
7. Feudalism Is a caste system Each person has his/her place in the social system. No hope of moving out King is at the top— Nobles owned land—Knights served the nobles Serfs—not free; just worked the land Offered stability to the age
8. knights Ruled by the code called chivalry Main job: warfare Bound by honor “A terrible worm in an iron coccoon” Photo courtesy of flickr.com
9. “courtly love” True, chivalry did urge man to revere a lady Ideally, was to be non-sexual Did little to actually help women’s staff
10. The role of women Had no political rights Subservient to men Her father’s or husband’s social class determined her rank Peasant women—childbirth, housework, fieldwork
12. The martydom of thomas a becket Appointed by King Henry, but Thomas would not bend church rules for him Henry ordered him to be killed—there in the cathedral This created a backlash against Henry Priests became corrupt with new power
15. The rise of a middle class Labor shortage immense after the Black Death No order to keep serfs imprisoned Cities and the middle class slowly emerged
16. Geoffrey Chaucer—born 1340 Wrote The Canterbury Tales Is considered the first great English poet His …Talesis considered on of the very greatest works in the English language
17. Significance of tales…. Is a rich record of these life and times Example: character of the knight has returned from the crusades Written in iambic pentameter Marks the end of Anglo-Saxon lit style
18. Frame of The Canterbury Tales Chaucer’s “pilgrims” are going to Canterbury to see the shrine built for Saint Thomas a Becket Each pilgrim is to tell 2 stories on the way there and on the way back Never finished it
