Actual mediveal period study guide

Geoffrey Chaucer Father of English Literature

wrote The Canterbury Tales; first to write in English vernacular (poet)

Roger Bacon Scientist and philosopher

promoted observation and experimentation; early advocate of the scientific method (science)

King Harold (Harold II) Last Anglo-Saxon king

defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings (defeated)

King John Signed Magna Carta in 1215

limited the king’s power; known as cruel and unpopular (Magna Carta)

King Richard III Last Plantagenet king

defeated by Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field; ended the War of the Roses (last king)

William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy

won Battle of Hastings (1066); introduced feudalism and created the Domesday Book (Norman)

John Wycliff Religious reformer

translated Bible into English; criticized Church corruption; followers called Lollards (reformer)

Battle of Hastings (1066)

William the Conqueror defeated King Harold II; began Norman control of England (Norman victory)

Black Death (1348–1350)

Bubonic plague killed about one-third of Europe; caused labor shortages and weakened feudalism (plague)

War of the Roses (1455–1485)

Civil war between House of Lancaster (red rose) and House of York (white rose); ended with Henry VII (civil war)

William the Conqueror

Brought Norman language and culture to England (Norman influence)

William’s Government

Created the Domesday Book to record land ownership (recordkeeping

Feudal System

Introduced feudalism—system based on land, loyalty, and military service (social system)

Central Government

Made the monarchy stronger and more organized (strong monarchy)

King Owned all land

gave fiefs to nobles for loyalty (ruler)

Nobles/Lords Controlled large estates

pledged loyalty to the king (landowners)

Knights/Vassals

Provided military protection for land (soldiers)

Serfs/Peasants

Worked the land in exchange for protection; lowest class (workers)

Feudalism System of government

based on land and service (land system)

Catholic Church

Dominated medieval life and politics; unified Europe under faith (powerful)

Monks and Clergy

Preserved learning by copying manuscripts; centers of education (education)

Church Wealth

Owned large amounts of land; collected tithes (10% tax) (wealthy)

Church Law

Had its own courts called canon law; could punish people (authority)

Faith and Power

People believed salvation came through the Church (spiritual control)

Church Decline 1

Corruption and greed among clergy (corruption)

Church Decline 2

Rise of strong national governments that reduced Church influence (kings’ power)

Church Decline 3

Reformers like John Wycliff challenged Church authority (reform)

Church Decline 4

Black Death and wars caused people to question faith (doubt)

Feudal Decline 1

Black Death reduced workers; peasants gained power (labor shortage)

Feudal Decline 2

rowth of towns and trade created middle class (economy)

Feudal Decline 3

Peasants’ Revolts and new weapons like longbow weakened nobles (rebellion)

Religious Writings

Sermons, saints’ lives, morality plays like Everyman (religious)

Romances Tales of chivalry and adventure

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (knight stories)

Ballads Folk songs and stories

Barbara Allan (folk tales)

Allegories Stories with moral or spiritual meaning

Piers Plowman (moral stories)

Geoffrey Chaucer

Author of The Canterbury Tales; wrote about pilgrims from all classes (poet)

Anonymous Authors

Wrote many ballads and romances; preserved through oral tradition (unknown)