3 THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES PDF

The Early Middle Ages Overview

This period covers important happenings and changes in Europe from around 450 AD to 1500 AD, with a close look at England during and after the Norman Conquest.

The Norman Conquest

  • William the Conqueror: He becomes king after beating King Harold II of England.

Key Events

  • Anglo-Saxon Rebellion: People in England resist Norman rule.

  • Norman Destruction: The Normans were fierce conquerors; they weren’t kind when it came to stopping resistance.

  • Struggles Between Church and State: There was a constant fight over who held more power over the Church, impacting the English monarchy later on.

Thomas Becket

  • Death of Becket: He was against King Henry II’s plans to control the Church, and his murder highlighted the tensions between church and state.

Introduction to Feudalism

After the Norman Conquest, feudalism developed heavily. William knew how to manage his power over the nobles. This system organized land ownership into a hierarchy of lords and vassals.

Land Ownership

  • Sheriffs and Local Nobles: Nobles had local authority. William created his own system based on Saxon structures.

  • Land Division: A third for the Church, a quarter for William, and the rest for the nobles.

Definition and Purpose

  • The term “feudalism” comes from the French word "feu", meaning lands given in exchange for duty to a lord. It was an economic and military system where lords gave land (called fiefs) for service.

Social Structure of Feudalism

  • Vassals: Nobles who received land for loyalty and military help. They were expected to support the king with troops.

  • Serfs: Peasants tied to the land, working on the noble's property with few rights, sort of like a servant.

Duties of Lords and Vassals

  • Lords' Responsibilities: They had to protect their knights and treat them fairly. Failing to do this could lead to losing support from their vassals.

  • Vassals' Duties: They were expected to protect the lord’s life and property and provide gifts when the lord visited. Some could gain enough land to become lords themselves.

The Economy Under Feudalism

  • Domesday Book (1086): This was a big survey commissioned by William I to check land and resources, acting as an important record of the economy in medieval England.

Kingship and Succession

  • William's Legacy: He controlled both Normandy and England, without a higher lord after winning England.

  • Successors: His sons, William II and Henry, took over.

The Plantagenets and Civil Strife

  • Henry II's Family Dynamics: His marriage alliances increased his power. After he died, there were fights due to unclear succession.

Magna Carta (1215)

  • Significance: It became a symbol of political freedom, limiting the monarch's power and promising rights for the nobles. This led to the slow decline of feudalism because it started talks about rights between the king and the subjects.

Shift in Warfare

As wars lasted longer, the need for pay for troops grew, shifting from just vassal obligations to wage-based military service.

The Church vs. State Power

  • Church Authority: Tensions rose, especially in the 11th and 12th centuries as the Church tried to control both spiritual and earthly matters. The fight between King Henry II and Thomas Becket was key over church authority.