Background Introduction Medieval Period Overview Medieval Europe Stages

Background Introduction

Medieval Period Overview

Medieval Europe: Stages Early Medieval Europe (c. 500– 1000) High Medieval Europe (c. 1000– 1300) Late Medieval Europe (c. 1300– 1500)

When was the Middle Ages (Medieval Times)? The Middle Ages in Europe began with the Fall of Rome and lasted about 1000 years. 476 AD to 1450 AD Sometimes called the “Dark Ages”, because of the loss of Roman achievements and education.

The Fall of the Roman Empire Beginning of the Middle Ages Invasions End of the Roman emperors

What was life like in Europe after the Fall of Rome? After the empire collapsed, life was dangerous and difficult in Western Europe. Trade declined and people worked hard simply to survive and to have enough to eat. They also needed to protect themselves from conquest by invading barbarians and neighboring kingdoms.

High Middle Ages During the High Middle Ages, which began after 1000 AD, the population of Europe increased greatly as technological and agricultural innovations allowed trade to flourish and the Medieval Warm Period climate change allowed crop yields to increase.

High Medieval Ages The Crusades were military campaigns sanctioned by the Latin Roman Catholic Church during the High Middle Ages and Late Middle Ages. In 1095, Pope Urban II proclaimed the First Crusade with the stated goal of restoring Christian access to holy places in and near Jerusalem.

Late Medieval Era 1300– 1500 War Black Death Battle of Agincourt, 15 th century

The Hundred Years’ War: Causes The Hundred Years’ War: 1337– 1453 Struggles between French and English royal families over who would rule either country Conflicts over territory, trade English ruler Edward III

The Hundred Years’ War: Battles England had early victories The French eventually expelled the British from mainland Europe English military innovation: the archer The Battle of Crecy, the first major battle of the Hundred Years’ War

Joan of Arc Heroine of the war Had visions that told her to free France Fought with the army Captured, burned at the stake Joan of Arc being burned at the stake

The Plague

The Black Death � � � spreads along trade routes kills much of the population about a third of Europeans the plague outbreaks occur through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance The Plague provides for continued growth in cities � Afterwards, hundreds of new jobs available � Many debts “died off” with creditors also contributed to society’s culture

Popular Medical “Cures” for the Plague Doctors wore strange costumes Bathing in human urine Wearing excrement Placing dead animals in homes Wearing leeches Drinking molten gold and powdered emeralds Burning incense to get rid of the smell of the dead A costume worn by doctors to ward off the Plague

Effects of the Plague Killed 25– 30 million Europeans Undermine d faith in religion Economy Culture influenced

feudalism � � The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800 -1100) Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm. In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits. Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord. Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.

Chivalry � � A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to… � God � his lord � his lady � Chivalric ideals include. . . � benevolence (acts of kindness) � brotherly love � politeness

The Church � Provided guidance through well known commandments: �Seven Deadly Sins Pride (vanity) Greed Wrath (anger) Envy Gluttony Sloth (laziness) Lust

The Catholic Church Expands Its Power � � The Church becomes more of a political entity Struggles with monarchs � Gregory Henry IV � VII and Expanded land ownership Pope Gregory VII Henry IV of Germany

The Wheel of Fortune � � The medieval philosophy that fate is constantly changing. One minute you could be up and then the next minute you’re down. Believed to be turned by the goddess Fortuna (Fate). Notice again the mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs.

The Ideal of Courtly Love � This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord. � The knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord. � She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission

The knight's love for the lady inspires him to do great deeds, in order to be worthy of her love or to win her favor.

� � “Courtly love" was not between husband wife because it was an idealized sort of relationship that could not exist within the context of "real life" Medieval marriages. In the Middle Ages, marriages amongst the nobility were typically based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than on love.

Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer 1340 -1400 (? ) Father of English language Middle class, well-educated (father was wine merchant) Odd jobs = page, courtier, diplomat, civil servant, scrap metal collector Served at court Diplomatic missions to France, Spain, Italy Catholic who perceived abuses within Church and exposed them

Later Life Fluent in English, Italian, Latin, and French Worked as a government official under three different kings = high social status Was captured as a POW during the Hundred Year’s War King paid his ransom Died of unknown causes – murder suspected Chaucer was one of the first writers to be buried in the Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Writing Styles Often called the father of English poetry Most scholars still wrote in Latin �Felt English lacked sophistication and had a limited vocabulary �Only local stories and ballads written in English He wrote in the vernacular or language of the commoners Now known as Middle English Allegory: �a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. �It has a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. �Popular in the Middle Ages.

Writing Styles Allegory: �a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. �It has a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. �Popular in the Middle Ages.

Writing Styles Satire: witty language used to convey insult

Writing Styles Rhythmic pattern Lack of alliteration Chaucer is best known for writing The Canterbury Tales, but also had several other works as well

The Journey Begins. . . Chaucer uses a religious pilgrimage to display all segments of medieval England. The Canterbury Tales begins with a Prologue, Narrator, presumably Chaucer himself, meets 29 other pilgrims at the Tabard Inn, located in a suburb of London. As the pilgrims prepare for their journey, the host of the Inn, Harry Bailey, sets a challenge: Each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the return trip. The person who tells the best tale will be treated to a feast hosted by the other pilgrims.

The Journey Begins. . . The Canterbury Tales is actually a story about stories, twenty-four different tales set within the overarching tale of the pilgrimage. Definition: Frame Story – a story within a story • The Outer Frame Story is about the pilgrims meeting at the Tabard Inn preparing for a journey to Canterbury. • The Inner Frame Story would be all the stories told by the assembled pilgrims along their journey to and from Canterbury.

Snapshots of an Era. . . In the Prologue, Chaucer sketches a brief but vivid portrait of each pilgrim, creating a lively sense of medieval life. The description may literally describe an article of clothing, but figuratively imply something about that character. Definition: Satire - a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule. Like sarcasm. . . He says one thing, but means another. Our job is to read and comprehend the literal description of each pilgrim, and then, we must figuratively interpret what Chaucer is trying to imply about that pilgrim’s character.

Snapshots of an Era. . . Satire (continued. . . ): Also, so that we might better understand his satirical characterization, Chaucer creates SATIRIC NORMS. A SATIRIC NORM is a character that represents the perfect ideal. We can then see how BAD everyone else is by comparing them to this Satiric Norm.

Snapshots of an Era. . . In the Prologue, Chaucer examines three segments of Medieval England: 1. The Old Feudal order – these are all of the pilgrims associated with the feudal class system. • Knight, Squire, Yeoman, Plowman. . . 2. The Merchant Class – this was the rising middle class of the time; towns and cities were emerging and therefore necessitated the need for skilled services: • Merchant, Man of Law, Guildsmen, Cook. . . 3. The Ecclesiastical (Church) Class – these were all of the members of the church. Chaucer is most critical of this segment of his society. • Prioress, Monk, Friar, Pardoner. . .

A Literary Tour. . . Chaucer uses the popular genres of his time when he creates the inner stories of the various pilgrims: Romances (tales of chivalry) • The Wife of Bath’s Tale Fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories) • The Miller’s Tale The stories of saint’s lives, sermons • The Parson’s Tale Allegories (narratives in which characters represent abstractions such as Pride or Honor). • The Pardoner’s Tale Chaucer wrote much of the Tales using his own form, the heroic couplet, a pair of rhyming lines with five stressed syllables each.

Literary Analysis Characterization Direct characterization presents direct statements about a character, such as Chaucer’s statement that the Knight “followed chivalry, / Truth, honor. . ” Indirect characterization uses actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal a character’s personality. By saying “he was not gaily dressed, ” for instance, Chaucer suggests that the Knight is not vain and perhaps takes the pilgrimage seriously enough to rush to join it straight from battle.

Literary Analysis Each character in The Canterbury Tales represents a different segment of society in Chaucer’s time. By noting the virtues and faults of each, Chaucer provides social commentary, writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its customs. While reading, draw conclusions from the characters about Chaucer’s views on English society.

Characters Narrator (“Chaucer”) Host Knight Squire Yeoman Prioress Second Nun Three Priests Monk Friar Merchant Clerk Man of Law Franklin Guildsmen Cook Shipman Physician Wife of Bath Parson Plowman Manciple Reeve Miller Summoner Pardoner