Peoples, languages

• English Literature

• The Medieval Period
• (Middle English)

• Welcome to England and the English… an island of peoples, languages, and divisions...

• Latin -- church, schools
• French -- court, castle
• English -- commoners

• The White Tower in London…
• part of William’s legacy

• Chartres Cathedral

• The 3 Estates in the Middle Ages

• The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age, but this ordering was breaking down.
• Clergy
• Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul
• Nobles
• French chiefly spoken, those who fight, purpose was to protect—allow for all to work in peace—and provide justice
• Commoners
• English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them

As a ruler . . .

• An efficient and ruthless
• soldier, William did not want
• to eliminate the Anglo-Saxons,
• he wanted to rule them.
• England did not start speaking French, they kept their own language.
• William’s first administrative feat –the Domesday Book—often called Doomsday Book– William the Conquerer had everyone’s personal property catalogued so he could tax it. For the first time people could be taxed on what they owned.
• Brought a new social system to England - feudalism

Feudalism

• Feudalism was an economic, social and military system in which vassals, or tenants, pledged their loyalty to a lord, exchanging work on his land, or service in his military in return for his protection.
• Land parceled out to lords who supported the Norman king
• Lords then granted land to vassals in exchange for loyalty/oath of military duty
• Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.

• King

• Serfs (Peasants)

• Lords

• Knights

• Appointed for protection and to handle territory.

• Appointed to protect both the lord and king.

• Appointed to work the land and provide food.

• Taxes