Who's Really in Charge?
Who was at the top of England's feudal pyramid?
The king
What did most peasants do for work?
Dominant religion in medieval England
Roman Catholicism
When did the plague hit England?
1348-1351
Earliest Englsh epic poem
Beowulf
What did vassals give their lords in exchange for land?
Loyalty and service
Common meal of peasants
Pottage
Who headed the English Church?
The Pope
This was the cause of the plague
Language Chaucer used
Middle English
How did feudalism create both order and limits?
Structured power, little mobility
What did guilds provide for towns?
Training and protection
Why did Henry II clash with Becket?
Balance of power between the monarchy and the Church
One immediate economic effect of the Black Death
Labor shortage
Why was Middle English important?
It unified classes.
Which 1066 event started Norman control?
The Battle of Hastings
Why were towns a threat to feudal order?
They offered freedom.
What role did monasteries play?
Education and preservation
Why did peasants demand more rights?
They became essential.
Chaucer's most famous work
The Canterbury Tales
Why was land ownership tied to power?
Land= wealth and loyalty
What did rising trade reveal about society?
One way the Church shaped government
Influenced laws and rulers
How did the plague weaken feudalism?
Fewer workers=more power
What does Chaucer's writing reveal about society?
Societal flaws