Chaucer, Lesson 1: Historical Context for the Canterbury Tales

Summary

This video podcast explores the historical context of Geoffrey Chaucer's *The Canterbury Tales*. It examines the social, political, and linguistic landscape of 14th-century England, highlighting the Norman Conquest, the rise of feudalism, and the changes brought on by the Crusades, the Black Plague, and the Magna Carta. The video also touches on the roles of women in medieval society, the growth of the merchant class, and the eventual decline of feudalism. It concludes by setting the stage for understanding Chaucer's poem within this dynamic historical backdrop.

Takeaways

• 😀 Geoffrey Chaucer (author of The Canterbury Tales) is often called the "father of English poetry" and lived in the second half of the 14th century.
• 📜 The Canterbury Tales reflects about 350 years of English society and also points toward social changes that led out of the Middle Ages.
• 🏰 The Norman Conquest (1066) replaced the Anglo-Saxon ruling class with a Norman aristocracy and made French the language of the court for centuries.
• 📚 William I's Domesday Book recorded land and possessions—showing that ownership and power quickly shifted to Normans after 1066.
• ⚔️ Feudalism shaped medieval society as a strict, top-down system emphasizing military service, loyalty, and little social mobility.
• 🤝 The feudal/comitatus ideal elevated knights and codes of loyalty; chivalry and courtly love idealized women but required the relationship be nonsexual.
• 👩 The real-life role of medieval women—both peasant and aristocratic—was largely domestic and reproductive, despite romanticized literary ideals.
• 🛡️ The Crusades expanded trade and contact with Arabic cultures, bringing back goods and knowledge that helped cities and learning grow.
• 🏙️ Trade growth produced a merchant class and guilds, while cities and universities (Oxford, Cambridge) challenged monastic learning.
• 📜 The Magna Carta (1215) began limiting absolute royal power, creating legal rights (trial by jury, taxation rules) and helping dissolve feudal structures.
• ☠️ The Black Death (c. 1348) killed a huge share of the population, creating labor shortages that empowered workers and weakened feudalism.
• 🏹 The Hundred Years' War and the rise of the yeoman/longbowman helped form an English national identity beyond Anglo-Norman elites.
• 🗣️ Language was a central fault line: French dominated the aristocracy while Anglo-Saxon persisted among peasants—an issue the next podcast will address.
• 🎧 Chaucer's Canterbury Tales should be read as both literary excellence and a snapshot of a society in transition toward more democratic, urban, and legal structures.

Q & A

What historical event marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era in Britain?

The Norman Conquest of 1066 marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era in Britain. This event brought about the shift in power from the Anglo-Saxon rulers to the Normans, significantly altering the political and cultural landscape.

Why is Geoffrey Chaucer referred to as the 'father of English poetry'?

Geoffrey Chaucer is often called the 'father of English poetry' because of his contributions to literature, most notably *The Canterbury Tales*, which exemplified the use of the English language in literary works and offered a vivid portrayal of medieval society.

How did the Norman Conquest affect the English language?

After the Norman Conquest, French became the language of the aristocracy, while Anglo-Saxon remained the language of the peasantry. Over time, the languages blended, giving rise to Middle English, which was a major step towards modern English.

What was the significance of the Domesday Book?

The Domesday Book was a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to inventory land, property, and resources across England. It played a crucial role in the collection of taxes and revealed the dominance of the Norman aristocracy over the Anglo-Saxon elite.

What is feudalism and how did it shape medieval society?

Feudalism was a hierarchical social system that structured medieval society. It was based on land ownership and reciprocal obligations, with kings granting land to lords in exchange for military service, and peasants working the land for the lords in return for protection.

How did the concept of courtly love influence medieval chivalric conduct?

Courtly love was an idealized, non-physical relationship between knights and ladies, often glorified in medieval literature. It encouraged knights to act bravely and honorably in the name of a lady, although it was an unattainable ideal that did not align with the actual roles of women in medieval society.

What impact did the Crusades have on medieval Europe?

The Crusades led to increased contact with Arabic cultures, which contributed to the growth of trade and the exchange of knowledge. This exposure played a role in the development of European cities, especially in fostering the growth of the merchant class.

What were the social and economic effects of the Black Plague on feudalism?

The Black Plague decimated Europe's population, leading to a labor shortage that gave peasants and workers more leverage. This weakened the feudal system by reducing the power of lords and leading to the eventual emancipation of serfs.

How did the Magna Carta influence the development of English law?

The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, limited the king’s power and established certain legal rights for the aristocracy. It laid the groundwork for English constitutional law and the broader development of democratic principles, including the right to a trial by jury.

What role did the longbow and yeoman play in the Hundred Years' War?

The longbow, wielded by the yeoman (small landowners or peasants), played a pivotal role in the Hundred Years' War. Their ability to shoot arrows over castle walls and pierce armor made the yeoman a symbol of English military might and helped diminish the importance of knights in warfare.