Late Medieval Britain (4/11)

Summary

The script narrates the pivotal Norman Conquest of England in 1066, highlighting King Harold II's defeat and Duke William of Normandy's crowning. It delves into the subsequent feudal system, the Magna Carta's significance, and the Hundred Years' War. It also touches on the cultural and social shifts, including the Black Death's impact, the rise of nationalism, and the eventual establishment of the Tudor dynasty.

Takeaways

• 🏰 In 1066, King Harold II of England was defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, marking the beginning of the Norman Conquest and a new era in British history.
• 👑 William the Conqueror's crowning on Christmas Day 1066 initiated a shift in the monarchy, with historians often starting the count of English kings from him.
• 🛡 The Normans introduced new architectural styles and refined the feudal system in England, which was characterized by the granting of land to the king's supporters in exchange for loyalty.
• 📚 The Domesday Book was a comprehensive survey of England's resources, valuing the entire country and serving as a basis for taxation and governance.
• 🌾 The Normans faced resistance and rebellions, particularly in the north of England, where the 'Harrying of the North' in 1069 led to significant destruction and loss of life.
• 🏛 The power dynamics between the monarchy and the church were a significant issue, exemplified by the conflict between Henry II and Thomas Becket, which resulted in Becket's death.
• 🏰 The civil war in the 1130s saw barons building castles and supporting rival claimants, highlighting the inherent problems of the feudal system, including the balance of power.
• 📜 The Magna Carta of 1215 was a significant document that limited the power of the monarchy and established principles that are still relevant today, such as fair trials and representation in taxation.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳 The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 was a key document in asserting Scottish independence and helped to define a Scottish national identity.
• 🤝 The Hundred Years' War with France was a major conflict that defined England's foreign relations and saw significant English victories, such as at the battles of Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt.
• 👩‍🌾 The majority of the medieval British population were peasants, with women playing a crucial role in agricultural work, household management, and local economies.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in late September 1066 that impacted King Harold II of England?

In late September 1066, King Harold II of England was interrupted during a feast celebrating a victory over a Viking invasion when news arrived of a second invader, the Normans, having landed at the other end of the country.

Where did the Battle of Hastings take place and what was its outcome?

The Battle of Hastings took place on the south coast of England and resulted in the death of King Harold II. This led to the Norman Duke, William, being crowned William I of England on Christmas Day later that year.

What was the 'Doomsday Book' and why was it created?

The 'Doomsday Book' was a survey of everything in England, created by William the Conqueror to value and tax the land. It was called so because it was supposed to last forever until the Day of Doom.

How did the Normans change the architectural landscape of Britain?

The Normans introduced a new architectural style when building their castles and churches in Britain, which had a significant impact on the architectural landscape of the country.

What were the inherent problems with the feudal system as described in the script?

The feudal system had three inherent problems: the problem of balance, the problem of the church, and the problem of being a bad king. These issues often led to conflicts and instability.

What event in 1170 highlighted the power struggle between the king and the church?

The death of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, in 1170 was a significant event that highlighted the power struggle between King Henry II and the church.

Why was King John vilified in history?

King John was vilified in history due to his inability to conduct successful wars in France, resulting in the loss of ancestral lands and a heavy financial burden on the English taxpayer.

What were the two items in the Magna Carta that remain important today?

Two items in the Magna Carta that remain important today are the principles that no one can be punished without a fair trial and that no one can be taxed without the consent of their representatives.

How did the Black Death impact the population of Britain and the status of peasants?

The Black Death, which reached Britain in the late 1340s, reduced the population by as much as 50 percent. This allowed surviving peasants to gain more leverage in demanding higher wages or finding more favorable lords.

What was the significance of the Battle of Granickburn in 1314 for Scotland?

The Battle of Granickburn in 1314 marked Scotland's assertion of complete independence from England, ending English influence and solidifying Scottish identity.

How did the Hundred Years War between England and France affect relations with Scotland?

The Hundred Years War created a natural alliance between France and Scotland as enemies of England, further polarizing English and Scottish relations.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Norman Conquest and Aftermath

The first paragraph details the events of late 1066 when King Harold II of England was celebrating a victory over the Vikings when news of William the Conqueror's invasion reached him. Harold's swift march to Hastings and the ensuing battle resulted in his death and the Norman conquest of England. The paragraph also discusses the impact of the conquest on Britain, including the creation of the Domesday Book, the challenges of feudalism, and the struggles of King John with the Magna Carta. It highlights the shift in British history's focus towards Western Europe and the difficulties faced in subduing Wales and Scotland.

05:01

🏹 Feudal Struggles and National Identity

The second paragraph delves into the complexities of feudalism, the power dynamics between the monarchy and the nobility, and the influence of the church. It recounts the civil war of the 1130s, the rise of national sentiment in Scotland with figures like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and the Hundred Years' War between England and France. The paragraph also touches on the lives of peasants and the economic importance of wool, the growth of trade and literacy, and the cultural developments like the founding of Oxford and Cambridge universities and the publication of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It concludes with the demographic impact of the Black Death and the subsequent Peasants' Revolt.

10:01

🌹 The War of the Roses and the Tudor Dynasty

The final paragraph briefly mentions the War of the Roses, a civil war that led to the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty in England. It signifies a transition in English history from the medieval period to the early modern era, marking a shift in power and the beginning of a new chapter in British monarchy.

Keywords

💡Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest refers to the invasion and subsequent takeover of England by William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, in 1066. This event marked a significant turning point in British history, initiating a new phase of governance and cultural shifts. In the video script, the Norman Conquest is highlighted as the starting point of the narrative, leading to the establishment of a new ruling class and the beginning of a feudal system in England.

💡Feudalism

Feudalism was a social, political, and economic system prevalent in medieval Europe, where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty. The script explains that the Normans refined this system in England, where wealth was measured by land ownership and granted to the king's supporters in return for allegiance. Feudalism is a key concept in the video as it shaped the power dynamics and governance of medieval England, with inherent problems such as the balance of power, the influence of the Church, and the consequences of weak leadership.

💡Magna Carta

The Magna Carta is a charter of rights agreed upon in 1215 between King John of England and a group of rebel barons. It is noted in the script for its historical significance in establishing legal principles that are still relevant today, such as the right to a fair trial and the necessity of representation in taxation. The Magna Carta is portrayed as a pivotal moment that led to the development of parliamentary democracy and limited the absolute power of the monarchy.

💡Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet of England against the House of Valois, which ruled France. The script mentions this war as a central aspect of English foreign policy during the medieval period, highlighting the territorial ambitions and military engagements of the English monarchy in France. The war also underscores the complex and often contentious relationship between England and France.

💡Black Death

The Black Death, which reached England in the late 1340s, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, causing the deaths of an estimated 50 percent of the population. The script describes the profound impact of the plague on medieval Britain, leading to a shortage of labor and a shift in the social and economic landscape. This event is crucial to understanding the changes in the status of peasants and the beginning of the end for serfdom in England.

💡Peasants Revolt

The Peasants Revolt of 1381 was a major uprising in England against serfdom and oppressive social conditions. The script connects this revolt to the aftermath of the Black Death, where peasants found themselves in a more advantageous position due to a reduced labor force. The revolt is an example of the growing unrest and the desire for social change among the lower classes during this period.

💡Wool Trade

The wool trade was a significant economic activity in medieval Britain, as the country was an island abundant in sheep. The script mentions wool and the subsequent cloth production as Britain's main export, highlighting the importance of this trade for the economy. Woolsacks symbolized wealth and power, and even today, the Lord Chancellor sits on a woolsack in the House of Lords, reflecting the historical significance of the wool trade.

💡Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 1300s, often considered one of the first great poems in English. The script notes this literary work as a cultural milestone, reflecting the growing literacy and the establishment of English as a language of literature and scholarship, with Oxford and Cambridge universities being founded during this time.

💡War of the Roses

The War of the Roses was a series of civil wars in England fought between the houses of Lancaster and York from 1455 to 1487. The script identifies this conflict as the final civil war of the period, leading to the establishment of the Tudor dynasty. This war symbolizes the end of the medieval period and the transition to the early modern era in England.

💡Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce was a Scottish king known for his leadership in the First War of Scottish Independence against England. The script refers to his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, which marked a significant step towards Scotland's assertion of complete independence from English rule. Robert the Bruce is a key figure in the narrative of Scottish national identity and resistance against English overlordship.

💡Geographic Diversity

The script mentions the geographic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the land that would become Scotland, highlighting the complexity of the region prior to the establishment of a unified national identity. This diversity is important for understanding the historical context of the Declaration of Arbroath and the development of a distinct Scottish identity, separate from England.

Highlights

In late September 1066, King Harold II of England was interrupted during a feast celebrating victory over a Viking invasion by news of another invader landing, prompting a rapid march to the south coast for the Battle of Hastings.

The Battle of Hastings was unusually long, lasting eight hours, with the Anglo-Saxon loss being sealed by King Harold's death.

William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066, marking the beginning of a new phase in British history with the Norman Conquest.

English resistance did not end in 1066, with rebellions continuing for nine years and William using savage methods to subdue them, including the destruction of all animals and crops in northern England in 1069.

The Doomsday Book was created as a survey of everything in England, valuing the entire kingdom at 73,000 pounds and making it the richest in Northern Europe.

England's relatively recent unification as a country facilitated a quicker conquest, unlike the more difficult conquests of Wales and Scotland with their hilly terrain and lack of a single political unit.

The Normans introduced a new architectural style for castles and churches in Britain and refined the feudal system, where wealth was measured in land ownership and granted to the king's supporters in return for loyalty.

Feudalism faced inherent problems such as the balance of power, the influence of the church, and the consequences of having a bad king.

During the 1130s civil war, barons built castles, kept soldiers, and supported rival claimants to the throne, highlighting the challenges of maintaining loyalty in the feudal system.

Henry II's reign saw the restoration of royal authority and struggles with the power of the church, leading to the death of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.

King John's reign was marked by failures in war and government, leading to the Magna Carta in 1215, which demanded reforms and limited the king's power.

The Magna Carta included provisions that remain important today, such as the right to a fair trial and the requirement for representatives' agreement on taxation.

The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 defended Scottish independence and helped define Scottish identity, later inspiring the American Declaration of Independence.

Nationalist sentiment grew in England following victories against the French, such as at the battles of Cressy, Poitiers, and Agincourt.

The Hundred Years' War between England and France highlighted the fluctuating control of territories and the alliances formed, such as between France and Scotland.

The majority of the medieval British population were peasants living in small villages, with women playing significant roles in farming, household chores, and local trade.

The Black Death in the 1340s led to a significant population decline and the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, which in turn resulted in increased freedom for peasants from serfdom.

The War of the Roses, the final civil war of this period, led to the establishment of the Tudor dynasty, marking a significant shift in English history.

Transcripts

late september 1066

king harold ii of england was in

mid-feast celebrating a definitive

victory over a viking invasion

when the news arrived that a second

invader had landed at the other end of

the country

with his typical energy harold marched

his exhausted army over 240 miles in

less than two weeks to hastings on the

south coast

the battle was unusually long a

gruelling eight hours of hard fighting

but the anglo-saxon loss was sealed when

towards the end of the day

harold was killed later that year on

christmas day

the bastard duke of normandy was crowned

william king of england

sadly for the likes of ethelstan knut

and harold william tends to be the

monarch where we start counting the

kings of england from as unfair as this

perhaps is

historians didn't choose 1066

arbitrarily a new phase in british

history began with the norman conquest

the late middle ages saw a change in

outlook away from scandinavia towards

france western europe and beyond

english resistance did not end in 1066

it was another nine years before william

was secure on his throne

as more rebellions kept cropping up more

savage methods were used to put them

down

in 1069 he ordered the destruction of

all animals and crops in northern

england

leading to as many as 150 000

deaths when england was more safely

subdued william set about valuing and

taxing it

a survey of everything was created the

doomsday book

so called because it was supposed to

last forever until the day of doom

it valued the whole of england at 73 000

pounds

which made it the richest kingdom in

northern europe the fact that england

had been unified as a country only a

century earlier allowed for a quicker

conquest than had there been many

smaller kingdoms but neither wales nor

scotland were a single political unit

and their terrain was hilly making

conquest more difficult at times through

this period welsh and scottish kings

acknowledged the overlordship of english

kings but this was not always sustained

the normans brought a new architectural

style when building their castles and

churches in britain and if they didn't

introduce feudalism they certainly

refined it

wealth was measured in the amount of

land owned and through the feudal system

land was given to the king's supporters

in return for loyalty it could be an

effective system of governing but there

were three inherent problems with

feudalism the problem of the balance the

problem of the church

and the problem of being a bad king

barons were high-ranking members of the

nobility

some were almost like kings themselves

during a civil war in the 1130s barons

built castles

kept their own soldiers and supported

rival claimants to the throne switching

sides as it suited them

it wasn't until after the coronation of

a new king henry ii

that royal authority was restored henry

ii also suffered under feudalism's

second inherent problem the power of the

church

religion played a huge role in medieval

people's lives

it was present at all major life

occasions from baptism through to the

grave

the church was the focal point of

community life and churchmen answered

not to the king in england but the pope

in rome

henry's attempts to exercise greater

control led to the death of the

archbishop of canterbury thomas beckett

in 1170.

as penance for his involvement henry ii

one of the most powerful men in western

europe

agreed to be flogged despite this henry

ii was an effective king he did not

experience the third inherent problem

with feudalism

his son john however did vilified for

his part in the mythical stories of

robin hood

king john has had a rough time of it

historically and whilst he may have had

victories in battle against the irish he

was unable to conduct the wars in france

with any success

he lost nearly all his ancestral lands

there and at great cost to the english

taxpayer a system of government that

relies on loyalty becomes redundant if

the king is unable to inspire it

in the 1130s and the 1400s rebel barons

had supported rival claimants to the

throne but in 1215 there were no

credible

alternative candidates to focus their

support on so the barons were forced to

devise a different kind of focus

a program of reform instead of swearing

allegiance to an alternative ruler they

could swear to abide by the terms of the

magna carta

two items in the magna carta are still

important today we cannot be punished

without a fair trial and we cannot be

taxed without our representatives

agreeing to it

it was not in fact the intention of the

barons to demand greater power for the

people

only to protect the hundred or so of

them from being overtaxed

however over the centuries the magna

carta grew in importance and allowed for

the birth and growth of parliament

creating a consultative king not a

feudal overlord

drawing up a document of reform became

the new standard procedure for any

opposition

such as the declaration of our growth in

1320 until then the land that was to

become

scotland had been ethnically

geographically economically and

culturally diverse

and included scots picks britons and

angles

but this document which defended

scottish independence from the kingdom

of england

also helped define scottish identity it

was later used as an inspiration for the

american declaration of independence

at the time of the norman conquest

people didn't think of themselves as

belonging to a nation they felt they

belonged to their family a village

or their lord even kings thought of

their land simply as their own estates

to do with as they pleased but the

independence movement in scotland saw

english influence end with robert the

bruce's victory at granite burn in 1314.

popular resistance leaders like william

wallace and in wales owen glindir

inspired people to believe their country

was special and separate

for the english nationalist sentiment

grew in the aftermath of staggering

victories against the french in battles

like cressi poitier

and agincourt the attention of english

kings during this period swung back and

forth between conquering and maintaining

their lands in britain and their lands

in france when william

the first had invaded england he had

already been the duke of normandy

over the next few centuries the lands

english kings controlled swelled and

shrank

at times they ruled more of france than

the french king in fact for many of the

early norman and plantagenet kings

england wasn't even their most important

possession the first monarch after 1066

to speak english as his first language

wasn't until

1327. during this period british knights

were involved in conflicts in a wide

range of localities including the middle

east

english attempts to subdue ireland had

mixed results but wales was eventually

conquered

the main enemy for england at this time

was of course france

most famously with the hundred years war

this cross-channel enmity created a

natural friendship between france and

scotland the old

alliance which further polarized english

and scottish relations

but despite at one time having both the

king of france and the king of scotland

prisoner

by 1453 all french territory beyond

calais was lost and in 1603 a scottish

king sat on the throne

of england whilst the noblemen get much

of the attention

ninety percent of the population of

medieval britain were peasants

most lived in small villages in houses

sharing their living space with the

animals they raised

the floor was made of beaten earth with

an open fire on a stone slab in the

middle there was no chimney

so the cottage was often filled with

smoke of course fifty percent of the

population were women but sadly they did

not get mentioned much in the history

books

noble women often had the choice of

arranged marriages or becoming nuns

for peasant women they had more choice

of husband but with life expectancy

around 40 women would be expected to

marry again if their husbands died

their lord might even command it as it

made more sense for houses to be

occupied by families rather than

individuals

and there was always plenty of work to

be done men often worked the land

whilst women raised the children looked

after the livestock

ground the grain baked the bread cooked

the food cleaned the house

did the washing collected the water cut

the wood brewed the beer and if needed

which they often

were helped with farming in the south

and east of britain where the land was

relatively flat and best for farming

peasants work strips of land in rotation

one field in four would be left fallow

to replenish its nutrients

further west and north into cornwall

wales and scotland where the land was

hilliar an

infield outfield system was in place

which devoted much more time to sheep

herding and britain was an island full

of sheep

wool and later spun cloth was britain's

main export

woolsacks became symbols of wealth and

power today the lord chancellor sits on

a wall sack in the house of lords

as trade links grew with more parts of

europe so too did the number of

merchants

more people could read and write the

universities of oxford and cambridge

were founded and in the late 1300s one

of the first great poems to be written

in english geoffrey chaucer's canterbury

tales was published in 1086 the

population was perhaps one and a half

million

only 20 towns had more than a thousand

inhabitants by 1336 britain's population

had risen to four and a half million

there were so many people surnames were

needed to better identify each other

french first names also became popular

no longer did parents call their

children alfreda and ethelred they used

names like alice and william however the

population of britain took a sharp fall

in the late 1340s when a plague the

black death

reached her shores the population fell

by possibly as much as

50 percent whilst this was a horrific

experience at the time the surviving

peasants found themselves in an

advantageous position there were now too

few of them to work their lord's lands

and as a result they could charge more

for their services or find another lord

who was willing to do so

in the southeast of england the nobility

together with their ten-year-old king

richard ii were faced with rebellion

when they attempted to halt these

changes

whilst the rebellion failed in its

short-term goals more and more peasants

became free from the bonds of serfdom

that would linger in some european

countries for hundreds more years to

come

this period begins with william of

normandy's conquest of england in 1066.

the norman set about great changes to

england through the doomsday book

the harrying of the north and the use of

the feudal system still the new english

nobility went to war with itself in the

1130s 12 10s and 1400s

one consequence of this was the magna

carta of 1215

another was the kingdom of scotland

managing to assert its complete

independence from england after the

battle of granickburn in 1314.

wales by contrast was incorporated into

england the arrival of the black death

in 1348 had a huge impact on britain and

led to the peasants revolt in 1381.

during this time england was often at

war with and scotland allied to

france the final civil war of this

period the war of the roses led to the

establishment of a new dynasty

the tudors