Notes on Medieval England

Introduction

• The Middle Ages: 1066 (Norman invasion) to 1485 (end of Wars of the Roses)
• Transition from agricultural feudal society to an early empire.

The Feudal System

• Established under William the Conqueror.
• All land considered property of the crown.
• Kings granted land to supporters who, in return, provided military service (knights) and paid rent.
• Tenant farmers (serfs) worked the land under lords' control.

Life of Serfs

• Serfs were bound to the land; could not leave or marry without the lord's permission.
• Obligations included:
  • Working on lord's land (typically three days a week)
  • Paying taxes and heriot (best animal)
  • Other dues for privileges (e.g., pasturing pigs)
• Disputes handled in the manor court, overseen by the lord's bailiff or steward.
• Limited rights; could buy freedom, but financial barriers existed.

The Role of the Lords

• Lords had the power to chastise but not to kill or mutilate serfs.
• The manorial court dealt with agricultural and minor disputes.

Security of Tenure

• Lords were reluctant to expel serfs due to labor shortages.
• Custom prevented excessive burdens on serfs.

Agriculture and Economy

• Villages primarily inhabited by serfs farming communal fields.
• Common farming practices required cooperation among serfs.
• Agricultural boom from 1100 to 1300 led to population doubling.
• Famine and poverty were common; bad harvests led to severe hardships.
• Poaching was widespread due to food scarcity.

Kings and Royal Courts

• Kings moved between multiple estates; royal court served as the highest court of law.
• Assizes established legal procedures for land disputes.
• Shift towards more organized systems of justice.

Cultural Life

• Minstrels entertained in castles and villages.
• Tournaments served as sports and training for knights.
• Rise of guilds for craftsmen, offering mutual support and religious ties.

Education

• Limited for the majority; village children learned crafts from parents.
• Monastic schools and grammar schools existed for those seeking education.
• Oxford and Cambridge established as major centers of learning by 1200.

Social Changes and the Black Death

• The Black Death (1348-1350) decimated the population, leading to labor shortages and questioning of the social order.
• Statute of Labourers aimed to control wages post-plague; revolts arose from increasing discontent.

The Peasants' Revolt (1381)

• Sparked by heavy taxation; led by figures like Watt Tyler.
• Demands included abolition of feudal ties and social reforms.
• Tyler killed during a meeting with King Richard II, leading to the revolt's collapse.

The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485)

• Conflict between the Houses of Lancaster and York for control over England.
• Key battles: Towton, St Albans; fluctuations in power between factions.
• Ended with Henry Tudor (Henry VII) defeating Richard III at Bosworth Field.

Conclusion

• The end of the Middle Ages signified the decline of feudalism and the rise of trade and wealth.
• Significant cultural and societal changes, leading to a new era in English history.