Chapter 3 — A Long and Illustrious History
The Middle Ages
The Norman Conquest (1066)
- William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) defeated Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king, at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
- The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of this conquest
- William introduced the feudal system (land in exchange for military service) and the Domesday Book (a detailed survey of England's land and property)
- The Normans spoke Norman French, which influenced the English language
Magna Carta (1215)
- King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter)
- It reduced the rights of the king and laid out basic rights of the people
- This was a key document in the development of British democracy and the rule of law
Key Events of the Middle Ages
| Event | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Bannockburn | 1314 | Scottish King Robert the Bruce defeated the English |
| The Black Death | 1348 | Plague killed over 1/3 of Britain's population. Led to labour shortages and increased wages |
| Hundred Years' War | 1337–1453 | Series of wars between England and France |
| English becomes official | ~1400 | English became the preferred language of courts and documents |
| War of the Roses | 1455–1485 | Civil war: House of Lancaster (red) vs House of York (white) |
The War of the Roses
- Civil war between House of Lancaster (red rose) and House of York (white rose)
- Ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485)
- Henry Tudor (House of Lancaster) became King Henry VII
- He married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two families as the House of Tudor (red rose with white rose inside)
Wales and Scotland
- The last of the Welsh rebellions were defeated by the mid-15th century
- Scotland remained an independent kingdom throughout this period
- The Battle of Bannockburn (1314) was a major Scottish victory under Robert the Bruce
Test yourself
Check your understanding with these quick questions.
1.In which year did William the Conqueror defeat King Harold at the Battle of Hastings?
2.What did the Magna Carta do?
3.What was the Black Death?
4.The Battle of Bannockburn was a victory for:
5.When did English become the preferred language of the courts?