Historical and Social Evolution of Medieval England: From Invasions to Revolts

Anglo-Saxon Invasion and Society

The Anglo-Saxon period coming when, in 449, the tribes of Jutes (from Denmark) and the Anglo and Saxon (from Northen Germany) invaded England. The germanic tribes brought with them a common language called Anglo-Saxon or Old english, and they divided the country in 7 kingdom (wich will be invaded from Vikings). Anglo-Saxon society was based on the family, clan, tribes, kingdom and on values such us courage, loyality, honesty, generousity. In the 6th century Christianity began ti spread in Britain and S.Augustine estabilished a monastery at Canterbury.

Norman Conquest and Changes

In 1066 at the Battle of Hastings the Saxon King Arold was defeated by William the Conqueror. The battle marked the invasion and the occupation of the country by the Normans. They imposed the French language and they also introduced the feudal system. Because of the strenght of the Church, conflict arose between Church and State and that led to the mureder of Thomas à Becket. In the 13th century feudalism began to decline. The nobles forced King John to sign Magna Charta. The following years saw the foundation of Parliament. The 2d part of the period was marked by discontent among the poor (that led to Peasent' Revolt) and by th Hundred Years' War (a war for the possession of the French crown). Later there was a bloody civil war for the possession of the English crown known as War Of Two Roses. Society was based upon rank and each person was classified according to his or her place on the social scale. At the top of that, there was the nobilty and below them, were the knights. Next, traders and craftmen. At the buttom were the "villeins", unfree people.