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1/28 Focus: Kings began to gain more power and centralize power during the high middle ages England was one of the first countries in Europe to develop a strong central monarchy Do Now: What was one characteristic of life in Western Europe during the early Middle Ages?. Middle Ages.
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1/28 Focus: • Kings began to gain more power and centralize power during the high middle ages • England was one of the first countries in Europe to develop a strong central monarchy • Do Now: • What was one characteristic of life in Western Europe during the early Middle Ages?
Middle Ages The High Middle Ages
Flashback • After the fall of Rome Western Europe entered into the Dark Ages • lack of central authority • Decline of education and learning • Decline in trade and commerce • Development of Feudalism and the Manorial System
The High Middle Ages • Between 1000 & 1500 Western Europe began to emerge from the Dark Ages
Popes and Kings • During the early middle ages nobles and their knights held a great deal of power • Over time power shifted to kings and the Pope • Powerful kings came into power in England and France
England • Angles and Saxons had invaded England in the 400’s • Divided into separate kingdoms • Each had their own laws and customs
England • England was subject to frequent invasions from Vikings • Alfred the Great • Saxon king • unites England after stopping Viking advances
England • 1066 Alfred’s descendent King Edward dies without an heir • 2 people claim the throne • Harold Godwinson • Son of one of Edward’s advisors • William of Normandy • Normandy was in France • Claimed he had been promised the throne by Godwinson
Battle of Hastings • Conflict breaks over who should be king • William wins the battle and becomes King of England • Harold Godwinson is killed in battle • Shot through the eye with in an arrow
William the Conqueror • William begins to centralize power • Claims all land in England as his property • Gave land to his supporters
William the Conqueror • Domesday Book • A survey of people living in England, what they owned, and how much they could pay in taxes • was used to create an efficient tax system
The Magna Carta • William’s descendants had begun to abuse their power • King John • Had lost most of the English lands in France in a expensive war • Began to raise to taxes on nobles • Nobles were angered by his confiscation of lands and high taxes • Raised an army and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215
The Magna Carta • Document which limited the power of the king • Means “Great Charter” • Laid the groundwork for “democracy” in Europe • Established the British Parliament
The Magna Carta • Basic principles: • King could not raise taxes without the approval of a council of nobles and clergy • Later became the British Parliament • King could not arrest people without cause or take property without just cause • Habeas Corpus • Had to be convicted by a jury to be sent to jail • The King had to obey the law; was not above the law
Closure • Identify one way William the conqueror established control of England. • What was the purpose of the Domesday Book? • Explain how the Magna Carta limited the power of the king?