Chapter 10, Lesson 3 Kingdoms and Crusades

It Matters Because: The development of law and government during the Middle Ages still affects us today.

Royal Power in England

• In late 800s, Viking raids nearly destroyed Anglo-Saxons • Island of Britain had many small kingdoms • Alfred, King of Wessex united people to end Viking raids • Alfred the Great’s united kingdom was called Angleland, soon England • 1066, last Anglo-Saxon King of England dies without an heir • In struggle for the throne, William of Normandy defeats Harold Godwinson at Battle of Hastings • Wm becomes King, known as William the Conqueror • To stop Anglo-Saxon rebellions, Wm took land and gave it to his own knights • Wm takes first census since ancient Rome in a record called the Domesday Book

Henry II

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English king, 1154-1189

• Ruled England, Ireland, most of Wales • Was also a feudal lord of parts of Scotland and France • Set up royal court and circuit courts throughout his kingdom • Established trials by grand jury and trial jury • Henry’s son, John, was forced to sign the Magna Carta

Magna Carta and Parliament

• • • John became king in 1199 when his brother, Richard the Lionheart, died Raised taxes and punished enemies without jury trials Nobles rebelled against John and forced him to sign the Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”) • • • Placed limits on king’s power to tax, and guaranteed freemen many rights King must share authority with council of nobles known as the Great Council • Magna Carta strengthened idea that people have rights and power of government should be limited • Under Edward I (“Longshanks”), in late 1200s, Great Council gained power and became known as Parliament Magna Carta inspired many future documents, including the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights

Monarchy in France

• After the death of Charlemagne, his empire was split in three parts • Far western section known as France • Early French kings controlled only Paris and surrounding area • King Phillip II fought wars with the English to gain control of French-speaking territories on the continent • • Another King, Phillip IV, received permission from the Estates General to raise taxes to fund war Estates General is similar to British Parliament, though was never as powerful

European Crusaders

• During the 1000s, the Byzantines were attacked by the Muslim Turks • The Turks defeated the Byzantines and seized Byzantine land in Asia Minor • Byzantine Emperor asked Pope to send an army to save his Christian empire • Pope agreed, and hoped the Byzantine church would reunite with Catholic Church • Pope urged European nobles to begin a “crusade” (holy war) against the Muslim Turks • Pope wanted European Christians to take back Jerusalem and the rest of the “Holy Land”

The Crusades

• Thousands of European crusaders on horseback and on foot marched east on the First Crusade • They reached Jerusalem in 1099 • Crusaders conquered several Muslim kingdoms and controlled many states in Asia • The Second Crusade was fought in the 1170s, when Muslim invaders retook Jerusalem • Muslims were led by brilliant general Saladin • During the Third Crusade of the 1200s, the Muslims recaptured their lost territory

The Effects of the Crusades

• Soldiers and Kings returning from the Crusades brought knowledge back with them • Architecture: domes and mosaics • Navigation: better ships, more accurate maps, and how to use the compass • Wealthy Europeans began to demand eastern spices, sugar, lemons, silk • Crusades weakened feudalism and strengthened power of kings • 200 years of war led to anger and mistrust between Christianity and Islam that exists today