-
William the conqueror introduces England to Feudalism, an economic system in which the king owns the land of his kingdom. William split his kingdom providing him with loyal knights from the different regions of his kingdom, forming the ideals of knighthood.
-
After King William's passing,not long after power struggles erupted after his son Henry I passed away. The Barons of the kingdom choose between Henry's daughter Matilda and his nephew Stephen in a fairly violent struggle.
-
Finally a side was stood on, Matilda's son Henry II was announced king, he molded a new judicial system, incorporated new royal courts, and established new juries.
-
Richard the Lionhearted,Henry II spent his ten-year rule fighting in crusades. His brother John ruled over England while he was away and took the throne after his death. The court went bankrupt and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta/Great Charter. The Magna Carta limited royal authority and was an early step to democratic views in the kingdom.
-
John's son, Henry III, set up an advisory council of barons called parliament and they met up regularly. Under Henry III's successor, Edward I, the Model Parliament of 1295 was established. It was established to include commoners in the council, or parliament.
-
During the rule of Edward III, a war between France and England had begun. This war raged on and off for over a century. During the war, England suffered a contagious and deadly crisis known as the Black Death. This killed more than a third of the of the people of the kingdom.
-
The conflict between France and England had finally ended. England had lost many of its French possessions and was on the verge of yet another conflict. Two families, the House of York and the House of Lancaster began another conflict over the throne. This fight was known as the War of Roses due to each house using a rose as its symbol.
-
The fighting in the War of Roses came to a conclusion when the Lancastarian Henry Tudor killed Yorkist King Richard III and claimed the throne as Henry VII. This event is what marks the end of the Medieval Period in England.
