How Did Bede Develop Medieval England

Medieval England The land of Britannica fell to ruins after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The economy was virtually lifeless, and most of the population reverted to rural areas. Most of the towns and cities were abandoned. From the fifth century to the tenth century there was very little history. Most of the people were illiterate, and there were no history books written. The first history of England was Saint Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People. This chronicled English history from Julius Caesar’s conquest of Britannica until the time when Bede completed the five volumes around 731. Bede was a monk at the monastery of St. Peter. He popularized the BC/AD dating system. He died on May 26, 735 in his jail cell. Medieval
England had a rich history, fantastic art and architecture, and a complex society. The most narrated times of Medieval English happened to be the times just before William the Conqueror until 1485, or the end of the Medieval Ages in England. There was virtually no central, strong government prior to William. He was the first Norman King, and his administration highlighted this. He had a wide variety of Normans working for his administration. Perhaps William is most well-known for his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This ended the dispute of the English throne after the death of Edward the Confessor. It was a battle between the forces of King Harold II of England and William the Conqueror. According to legend, Harold was shot in the eye with an arrow during the all-day battle on October 14, 1066. This allowed for William to become the undisputed monarch of England. He was eventually able to conquer most of England, and he laid his claim by quickly building castles using the “motte and bailey method.” This gave him physical landmarks to support his claim.
96 years later, during the reign of Henry II, he appointed Thomas a Becket to be the archbishop of England, expecting him to intensify the war between church and state in England. He, however, changed his mind and became ostentatiously strict about following church law. He also opposed Henry on several major issues. The impending caused a deep divide between Becket and Henry. This led Henry to write the Constitutions of Clarendon, in 1164, in an attempt to exert state power over the church. Becket fled to France, went back to England with the support of Pope Alexander III, and Henry had him executed shortly after his return.
In 1189, Richard the Lionheart became the King of England. While he was a great warrior, hence the title Lionheart, he was a terrible king. During his ten-year reign, he was only in England for ten months, and that was to raise money for his foreign wars. He fought cruelly in the Third Crusade, and on his way home, Leopold of Austria captured him. King John refused to pay his ransom. He was eventually released, but died a short time later. King John rose to power among his death in 1199, and he was an even worse king. He was portrayed as a villain because he overexerted his power, much unlike Richard. He was also a poor administrator, warrior, and he was extremely greedy. He lost all lands north of Loire to the French in 1204. This, in effect, severed the Norman aristocracy from their continental possessions. Perhaps the only thing that King John is known for is the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. This was due to the rise in tensions between the great barons and King John. The barons forced the king into signing the Magna Carta, or the Great Charter. This document made the king follow all the common laws set forth by him. It is seen today as a document used for universal Democracy. It is probably the basis for the English constitution. In 1258, The Provisions of Oxford were written. They essentially refined many of the laws that were put in place by the Magna Carta. It also paved the way for many reforms for new freedoms in England. The Provisions greatly reduced the monarch’s power, as well as created a board of advisers to the King.
In 1415, about 160 years later, there was a plot to kill the king in power, Henry V, and place the Earl of March on the throne. This conspiracy is called the Cambridge Plot, because it was led by Richard, the Earl of Cambridge. The plot was eventually fooled, and the conspirators were imprisoned and beheaded. King Henry sailed to France and became incredibly popular after the failed attempt.
Later in 1461, Henry VI was forced to abdicate due to his recurring bouts of madness, as well as his extreme unpopularity. Edward IV took the throne. He eventually died in 1483, and his son, Edward V, took the throne. Since he was only twelve years old, he had a regent named Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to rule in his place. Henry, Earl of Richmond, challenged Richard in battle in 1485, claiming his right to the throne. Richard was killed in the battle, called The Battle of Bosworth Field. This marked the end of the Medieval Ages in England, as the House of Tudor came to rule.
The architecture during the Medieval Ages was very contrary to the architecture of the Western Roman Empire.
The English were arguably most notable for building many magnificent castles throughout England. The Early English Period, (1180-1275), was the period of English Gothic architecture. Symmetry and simplicity characterize it. Features of it include the pointed arch, which were not only used to create grand entryways, but also used on doors and windows. Early English architecture also emphasized height. The pointed arches look as if they are reaching towards the sky. The walls of cathedrals were thick, unlike French Gothic styles. Pointed arches were much bigger, allowing for larger vaults. They also encouraged the use of stained glass. Another period of English architecture was Decorated Gothic (1250-1350). The intricate window designs characterize this era. Stone mullions separated the panes, and created a mesh of patterns, usually consisting of trefoils and quatrefoils. A lot more stained glass is used during this era, because it fit well with the complex designs. This period was also the peak of detailed carvings on many buildings. There was a floral theme, and many windows had grandiose carvings in them. It also was based on the ogee, or S-shaped
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