Middle English Period: Society, Trade, and Education
Middle English Period (1066-1485)
Historical Context
The Middle English period begins with the Norman Conquest in 1066 and ends with the conclusion of the War of the Roses between the House of York (white rose) and the House of Lancaster (red rose). During this era, texts were written in Latin (due to the Church’s influence on education), French (the dominant language for many years, especially in the first half of the period), and Middle English (the vernacular language).
The Legend of King Arthur
The Legend of King Arthur gained popularity during this time, appearing in Celtic texts, French romances, and English texts. Arthur and his knights became emblematic English heroes.
Trade and Social Change
Two key elements of this period are the rise of trade routes and the emergence of the merchant class. These developments were connected to the growth of towns following the Black Death (1340-1350), one of history’s deadliest pandemics. The rural class’s opposition to the urban world and the feudal system contributed to its decline.
Merchant guilds (town government) and craft guilds (middle class) emerged, supported by the King, who held significant power. The stability provided by the King led to the breakdown of the manor-centered feudal system. Serfs and villains were bound to the land owned by the feudal lord, who also owned the manor.
Guilds and Urban Life
Trade and the emergence of the merchant middle class occurred in towns, where merchant guilds and craft guilds coexisted. The merchant guilds, being stable, regulated prices, quality, weight, measures, and business practices. They supported the King’s strong central government, which opposed the individualistic feudal system based on the serfs’ and villains’ ties to the land owned by the feudal lord.
Each guild had its patron saint and celebrated religious festivals and plays. Towns represented liberty, attracting people from the countryside seeking freedom. Craft guilds regulated quality, working hours, and labor conditions for their members.
Craftsmen Levels:
- Apprentices: Learners who spent two to seven years becoming a journeyman.
- Journeymen: Skilled workers (the term “journey” derives from the French word “journée,” meaning “day”).
- Masters: Patrons or instructors. Apprentices had to submit a “masterpiece” to the guild for approval.
Education in the Middle Ages
Education was primarily conducted in monasteries, which maintained schools. Initially, these schools catered to their members and boys who sang in choirs. The secular clergy also maintained schools, contributing to the academic society of the Middle Ages. Schools began to appear in villages, and while most charged a small fee, many offered free places for pupils who could not afford them.
The Seven Liberal Arts:
The curriculum was based on the Seven Liberal Arts:
- Trivium: Grammar, rhetoric, and logic.
- Quadrivium: Astronomy, music, arithmetic, and geometry.
This educational structure is reflected in the 200 books preserved at Reading Abbey and the 700 books at Canterbury Cathedral.