History of Medieval England - Tuesday 6th Period: Lecture 4: After 1066

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"Last week we discussed the Battle of Hastings. This week, we're going to discuss the aftermath of the battle... the fact that England was politically and culturally taken over by another country."

Methos speaks at great length about how clever William the Conqueror was in importing feudalism to England and shaping it so that it functioned in a way that supported the king's position, as opposed to the continental version, which kinda-sorta supported the king except for when it didn't. Also, William compiled a huge censes known as the Domesday Book (domes = home, not dome = doom) that let him know exactly what was in this conquered land of his. Upshot was, he was a smart guy who managed to rule over England with some brains. Too bad his two older sons (the oldest of which, Robert, got Normandy, and the second son got England) were morons. William II ruled for about 14 years and is probably the only British king to be assassinated (as opposed to deposed-and-murdered). Luckily, William's youngest son, Henry (I) was a smart guy. He was known as the Lawgiver, and he started constructing the basis of what would be known as English Common Law. He did one really dumb thing, though -- when his son-and-heir died, he insisted that everyone swear that they'd support his daughter as his heiress.

"While there is absolutely nothing wrong in the abstract with a Queen Regent -- to wit, Elizabeth, Victoria, etc. -- to try to enforce one's will beyond the grave on a bunch of fractious nobles was not the smartest thing. Plus, Henry might have considered that Matilda wasn't exactly a pleasant personality to begin with; she wouldn't lead by devotion. Which basically set England up for a generation of really nasty civil war, which we will get into after our exam next Thursday."

Homework is due here and the mun sincerely apologizes for the suckiness of the initial website.

[Poll #663890]

[[OOC: OCD threads are up!!]]

Comments

QUESTIONS: MEH Lecture 4

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

If you have a particularly clever question, Methos will steal it and use it in the discussion section on Thursday.

Re: QUESTIONS: MEH Lecture 4

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"So what is it with good rulers having idiot kids? And why do they always insist on putting the idiot kids on the throne after they're dead? Can they just not see it? Or do they not care?" Vala is truly WTF!?!ing wondering over this.

Re: QUESTIONS: MEH Lecture 4

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

"But I still wonder if at that time it was an issue of gender equality," Lee says.

TALKING IN CLASS: MEH Lecture 4

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Don't. Really. Don't. No.

Re: TALKING IN CLASS: MEH Lecture 4

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana doesn't. Really. She's quite subdued in fact.

AFTER CLASS: MEH Lecture 4

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Please ask questions of the professor here.

Re: AFTER CLASS: MEH Lecture 4

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." Ten leans in the doorway, a rather large and nasty (but healing) cut across the left side of his face. He is sipping the coffee he's microwave reheated.

Re: AFTER CLASS: MEH Lecture 4

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"Professor, I have a note (http://community.livejournal.com/fandom_clinic/63112.html?thread=2931080#t2931080) about missing class last week. Um, what do I need to do to make it up? Or should we go over that in tutoring session?"

OOC: MEH Lecture 4

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

blah blah blah thank god she didn't write another huge lecture blah blab

Re: OOC: MEH Lecture 4

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*salutes you*