ashp4t3 Medieval Era Synthesis #2

2. In the year 1066, King William the Conqueror took over England in the Battle of Hastings; an even that marked the beginning of a new zeitgeist. With him, King William brought the feudal system which had the knight’s code of chivalry as a cornerstone. This new system brought high respect and honor to the ones in the social high classes including the aristocrats who controlled most of the economic structure of the society. The aristocrats were the only ones to create the grandest works and because of their wealth, they were able to influence the creation of the immensely intricate buildings of the Gothic Movement. Another example is that the Church also initiated the Crusades which ultimately led to a merchant class of tradesmen. Through this class, the arts began to spread throughout the society and reach the masses as they vividly described bloody battles and their high value of the knight’s code of chivalry. However, not all tradesmen wrote about knights’ valor, as others wrote about life experiences they encountered. A clear example is seen through Geoffrey Chaucer and his exemplary work The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s last name derives from the French word chausseur which means “shoemaker,” probably his family’s specific trade. Although he may not have been of the elite social classes, his writings of a compilation of short stories appealed to the common people since they were able to connect with his work. Over all, the arts of the Medieval Era directly reflected the artist; the grander the art, the more elite the artist. Tradesmen such as Chaucer did have an impact on the foundation of aristocracy though, as his art of literature appealed to just as many, if not more, people.