I.  The English Monarchy:
  A. After the Romans left, Angles and Saxons invaded
     i. England divided into small kingdoms
     ii.  Alfred the Great  -- defeated Danes -- began unification
     iii. Edward the Confessor -- died without heir
     iv. Harold Godwinson & William of Normandy claimed throne
  B. The Normans
     i.  Duke William
     ii.  the Norman Invasion: The Battle of Hastings ( 1066 )
         The Bayeux Tapestry
         Secrets of the Norman Invasion
     iii.   The Domesday Book
     iv.  introduced the feudal system --  gave land to vassals as fiefs --
          demanded loyalty
  C. Feudalism
     i.  developed to provide safety
     ii. decentralized power structure
     iii. evolved out of Roman patronage, German comitatus
     iv. fief / beneficium given in return for service --
           Canute the Great, Granting of Fiefs
  D. Feudal Hierarchy
      i. originally kings controlled all land -- gave land to vassals: counts,
         dukes, margraves
      ii. nobles gave land to knights:  Vassals
      iii. vassal swore loyalty to lord --  Feudal Oaths --  Fief Ceremonies
  E. Feudal Contract
      i. lord provided land, protection
      ii. vassal provided services
           military service
           castle guard
           hospitality
           ransom
  F. Henry II and conquest:
      i.  extended power into France -- marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine
           The Angevin Empire  English territories in France
      ii.  his treatment of the Church:
         a. the Constitutions of Clarendon
         b. Thomas Becket : challenged Henry over church courts
  G. Richard I
      i. spent most of his reign outside England
      ii. Prince John unpopular
  H. King John:
      i.  nobles forced John to sign the Magna Carta  at the British Library
          click Digital Library link, and then Magna Carta.
      ii.   King must obey the law
      iii.   lost territories on the continent to Philip II of France
   I.  Origins of parliament
      i. Great Council expanded after 1295
      ii. divided into two houses in 1300s -- House of Commons gained
          control of finances
  J. Expansion
      i. Edward I invaded Wales
      ii. Edward I defeated at Bannockburn -- Scotland