(1) The Norman Conquest, 1066

Live it, love it, learn it. 1066 is a super important date for English history, because it was when the Norman Conquest happened… which completely changed life in England. Not to mention language in England. The Norman Conquest is what made today's English more Frenchified, and less Old Englishy. Ask your resident linguist if you're curious to know more about the history of the English language.

(2) The Black Death

The British certainly did "bring out their dead" when the Plague came to town around 1348. It killed off an estimated 20%-50% of the population. Kind of hard to wrap your head around the magnitude of that event, isn't it?

(3) Romance

Do us a favor and get the images of those cheesy books you see at the supermarket checkout lane right out of your head. Romance was a completely different animal during the Medieval Period. Actually, it was the most popular genre of secular—you know, non-religious—literature of the time. Everybody read these love stories, not just middle-aged women… and not that there's anything wrong with that.

(4) King Arthur

Medieval authors were total fanboys of King Arthur and his knights. But who isn't? Arthur was a national hero for England. We guess he was sort of like Britain's G.I. Joe, but with a sword.

(5) Authority (auctoritas)

Medieval peeps didn't prize originality in the way us 21st-century folks do. Instead, they were concerned about whether their texts had the appropriate street cred; they wanted every story to have a long history of greatness in the oral tradition, or in some famous bard's or monk's brain. This auctoritas was so important that medieval authors sometimes went so far as to make up sources that didn't exist. To be clear, we strongly advise against fabricating citations for your research papers, kiddos. We doubt your teachers will accept the old, "I'm just imitating medieval authors" excuse.

(6) The Peasants' Uprising

This was the Medieval Period's version of Occupy Wall Street, only more violent. Back then, the peasants were tired of high taxes and the 1% generally sticking it to them. So they rioted in London, and wreaked severe amounts of havoc. Power to the people.

(7) Revenge and Forgiveness

We're getting into some serious seven deadly sins and seven heavenly virtues territory here, gang. Revenge and forgiveness show up over and over in medieval texts, from Chaucer's pilgrims getting back at each other through their stories, to knights avenging the deaths of their families.

(8) Allegory

Allegory was a popular genre in the Medieval Period. A lot of medieval characters were crafted to represent abstract concepts, like Love, Charity, Faith, and Heinous B.O. (Okay, we might have thrown that last one in there just to make sure you're paying attention.)

(9) Antifeminism

In the medieval period, "well-bred" religious men ruled all. And they usually presented women as shrews or temptresses. Or even shrew-like temptresses. The woman served as the man's foil; medieval women were always out to bring a good man down.

(10) The Church

The Catholic Church was all-powerful during this period. And very visible in daily life, we might add. Everyone was a believer by default, because if you weren't, you could be labeled a heretic—and boy, was that serious business back then.