The Effects of Geoffrey Chaucer's Education on the Canterbury Tales The Medieval period was one of transformation. The great religious pilgrimages that occurred effected the course of history. Social set-ups were believed to be ordained by God and were not to be changed (www.aol/barrons 1). Thus, Geoffrey Chaucer introduces each of the characters in the prologue of The Canterbury Tales and establishes their role in society. The church hierarchy was thought to be of equal importance (http://www.virginia.edu/literature/ chaucer/defense 2). The church in some cases fulfilled the function of an educational system (http://