The Anglo-Saxon Period

The Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxon PeriodPeriod

449 – 1066 AD449 – 1066 AD

The Dark AgesThe Dark Ages

battlebattle confusionconfusion uproaruproar outrageoutrage

attempts at educational attempts at educational improvements and religionimprovements and religion

The History of BritainThe History of Britain

1. Iberians1. Iberians

first group to invade Britainfirst group to invade Britain came from present-day Spain and came from present-day Spain and

PortugalPortugal brought stone-age weaponry:brought stone-age weaponry:

– flint arrowheadflint arrowhead– flint knifeflint knife– stone hand axestone hand axe– sling shotsling shot

2. Celts2. Celts

BritonsBritons– settled Britainsettled Britain

GaelsGaels– settled Irelandsettled Ireland

• spoke different Celtic spoke different Celtic languageslanguages• farmers and huntersfarmers and hunters• long, heroic poems about theirlong, heroic poems about their historyhistory• myths (Old King Cole, King myths (Old King Cole, King Lear)Lear)

3. Romans3. Romanscontributed paved roads and highwayscontributed paved roads and highways

Julius Caesar Julius Caesar – ruled for only 100 years - ruled for only 100 years -

declaring Britain conquered declaring Britain conquered and returned to Franceand returned to France

ClaudiusClaudius– ruled for over 300 years, but ruled for over 300 years, but

left to protect Rome from left to protect Rome from Northern European TribesNorthern European Tribes

4. Anglos, Saxons, & Jutes4. Anglos, Saxons, & Jutes

farmers and fishermenfarmers and fishermen brought their society based on rank/classbrought their society based on rank/class divided Britain into 7 kingdoms:divided Britain into 7 kingdoms:

– IrelandIreland– WalesWales– MerciaMercia– ScotlandScotland– North UmbriaNorth Umbria– WessexWessex– DanelawDanelaw

Language:Language:

Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon

(Old English)(Old English)

looks like present-looks like present-dayday

Dutch or GermanDutch or German

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

Paganism – worship Paganism – worship of gods & idolsof gods & idolsTiu – god of war and skyTiu – god of war and sky

(Tuesday)(Tuesday)

Woden – chief of godsWoden – chief of gods

(Wednesday)(Wednesday)

Fria – goddess of homeFria – goddess of home

(Friday)(Friday)

Stoicism – fate rulesStoicism – fate rules

Christianity Christianity – most of England most of England

followed by 650followed by 650– promoted:promoted:

peacepeace educationeducation literatureliterature

– promoters:promoters: St. PatrickSt. Patrick ColumbaColumba St. AugustineSt. Augustine

Venerable BedeVenerable Bede(a monk)(a monk)

““father of English father of English history”history”

With the encouragement of education, schools were founded at York and Canterbury, England

and written literature was promoted.

5. Vikings5. Vikings

Norse (Norway)Norse (Norway) Danes (Denmark)Danes (Denmark)

• destroyed and stole religious objects of worship

King Alfred of Wessex

• stopped the Vikings in Wessex• united the 7 kingdoms

• “Alfred the Great”• encouraged a rebirth of learning and education

peace begins…peace begins…

After about 100 years:After about 100 years:– Danes became peacefulDanes became peaceful

communicated with the Anglo-Saxonscommunicated with the Anglo-Saxons– ““law”law”

– Danish skills were incorporatedDanish skills were incorporated farmingfarming beer brewingbeer brewing tradetrade

– England grew into different townsEngland grew into different towns

6. Norman Conquest6. Norman Conquest

William, Duke of NormandyWilliam, Duke of Normandy– conquered Anglo-Saxon England in 1066conquered Anglo-Saxon England in 1066– ended Anglo-Saxon ruleended Anglo-Saxon rule

Old English LiteratureOld English Literature

British IslesBritish Isles– OriginationOrigination– Celtic Celtic Druids Druids

memorized poems memorized poems about heroic about heroic leadersleaders

Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon– ScopsScops and and

gleemengleemen performed performed epicsepics accompanied by a accompanied by a harpharp

- - RiddlesRiddles

Examples of Epics:Examples of Epics:

Homer’sHomer’s– The Illiad The Illiad – The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Virgil’sVirgil’s– The AeneidThe Aeneid

Let’s get Let’s get started…started…

with with Beowulf.Beowulf.