The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons449 - 1066449 - 1066

Anglo-Saxon England was born of Anglo-Saxon England was born of warfare, remained forever a military warfare, remained forever a military

society, and came to its end in battle.society, and came to its end in battle.~J.R. Lander~J.R. Lander

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• The earliest settlers in England were The earliest settlers in England were called Iberians because it is thought called Iberians because it is thought they originally came from the Iberian they originally came from the Iberian Peninsula (the peninsula of present-Peninsula (the peninsula of present-day Portugal and Spain).day Portugal and Spain).

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The Celtic WorldThe Celtic World

• From about 700 BC, the Celts dominated most of From about 700 BC, the Celts dominated most of what is now western and central Europe.what is now western and central Europe.

• Skilled artisans, they introduced the use of iron to Skilled artisans, they introduced the use of iron to the rest of Europe.the rest of Europe.

• They also had a highly developed religion, They also had a highly developed religion, mythology, and legal system that specified mythology, and legal system that specified individual rights.individual rights.

• The Celts were also adept at curing hams, keeping The Celts were also adept at curing hams, keeping bees, and making wooden barrels.bees, and making wooden barrels.

• Their language was dominant in Britain until Their language was dominant in Britain until around the 5around the 5thth Century AD. Welsh, Scots Gaelic, Century AD. Welsh, Scots Gaelic, and Irish are forms of the Celtic language that may and Irish are forms of the Celtic language that may still be heard in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland today.still be heard in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland today.

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• In the 4In the 4thth C, Greek travelers visited what is C, Greek travelers visited what is now Great Britain, they found an island now Great Britain, they found an island settled by tall blond warriors who called settled by tall blond warriors who called themselves Celts.themselves Celts.

• Animism was the Celtic religion. The Celts Animism was the Celtic religion. The Celts saw spirits everywhere—in rivers, trees, saw spirits everywhere—in rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, and thunder.stones, ponds, fire, and thunder.

• The spirits or gods controlled all aspects of The spirits or gods controlled all aspects of existence.existence.

• Druid priests were the intermediaries Druid priests were the intermediaries between the gods and the people. The between the gods and the people. The priests sometimes performed human priests sometimes performed human sacrifices to satisfy the gods.sacrifices to satisfy the gods.

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• Celtic mythology has influenced English and Irish Celtic mythology has influenced English and Irish writers to this day.writers to this day.

• 1515thth C writer Sir Thomas Mallory wrote C writer Sir Thomas Mallory wrote Le Morte Le Morte Darthur Darthur while in jail.while in jail.

• 2020thth C poet William Butler Yeats used the Celtic C poet William Butler Yeats used the Celtic myths in his poetry and plays.myths in his poetry and plays.

• Celtic stories are full of strong women, fantastic Celtic stories are full of strong women, fantastic animals, passionate love affairs, and fabulous animals, passionate love affairs, and fabulous adventures.adventures.

• Celtic myths take you to enchanted lands where Celtic myths take you to enchanted lands where magic and the imagination rule.magic and the imagination rule.

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Enter the RomansEnter the Romans

• 55 BC Caesar led an invasion55 BC Caesar led an invasion• Britons finally conquered by the Roman Britons finally conquered by the Roman

legions 100 years after Caesar’s invasion.legions 100 years after Caesar’s invasion.• The Romans built roads, bridges, and a The Romans built roads, bridges, and a

great defensive wall (Hadrian’s Wall).great defensive wall (Hadrian’s Wall).• Christianity gradually took hold due to the Christianity gradually took hold due to the

European missionaries. Celtic religion European missionaries. Celtic religion began to vanish.began to vanish.

• AD 409 – Romans pull out leaving the isle AD 409 – Romans pull out leaving the isle vulnerable for invasionvulnerable for invasion

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The Anglo-Saxons Sweep The Anglo-Saxons Sweep AshoreAshore

• Angles, Saxons, & Jutes invade from the Angles, Saxons, & Jutes invade from the continentcontinent

• Celts put up a strong fight for the land; Celts put up a strong fight for the land; retreated to Wales were today traces of retreated to Wales were today traces of their culture & language can be foundtheir culture & language can be found

• Under the A/S, the land was called Under the A/S, the land was called Engla land (England) – from the AnglesEngla land (England) – from the Angles

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King Alfred of Wessex (aka King Alfred of Wessex (aka Alfred the Great)Alfred the Great)

• Led the A/S against the invading Danes – Led the A/S against the invading Danes – one of the fierce Viking peoples who crossed one of the fierce Viking peoples who crossed the cold North Seathe cold North Sea

• Danes plundered & destroyed everything in Danes plundered & destroyed everything in their paththeir path

• Danes eventually settled in the northern Danes eventually settled in the northern part of Englandpart of England

• Due to Alfred’s victory over the Danes, Due to Alfred’s victory over the Danes, England became in any true sense a nation.England became in any true sense a nation.

• The reemergence of Christianity gave the The reemergence of Christianity gave the A/S a common faith & common system of A/S a common faith & common system of morality & right conductmorality & right conduct

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• Christianity gave the A/S a link to Christianity gave the A/S a link to EuropeEurope

• Under Christianity and Alfred, A/S Under Christianity and Alfred, A/S fought to protect their people, their fought to protect their people, their culture, & their church from the culture, & their church from the ravages of the Danes.ravages of the Danes.

1010

Anglo-Saxon LifeAnglo-Saxon Life

• A/S were an agricultural, semi-nomadic A/S were an agricultural, semi-nomadic people.people.

• They had a two-class society: the earls or They had a two-class society: the earls or thanes, who ruled and who were related to thanes, who ruled and who were related to the tribe’s founder; and the churls, the tribe’s founder; and the churls, bondservants whose ancestors had been bondservants whose ancestors had been captured by the tribe.captured by the tribe.

• The churls provided the hard laborThe churls provided the hard labor• They were bound to the earl’s service unless They were bound to the earl’s service unless

they could earn possessions & special royal they could earn possessions & special royal favor to become freemen (independent favor to become freemen (independent landowners)landowners)

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• A woman received honor & power only as a A woman received honor & power only as a queen, as a wife of a powerful earl, or as a queen, as a wife of a powerful earl, or as a churchwoman.churchwoman.

• A/S society had strict laws and a sense of A/S society had strict laws and a sense of obligation to others.obligation to others.

• An absolute ruler and might warrior; the An absolute ruler and might warrior; the A/S king consulted with the witan (“wise A/S king consulted with the witan (“wise men”), an assembly of respected earls.men”), an assembly of respected earls.

• The chieftain & his followers were bound The chieftain & his followers were bound till death. If the lord was killed, his warriors till death. If the lord was killed, his warriors had to avenge his death or die beside him.had to avenge his death or die beside him.

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Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion• The old A/S religion with its warrior gods The old A/S religion with its warrior gods

persisted.persisted.• It was a dark, fatalistic religion that the It was a dark, fatalistic religion that the

Angles & Saxons brought with them from Angles & Saxons brought with them from Germany, & it had much in common with Germany, & it had much in common with Norse mythology.Norse mythology.

• To A/S the dragon was the living To A/S the dragon was the living embodiment of evil and death. It was embodiment of evil and death. It was associated with the fierce Vikings (Danes) associated with the fierce Vikings (Danes) who sailed boats with prows carved in the who sailed boats with prows carved in the shapes of dragons’ heads and fangs.shapes of dragons’ heads and fangs.

• A/S religion was more concerned with A/S religion was more concerned with ethics than mysticism.ethics than mysticism.

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The Bards (Scops)The Bards (Scops)

• A/S considered creating poetry as important A/S considered creating poetry as important as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving.as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving.

• A/S scops kept the history of the tribeA/S scops kept the history of the tribe

• Scops performed orally from memory the Scops performed orally from memory the literature in the mead hallliterature in the mead hall

• Used rhythms to help them rememberUsed rhythms to help them remember

• Warriors hoped their heroics & deeds would Warriors hoped their heroics & deeds would be kept & handed down by the scops. be kept & handed down by the scops.

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The Christian MonasteriesThe Christian Monasteries

• Centers of learningCenters of learning

• Monks recorded not only the Greek & Monks recorded not only the Greek & Latin classics but popular stories, Latin classics but popular stories, also.also.

• Some monks spent their days Some monks spent their days laboriously copying manuscripts laboriously copying manuscripts (printing was 800 years away)(printing was 800 years away)

1515

Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great

• Patron of learning who furthered the Patron of learning who furthered the education of his people – invited education of his people – invited scholars to his court; he translated scholars to his court; he translated scholarly worksscholarly works

1616

StonehengeStonehenge

• Built in three stagesBuilt in three stages• A gathering & ceremonial placeA gathering & ceremonial place• Huge blue stones found only in Wales – Huge blue stones found only in Wales –

240 miles away from the site240 miles away from the site• Some stones weigh up to 4 tonsSome stones weigh up to 4 tons• Scholars do know that the arrangement of Scholars do know that the arrangement of

the slabs indicates the timing of important the slabs indicates the timing of important astronomical events such as the summer astronomical events such as the summer solstice.solstice.

1717

Bede the VenerableBede the Venerable

• Monk & scholarMonk & scholar

• Man most responsible for our Man most responsible for our knowledge of England before the 8knowledge of England before the 8thth CC

• Wrote – Wrote – Ecclesiastical HistoryEcclesiastical History to show to show how the Church brought unity to how the Church brought unity to England, ending an era of violence & England, ending an era of violence & barbarism barbarism

1818

Anglo-Saxon ChronicleAnglo-Saxon Chronicle

• A history of England from the A history of England from the beginning of the Christian era until beginning of the Christian era until the middle of the 12the middle of the 12thth C C

• 11stst important prose work in English important prose work in English

• Kept by unknown monks Kept by unknown monks

• Tells of weak kings, greedy abbots, Tells of weak kings, greedy abbots, proud barons, & recorded natural proud barons, & recorded natural eventsevents

1919

Saint AugustineSaint Augustine

• Converted the King of Kent in AD 597Converted the King of Kent in AD 597

• Founded the cathedral at Founded the cathedral at Canterbury, & became the 1Canterbury, & became the 1stst archbishop of Canterburyarchbishop of Canterbury

• His mission was not completely His mission was not completely successful because the old pagan A/S successful because the old pagan A/S religion persisted. religion persisted.

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Whitby AbbeyWhitby Abbey

• Founded by the Abbess Hild for monks Founded by the Abbess Hild for monks & nuns& nuns

• Hild accumulated an immense libraryHild accumulated an immense library

• Was the chief school of learning Was the chief school of learning

• 867 destroyed by the Danes867 destroyed by the Danes

• The Benedictine monks reestablished The Benedictine monks reestablished the abbey & its ruins can still be seen the abbey & its ruins can still be seen todaytoday

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Sutton HooSutton Hoo

• Site discovered in 1939 by Site discovered in 1939 by archaeologistsarchaeologists

• Enormous ship-grave with a vast Enormous ship-grave with a vast treasure trovetreasure trove

• Extraordinary find for history, art, & Extraordinary find for history, art, & archaeologyarchaeology

• Find suggests that England was Find suggests that England was influenced by Scandinavia even before influenced by Scandinavia even before the Viking attacks beganthe Viking attacks began

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Study Skills Practice - Study Skills Practice - Organizing IdeasOrganizing Ideas

The Epic Warrior (Use your notes and text pp 12 & 13)The Epic Warrior (Use your notes and text pp 12 & 13)I. Warrior societyI. Warrior society

A. Tribal organizationA. Tribal organization 1. Warrior families1. Warrior families

a.a.b.b.

2. Comitatus - 2. Comitatus - B. Values and beliefsB. Values and beliefs 1. Bravery1. Bravery 2. Treasure2. Treasure 3. Loyalty3. Loyalty

II. Oral literatureII. Oral literature