Introduction to the Anglo-Saxon Period
Dates: 450-1066
What parts of our language can be traced to the English of Britain?Language, literature, government, culture
What four countries make up the area that we will study? Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales
We date the Celtic inhabitation of England from 700 BC to 55BC.
What did the Celts contribute to our heritage? Religion, warfare methods, Stonehenge, Sutton Hoo, King Arthur
Who were the druids? Religious priests who oversaw prayers and sacrifices
What is Stonehenge? A mystical grouping of huge rocks (8+ tons) in a circle – astrological connection
What did the Celts believe about the connection between nature and society? Working together in harmony kept all things good
What evidence of this same belief can you find in our society today? Greenpeace – Save the Whales – PETA – endangered species – EPA
When did the Romans arrive? 55 BC Who was their leader? Julius Caesar
Where have you heard about him? Shakespeare’s play
What contributions did the Romans make? Roads, walls, villas, public baths, Christianity, administrative genius (laws, organization)
Why and when did the Romans leave? Needed at home to fight their own battles – 410 AD
What was the effect of their departure on the people? Left them open to invasion
Identify the nationalities and locations where the following settled:
Angles and Saxons – Baltic shores of Germany – England
The Jutes – Denmark – England
The Danes – Scandanavia – crossed North Sea Settled in northeast and central England
King Arthur was a Celtic King/Leader/Warlord. “Once and Future King” – Knights of the Round Table etc…
Who was Ethelbert? King of Kent in 597 – Converted to Christianity by St. Augustine
Name at least three things that King Alfred did that earned him the name “The Great?” encouraged use of English instead of Latin, founded first public schools, military leader gave the people a sense of unit and identity, created the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (first history record and written in English) had Bede’s history translated into English from Latin
Who lead the last battle against the Anglo-Saxons and when did this battle take place? William of Normandy (France) in 1066 at Battle of Hastings – William was also known as William the conqueror and William I
Identify St. Augustine: missionary from Rome – brought Christianity to England, founded a monastery at Canterbury, 1st archbishop of Canterbury
Who was Raedwald? Dependent of Ethelbert converted to Christianity – ancestor of Beowulf – it is his burial site that was found at Sutton Hoo
What is Sutton Hoo and what can we learn from it? Relics discovered in 1939 dating from the 7th century revealing a wooden ship 90’ long, tomb of Raedwald – King of East Anglica, died in 624 or 625. Found a helmet, sword, and shield near body. Reveals artisans of the time using materials to create treasure described in Beowulf. Also showed Coptic Bronze from Egypt. Means life was livelier than first believed and had more trade.
Who was Venerable Bede and in what language did he write? Monk, father of history – writing in Latin, Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731) - The major source about early English history
Caedmon: 1streligious poet – know about him from Bede
Describe life during this period and identify the character traits the Anglo-Saxons valued.
Difficult, constant warfare, tribal with loyalty to your king
Wyrd – fate – predetermined – only fame and its reverberation in poetry could provide an enduring defense against death
Dragon – symbol – protector of treasure (Beowulf)
Name the Anglo-Saxon gods that provide names for two days of the week.
Thor – god of weather, thunder, lightening – Thursday – Thor’s Day
Odin (Wodin) – god of death, poetry and magic – Wednesday – Odin’s Day
Four manly virtues: bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship
What was a bard (scop) responsible for? History, culture, values, heroes, entertainment – told or sang stories of history or culture – narrative that reflected the ideals of the people constantly under threat of annihilation by war, disease or old age
elegiac poetry – mourns the loss of something or someone
heroic poetry – celebrates the deeds of a hero
How were scops viewed by society? Respected, valued – creating poetry was as manly as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving
What instrument did a scop use? Harp or Lyre