Anglo Saxon Lecture 450-1066

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Anglo Saxon Lecture450-1066
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Anglo Saxon England (449-1066)

• I. Early Inhabitants (Henge people,
  Celts/Britons)
• II. Roman Dominance
• III. The Anglo-Saxons
• a. Invasion (449 A.D.)
• b. Civilization
• 1. Characteristics of the people
• 2. Worship of pagan gods
• 3. Conversion to Christianity (597 A.D.)
• 4. Language
• 5. Literaturea. Beowulf and epicb. Elegiac
  lyricsc. Riddlesd. Bedee. Caedmon
• f. Danish Invasion (859 A.D.)
• IV. King Alfred the Great (849-901)

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• The story of England is a story of a series of
  invasions and a cultural revolution.

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Stonehenge Henge people-449A.D.
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Stonehenge Origin

• Religious Rituals?
• Calendar?

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Celtic Tribes

• Celts/Britons
• Chieftains -ruled these fierce people

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Religion

• Druids-priests- wisdom learning
• Human Sacrifice
• Cannibals- Archeological evidence- large bones
  with knife marks showing muscle has been cut from
  the bone

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Celts Cont.

• Settled agriculture
• Used money
• Political unity
• Superior caste of learned men and women- Women
  leaders could inherit property and divorce their
  husbands.

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Roman Invasion

• Roman Leader EmperorClaudius (43 A.D.)
• Queen Boudicca Celtic Queen- led army of
  100,000 against Roman invaders. She her
  daughters committed suicide.
• Statue of Boudicca

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Roman Invasion Civilization

• Built roads forts
• Built baths elegant buildings
• Brought Christianity and coins to Celts

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Roman Civilization
Roman baths in Bath, England
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Emperor Hadrian's Wall
Defense against the invading Picts- Scotland
tattooed and painted blue
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Fall of Roman Empire Rise of the
Anglo-Saxons

• 410 AD Romans withdraw
• Celts vulnerable to attack
• Vortigern hired Germanic
• mercenary troops , but he didnt
• pay them, so they invaded!
• Angles- Denmark.
• Saxons- Germany.
• Jutes- Juteland

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Anglo Saxons
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Legend of King Arthur

• Nennius
• Celtic
• dux bellorum
• Arturius

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Anglo Saxon PeopleRuled 600 years

• England from Angle-land
• Fierce, warrior society
• Loyal toTribe Leader
• Comitatus- never leave their leader. Fight to
  death.
• Rewarded with treasure
• Fame and glory in battle
• Materialistic

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Sutton Hoo Burial Ship- weapons found
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Sutton Hoo Helmet
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Materialism
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Materialism Cont.
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Materialism Cont.
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From Pagan to Christian

• Pagan virtues honor, courage in battle fame
• Life moved from battle to feast and feast to
  battle
• Conversion to Christianity- 597 A.D.
• Augustine- Archbishop Canterbury
• Monasteries- centers of culture
• More peaceful unified-Heaven/Hell
• LITERATURE OLD English words
• Sister/brother, wind/star, night/day, he/she
• Literature reflects the SEA and BATTLES.
  

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Epic Poem Beowulf
Epic Hero- Composed 750 A.D.
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Anglo Saxon Literature

• Epic
• Elegiac lyrics-
• express sorrow
• Scops- very valuable b/c
• they made warriors famous
• Riddles tested cleverness of audience

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Christian Writers

• Monks scribes- put Christian virtues in pagan
  stories
• Venerable Bede
• History of the English Church and People
• The Father of English History
• Caedmon 1st English Poet

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King Alfred The Great
Vikings invaded in 9th century- brought pagan
gods, destroyed monasteries. Alfred the Great of
Wessex fought the Vikings ruled for 50 yrs.
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Alfred the Great Cont.

• Built a navy
• Translated literature
• Promoted learning
• Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
• 1066 Battle of Hastings -
• end of Anglo-Saxon , Old English period.
• When Angles and Saxons came hither from the
  East, Sought Britain over the broad-spreading
  sea, Haughty war smiths overcame the Britons,
  Valiant earls got for themselves a home. from
  the Anglo Saxon Chronicle