Historical Background: The Kings Shadow

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Historical Background The Kings Shadow
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I. Geography
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The Narrow Sea
The English Channel
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I understand you have a fine wooden fort at
Pevensey. Harold saw that William was trying to
tease out of him the best place for an invading
army to land. (p. 127-128)
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III. The Roman Empire in England
They took a wide, well-traveled road the Romans
had laid out centuries before (p. 26)
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IV. Vikings
Tostig ruled Northumbria on the northeast coast
of England. This was Viking-settled land.
(p.36)
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VI. Monks and Scriptoria
The scriptorium was dark and still cool with
night air as Evyn entered behind the other monks
assigned there. It had an odd aroma of chemicals
and herbs, oils and pungent powders. Taking
their places at long tables stacked with books,
parchment, bowls of ink, and quill pens, they
began their days work. (p. 64)
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VII. Westminster Abbey
Immediately upon their return to England, Harold
visited the King in London. There Edward was
supervising the last details of his magnificent
new church, Westminster Abbey. It rose, stone by
stone, above the thatched rooftops of London.
(p. 137)
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VIII. Bayeux Tapestry
231 Feet Long
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II. Anglo-Saxon Language

• Thors Day
• Wessex, Essex, Sussex
• Shire reeve
• (I will take you before the shire reeve to seek
  justice, p. 17.)

• Thors Day Thursday
• Wessex, Essex, Sussex West Saxony, East Saxony,
  South Saxony
• Shire reeve Sheriff

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Conclusions about the World of The Kings Shadow

• A world of
• Workers Farmers, slaves, serfs, shepherds
  (p.42 little chance of upward mobility)
• Monks practicing medicine, copying books
• Nobles fighting each other for power,
  fighting invaders together
• Kings and Queens Look out for people? Marry
  for reasons of state, not love

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• A world of
• Storytellers because few people could read
• Limited diet

apples, bread, cheese, honey, mead, mutton,
pork, chicken, berries, cider

• Mixed religion Pagan vs. Christian
• (p.10- Eostre festival vs. celebration of
  Christs resurrection)
• Hospitality and Honor (p. 11, 31, 117, 119)
• Warfare, Conflict, Movement, Change
• Speed of communication?