Download Anglo-Saxon History - Kenston Local Schools

Anglo-Saxon History
499-1066
Britain before the Anglo-Saxons
• Onslaught of battle ensued during the 5th century
as warriors from Denmark and Germany
bombarded the British coast
– Identified themselves as Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
- began their pirate raids on the north sea but by 449 in
was a full scale invasion.
- Land was divided
- Eastern, southern, and central portion were “Angles” land or
England – he heavily influenced Germanic dialect developed
Angl –ish (English)
- These language patterns developed the culture and literature
of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Britain before the Invasion
• Briton was inhabited by Iberians from present day
Spain and Portugal (Stonehenge was built in 2000
bc)
• They brought Stone Age weaponry to Britain’s
shores.
• Between 800 and 600 bc celts invaded the british
isles.
– The brythons (Britons) who settled Britain and the
Gaels settled Ireland.
– They were farmers and hunters
– They were organized into tightly knit clans
– Druid priests served as their governing force and
peace keepers
• Druids were known for their religious rituals and
sacrifices
• As well as their responsibility to reciting and
memorizing of long heroic poems of their ancestry
(including Ole King Cole and King Lear)
Roman Conquest
• Romans conquered Britain in 55 BC – Julius Caesar was
sophisticated and calculating
• Disciplined Roman legions spread out throughout the
land under the reign of Emperor Claudius
– Formed camps that grew into towns
– Constructed roads through the woodland wilderness
– Brought with them skilled art of warfare however didn’t teach the
Britons about self-defense
– Their lasted for over 300 years
– Romans left Britain to defend Rome in 407
• Britons fell easy prey to new invaders
Anglo-Saxon Conquest
• The Angles and Saxons were ferocious but for a purpose
– they sought and won territory
• They had highly organized tribal units which were ruled by
a chosen king a witan or council of elders
– Earls were a hereditary class of warlords
– Second class were freemen – allowed to own land and engage in
commerce
• these included thanes who were granted status as a reward for
military service
• Churls or serfs were bonded servants who worked the land in return
for military protection
Anglo-Saxon beliefs
• Over time the tribes intermingled and produced a new
language Old English
• 6th century pagan beliefs had a very grim view in life –
encompassed the realm of
– Scotland, Northumbria, Ireland, Danelaw, Wales, Mercia, and
Wessex
• Believed their lives were in the hands of fate – with ever
present danger of accidental death or death by warfare
• This differed greatly from Christian faith in the freedom to
choose your own path.
• Worshipped ancient pagan gods that abandoned with the
coming of Christianity but still find evidence of them today:
– Tin: the god of war and sky = Tuesday
– Woden: chief of the Gods = Wednesday
– Fria: Woden’s wife and goddess of home = Friday
Transition fleeing of the Celts
• Afraid of the Anglo-Saxons, the
Britons retreated to the cliffs of
their island – Cornwall on the
southwestern shore, hilly western
region now known as Wales and to
the north, modern day Ireland
• The formed splinter groups named
Scots (from Scotia the Roman
word for Ireland)
• All the areas they spoke celtic
languages – Cornish, Welsh, and
Irish and Scottish Gaelic – all but
Cornish are still spoken commonly
today.
Enter the Christians
• 4th century the Romans accepted Christianity and
introduced it to Britain, which despite Anglo-Saxon
invasion lived on in Wales and with the Celts.
• The strength of the faith was carried on by St. Patrick
into Ireland were it spread by his legendary activities.
• It was a time of great Barbarism – after the Romans fell
to the tribes in 476 ad Celtic Christians were left to
continue on its own – flourishing and strengthening the
church.
• In 563 with the help of the soldier and abbot, Columba,
and Irish monks Christianity moved its way across the
Britain winning the acceptance of the Scots as well as
many Angles and Saxons – establishing monasteries
throughout the North.
Roman church
• 597 ad sent St. Augustine throughout England
and converted King Elthelbert of Kent to
Christianity – and created the monastery at
Canterbury (aka “Tales”).
• In turn converted his subjects to Christianity
• By 650 most of England was Christian in name
as well as fact.
– It softened the ferocity of the Anglo-Saxon civilization
– Warlords no longer thought themselves to be
descendants of gods and treated their wives and
children less like slaves
– The church promoted peace and calling on a higher
power to unify the English people
Christianity and Literature
• Christianity brought about education and written
literature – Canterbury and York
• Monks worked as scribes recording and duplicating
manuscripts in Latin – elaborately decorated in
gold and silver
• Venerable Bede often referred to as “father of
English History (673-735) – was a master of history
most known for his A History of the English Church
and People – which offers the clearest account of
Anglo-Saxon times.
• Although Christianity did temper civilization it did
not destroy the barbarian spirit which is depicted in
the classic tale of Beowulf –
– Anglo-Saxon warriors fighting supernatural beasts for
the good of all humanity
Origins of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
• Recitation of poetry occurred on ceremonial occasions – military
victory
– They would gather in a hall or castle and perform the stories for
entertainment
– These performances usually involved professional minstrels, scops, and
their assistants called gleemen – recited for hours even days.
– Poems were set to a harp and followed a set formula making them easier
to memorize.
– A rigid pattern of word stresses gave the lyrics a sing-song effect and a
mid-line pause (a caesura) along with alliteration helped create a
dramatic effect to capture audiences.
– Only about 30, 000 lines of tradional Anglo-Saxon verse still exist
• They fall into 2 categories –
• heroic poetry = which recounts the achievements of warriors involved in great
battles
• Elegiac poetry = sorrowful laments that mourn the death of loved ones
Beowulf Legend
• An epic – a long heroic poem –
– contain a great deal of history, usually invoking a muse or
goddess for inspiration
– Also includes an experience of nekuia, or descent to the
underworld
– National epic of England because it was the first epic
composed in the English language
• Beowulf is renowned for his strength, courage, and
dignity
• Like most Anglo-Saxon poetry the author is unknown
– Recited as early as the 6th century, composed in the 8th
century, and written down in the eleventh century
• Poem makes many references to Christian ideas and
Latin classics crossed with the traditional values of a
warrior society – bravery and prowess in battle
The End