Download Notes on Anglo-Saxon Period Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55

Notes on Anglo-Saxon Period
Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 BC, which began the Roman occupation of Britain. Romans
contributed roads and a 73-mile long wall known as Hadrian’s Wall, which was a fortification against
invasion, parts of which still exist today. When the Roman Empire began to crumble, mostly due to
the rise of Christianity in Rome, Romans had to leave Britain to fight the revolutions against the
Empire at home. They withdrew from Britain for good in 409 AD, but not before leaving a legacy of
law and culture. Unfortunately, they did not leave Britain with an existing government, which made
Britain susceptible to invasion by other nations.
The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invaded Britain in 449 AD, and the tribes or clans that made up their
society warred against each other for a hundred years. The plague hit Britain in 547 AD, and many
of the clans suffered deaths in huge numbers. It was during this period that Anglo Saxon literature,
stories made up of wars, bloodshed, and revenge became the basis for the stories the scops (poets,
singers, storytellers, and newscasters) passed down by word of mouth. Beowulf is one of these
stories. An epic poem of hundreds of lines, it was passed down in an oral tradition by the scops until
around 700 AD when the Christian monks put it down on paper. Unfortunately, the monks also
“Christianized” much of the plot, so the poem becomes a mixture of pagan and Christian doctrine,
thanks to the monks. It wasn’t until King Alfred the Great conquered Britain that education for all
became possible.
Christianity came to Britain with the Romans. The pagan religion of the Anglo-Saxons and
Christianity co-existed peacefully for about 300 years. After that, Christianity gained strength in
Europe, and as it was partially responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire, it also influenced most
cultures where the monks were located. This pitted the “love thy neighbor” philosophy of the
Christians against the “eye for an eye” beliefs of the Anglo Saxons.
Another religion predominant in the Anglo Saxon period was animism, the belief of the Celtics, that
there were spirits in all of nature who controlled the world. The Celtics believed in the power of
these spirits, and druids, their priests, became intermediaries between man and these gods or
spirits. Druids are credited with the erecting of Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plains. Some say
Stonehenge was used for a calendar/sundial; others say it is an altar to the spirits. It is this Celtic
faith that inspired the legends of King Arthur as well as most of the magical beliefs of today, like
witches, vampires, elves, fairies, etc. Celtic literature and Anglo Saxon literature existed during the
same time period, but Anglo Saxon stories told of only strong men and fierce, vengeful bloody
battles. Celtic literature included strong women as part of their stories that usually had “happily
ever after” endings. Whereas Anglo Saxon literature talked of Fate, Celtic literature spoke of
fantasy, love, and enchantment. When Christianity increased in Britain, Celtic traditions and religion
vanished.
England was susceptible to invasion, and in fact, was occupied by at least six different peoples:
Iberians, Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. In 1066 AD, William the Conqueror
invaded Britain by crossing the English Channel from Normandy. This takeover, known as the Battle
of Hastings, established the Norman government in Britain and ended the Anglo Saxon Period.
Directions: Highlight the most important information from the reading above. Use the highlighted
passages to write a one-paragraph summary of the Anglo-Saxon Period.