Anglo-Saxon & Medieval Literature Background

Years: 449-1485

Before 449

• Julius Caeser came to the isle “Briton” around year 55 B.C

• People he met: Britons Celtic people

Picts “leftovers” from pre-Celtic civilization

Gaels- Celtic speakers• Britons were skilled people- knew metal work,

agriculture, etc.• Caeser’s people returned to Briton about 100 years

later…

Roman Armies Invade

• Conquered the Britons• Drove the Picts north to what is now Scotland• Britain became a providence of the Roman

Empire & cities were introduced, stone roads, written language, & Christianity

• Not all is well for long…Romans return to Rome to defend city, Britain becomes a target of invasion too

The Anglo-Saxon Period

• Years 449-1066• Angles, Saxons, & other Germanic tribes left

their homes & settled in Britain’s eastern & southern shores

• Britain’s tried to stop the invasions, lost.• Had to go towards Cornwall & Wales. In with

the Gaels, Celtic culture disappeared.

Heptarchy

• 7 kingdoms• Kent, Jutes, Saxons of Sussex, Essex, Wessex,

East Anglia, Merica, Northumbria,

• We call them…. “Anglo-Saxons” • Violent people, wanders, believed in fate

The Growth of Christianity

• Britain had few Christians left, but Christianity never really died completely.

• Who was the man that was converting people in Ireland? (Gales became Christian)

• Gales moved to Scotland- Christianity there too.

• Augustine arrived and set up a monastery, by 690 all of Britain was at Christian.

The Danish Invasions

• The Danes aka Vikings came to Britain to destroy the monasteries. Began to take control of northern & eastern England.

• No success in South because Alfred the Great• 878 & 886 agreed to accept Christianity• Fighting resumed after AtG died• Edward the Confessor came to throne in 1042, no children,

swore William of Normandy (or so he said)• Harold was named heir, Edward & Harold died in battle.

William aka William the Conqueror was crowned king of England (1066).

The Medieval Period1066-1485

What does the word “medieval” mean?

• William introduced Feudalism.

What is feudalism?

• King owns all the land---- gives a ¼ to church, keeps ¼ for himself, loans out the rest to nobles, barons, and on down the ladder.

• Barons, knights, ________________, Anglo-Saxons (they were serfs aka peasants who were bound to land that they could not own.

• Barons were encouraged to build strong castles so that they could defend this hierarchy in the countryside.

Who Was After William?

• His son, Henry 1, Henry died so his daughter Matilda and nephew Stephen. Matilda’s son Henry II then took the throne.

• Henry II reformed the judicial system, established juries, formed England’s common law.

• Henry’s wife, Eleanor was French. She brought the ideas of chivalry, code of honor

What is the “Code of Honor”?

• Knights were expected to follow this.• Honor and protect ladies• Go on holy quests- the Crusades (Henry’s son

Richard I went on these. John his brother plotted against him while he was gone.

• Richard I died -- royal treasury was bankrupt• Forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215

Decline of Feudalism

• Commoners power was increasing• Trade was up because of the Crusades• Townspeople created groups so that trade

would flow• With more people living in towns, disease also

was on the rise.• The plague could spread rapidly

Schools on the Rise

The 100 Years’ War

• John Wycliffe- an Oxford scholar, led an effort to end widespread church corruption.

• 100 Years’ War- struggle between England and France that started in 1337, lasted longer than 100 years.

• Black Death- killed 1/3 of England’s population during this time.

The Fighting Continues…

• Joan of Arc stepped up to be leader• War ends in 1453, England lost all French

possessions. • On verge of conflict with 2 families claimed

the throne.• The House of York (white rose)• The House of Lancaster (red rose)

The War of Roses

• Fighting ends in 1485• Lancaster house (Henry Tudor) kills Richard

III. Henry took throne as Henry VII. • This is the stopping point for the Medieval

Ages in England.