Middle Ages 449-1485 The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 The Medieval Period 1066-1485.
The Anglo-Saxons: 449–1066 Introduction to the Literary Period
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Transcript of The Anglo-Saxons: 449–1066 Introduction to the Literary Period
The Anglo-Saxons: 449–1066Introduction to the Literary Period
Interactive Time Line
Milestone: The Celts in Britain
Milestone: The Roman Occupation
Milestone: The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Milestone: King Alfred against the Danes
Milestone: The Spread of Christianity
Milestone: The Norman Invasion
What Have You Learned?
Feature Menu
The Anglo-Saxons: 449–1066
300s B.C.Celts in Britain
55 B.C–A.D.409Roman Occupation
A.D. 449Anglo-Saxon Invasion
A.D. 400–699Spread of Christianity
A.D. 1066Norman Invasion
A.D.878King Alfred against the Danes
Choose a link on the time line to go to a milestone.
A.D.600
A.D.300
A.D. 1
300 B.C.
A.D.900
A.D. 1200
The Celts in Britain
• Celtic religion a form of animism
Before and during the 4th century B.C.
Stonehenge• Druids were Celtic priests
• Britain named for one Celtic tribe—the Brythons
• Britain home to several Celtic tribes
Stonehenge
• Archaeologists believe it was built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC
The Roman Occupation
55 B.C. Hadrian’s Wall – North England
Romans evacuate their troops
• Central government breaks down
Julius Caesar invades Britain
Celts defeated by Claudius
A.D. 43
• Romans build walls, villas, baths, roads
Roman ruins
• Britain left vulnerable to attack
A.D. 409
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
A.D. 449 The Anglo-Saxons push the Celts into the far west of the country.
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Celts
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Celts
Why did the Anglo-Saxons settle in England?
England was inviting to outsiders:•Mild climate•Rich easily-tilled soil•Safe anchorage for invading ships
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Anglo-Saxon Society
• kinship groups led by strong warrior chief
• people farmed, established local governments, produced fine craftwork
• English emerged as a written language
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Celts
• Tribal society –warrior kings-led their men into battle
• Always rival warriors within the tribe• King gathered around him a retinue of
fighting men called thanes• Endless feuds between individuals and
between tribes
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Celts
• Royal living quarters were a small cluster of wooden buildings surrounded by a stockade
• Main structure was the Mead hall• Mead is a fermented drink made of
water, honey, malt, and yeast
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Celts
• Here the king, thanes, wives, and servants gathered.
• Singer called a scop entertained with stories of heroism.
• Warriors slept here after king retired to a different building.
Anglo Saxon values
• Gold/treasure• Comitatus – king and thanes/warriors
tied to one anotherKing shares spoils of war, warriors
obligated to fight for him• Loyalty• Bravery• Fate = Wyrd
Mead hall
Page from Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Old English
Exeter book• A tenth-century book or codex which is an
anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry.• Survived in Exeter Cathedral library• Among the other texts in the Exeter Book,
there are over ninety riddles.
The Anglo-Saxon religion
• offered no hope of an afterlife• valued earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty,
generosity, and friendship
• similar to what we call Norse mythology
ThunorThor
WodenOdin
Day of weekAnglo-Saxon godNorse god
Wednesday
Thursday
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
• Anglo-Saxons did not believe in afterlife
• warriors gained immortality through songs
Why were the scops important?
The Anglo-Saxon bards• called scops
Anglo-Saxon harp
• strummed harp as they sang• sang of heroic deeds• were often warriors
The Anglo-Saxon Invasion
8th–9th centuries
Vikings called Danes invade Britain
King Alfred against the Danes
878 King Alfred unifies Anglo-Saxons against the Danes.
871 Alfred of Wessex is king of England.
England becomes a nation.
King Sweyn and his Danish troops arrive in England, from a
manuscript (c. 14th century)
Vikings
8th centuryInvaded from across the North sea from Denmark and
Norway867-877 Vikings invaded and took over most of
northeast and central EnglandAngles
Saxons
Jutes
Celts
• Christianity and Anglo-Saxon culture co-exist
The Spread of Christianity
• Christian monks settle in Britain
• British pagan religions replaced by Christianity
Around A.D. 400
597 St. Augustine sent
from Rome by A.D. 699
• William of Normandy crosses the English Channel
The Norman Invasion
The Norman Invasion, Bayeux Tapestry
• French replaces English as the language of the ruling class
1066
• William defeats Harold and Anglo-Saxon army
______ Viking invaders terrorized England.
______ French became the language of the ruling class.
______ England became unified under Alfred the Great.
______ Animism was the primary religious belief.
What Have You Learned?
Indicate whether the following statements refer to the time before, during, or after the Anglo-Saxon era.
during
after
during
before
END