Where It All Began:Where It All Began:The Anglo-Saxon and Medievel PeriodThe Anglo-Saxon and Medievel Period

449-1485449-1485

The British IslesThe British Isles

First mentioned in the writings of Julius First mentioned in the writings of Julius Caesar in 55 B.C.ECaesar in 55 B.C.E– Had just smacked up the Gauls (Celtic Had just smacked up the Gauls (Celtic

people)people)– Caesar sailed from France to Britain, largest Caesar sailed from France to Britain, largest

part of British Islespart of British Isles– There encountered Britons, Picts (also Celtic There encountered Britons, Picts (also Celtic

people)people)– Farther west (Ireland) encountered the GaelsFarther west (Ireland) encountered the Gaels

Britons had thriving cultureBritons had thriving culture– Skilled in metalwork, agriculture, tradeSkilled in metalwork, agriculture, trade– Had a strong oral traditionHad a strong oral tradition– Preserved by priestly class known as DruidsPreserved by priestly class known as Druids

Clash with RomeClash with Rome

No match for Roman empireNo match for Roman empireCentury after Caesar’s visit, they came Century after Caesar’s visit, they came back and conqueredback and conqueredDrove Picts to ScotlandDrove Picts to ScotlandBritain became Roman provinceBritain became Roman province– Introduced cities, stone roads, written Introduced cities, stone roads, written

tradition, and eventually Christianitytradition, and eventually Christianity– However, eventually abandons Britain However, eventually abandons Britain

because of problems at homebecause of problems at home

Anglo-Saxon PeriodAnglo-Saxon Period449-1066449-1066

After Britain abandoned by Rome, new invaders After Britain abandoned by Rome, new invaders found it desirablefound it desirableAngles, Saxons, Jutes come down from northern Angles, Saxons, Jutes come down from northern Europe to settle thereEurope to settle thereBritons attempt to stop invasionBritons attempt to stop invasionLegendary battles take place (likely led by Legendary battles take place (likely led by leader named Arthur)leader named Arthur)Britons eventually driven to Wales, Cornwall, Britons eventually driven to Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, BrittanyScotland, Brittany– Celtic culture all but disappearedCeltic culture all but disappeared

HeptarchyHeptarchy

New Germanic tribes settled into 7 New Germanic tribes settled into 7 kingdoms:kingdoms:– Kent (Jutes)Kent (Jutes)– Sussex (Saxon)Sussex (Saxon)– Wessex (Saxon)Wessex (Saxon)– Essex (Saxon)Essex (Saxon)– East Anglia (Angles)East Anglia (Angles)– Mercia (Angles)Mercia (Angles)– Northumbria (Angles)Northumbria (Angles)

Because Angles dominant in early Heptarchy, Because Angles dominant in early Heptarchy, area became known as Angle-land, or Englandarea became known as Angle-land, or EnglandPeople came to be called EnglishPeople came to be called English– Practiced paganismPracticed paganism– Early on, were seafaring wanderersEarly on, were seafaring wanderers– Lives were bleak, fierce and shortLives were bleak, fierce and short– Strong belief in Strong belief in wyrd, wyrd, or fateor fate– Admiration for heroic figures whose wyrd it was to Admiration for heroic figures whose wyrd it was to

prevail in battleprevail in battle– With spread of Christianity, people became more With spread of Christianity, people became more

agricultural and less violentagricultural and less violent

ChristianityChristianity

Never died out after Rome leftNever died out after Rome left

Briton named Patrick spread to Ireland (Gaels)Briton named Patrick spread to Ireland (Gaels)

Gaels took to ScotlandGaels took to Scotland

Missionaries took to Angles and Picts in northMissionaries took to Angles and Picts in north

597, Augustine (Roman missionary) arrived in 597, Augustine (Roman missionary) arrived in Kent and established monastery known as Kent and established monastery known as CanterburyCanterbury– From there, spread so rapidly that by 690 all of Britain From there, spread so rapidly that by 690 all of Britain

nominally Christiannominally Christian

Invasion of DanesInvasion of Danes

790s—Danes (Vikings) showed up790s—Danes (Vikings) showed upBad dudes with serious ego tripBad dudes with serious ego tripRushed Northumbria, gained control of Rushed Northumbria, gained control of northern & eastern Englandnorthern & eastern EnglandTried to move south (Sussex, Essex, Tried to move south (Sussex, Essex, Wessex), but Alfred the Great shut them Wessex), but Alfred the Great shut them downdown– Made them agree to truce and accept Made them agree to truce and accept

ChristianityChristianity

Alfred dies and tug-of-war continuesAlfred dies and tug-of-war continues1016 a Dane (Canute) became king1016 a Dane (Canute) became king1042 Edward the Confessor became king1042 Edward the Confessor became kingEdward controversialEdward controversial– William (Duke) claimed Edward promised to make William (Duke) claimed Edward promised to make

him kinghim king– But Edward changed mind and made Harold kingBut Edward changed mind and made Harold king– Edward died in 1066; William decides to get little Edward died in 1066; William decides to get little

payback. Launches Norman invasion (later called payback. Launches Norman invasion (later called Norman Conquest)Norman Conquest)

– William becomes king and gets cool new nameWilliam becomes king and gets cool new nameWilliam the CONQUERERWilliam the CONQUERER

The EpicThe Epic

What is it? What is it? – A long, narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s A long, narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s

deeds.deeds.– Survived centuries through oral traditionSurvived centuries through oral tradition– Most date back long before written languageMost date back long before written language– Many based in historical factMany based in historical fact– Scops Scops (poets) performed publicly for entertainment (poets) performed publicly for entertainment

and educationand educationScops had to be very skilled at improv, singing, chantingScops had to be very skilled at improv, singing, chanting

Would build on existing stories and embellish themWould build on existing stories and embellish them

Often used repeated elementsOften used repeated elements– Stock Epithets and KenningsStock Epithets and Kennings

Stock Ep--Adjectives that point out special traits of Stock Ep--Adjectives that point out special traits of particular persons or things (“swift-footed” to particular persons or things (“swift-footed” to describe Achilles)describe Achilles)

Kenn—synonyms found in Germanic poems. Kenn—synonyms found in Germanic poems. Descriptive phrase or compound word that subs for Descriptive phrase or compound word that subs for a noun (Grendel is also called “sin-stained demon” a noun (Grendel is also called “sin-stained demon” and “the Almighty’s enemy”)and “the Almighty’s enemy”)

Characteristics of EpicCharacteristics of Epic

Hero generally male; of noble birth/high Hero generally male; of noble birth/high position; legendaryposition; legendaryHero reflects important ideals of his Hero reflects important ideals of his societysocietyHero performs courageous (even Hero performs courageous (even superhuman) deedssuperhuman) deedsActions of hero determine fate of nationActions of hero determine fate of nationSetting vast in scopeSetting vast in scopeSerious toneSerious tone

Plot complicated by supernatural Plot complicated by supernatural beings/events; may involve long, beings/events; may involve long, dangerous journeydangerous journey

Poem reflects timeless values—courage, Poem reflects timeless values—courage, honorhonor

Poem has universal themes—good vs. Poem has universal themes—good vs. evil, life and death.evil, life and death.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

1066-14851066-1485

How it BeganHow it Began

Normans (“north men”) originally Viking Normans (“north men”) originally Viking raidersraiders

But after settling in Normandy (coast of But after settling in Normandy (coast of France) adopted French waysFrance) adopted French ways

William now introduced these ways to William now introduced these ways to England, beginning Medieval period England, beginning Medieval period (Middle Ages)(Middle Ages)

FeudalismFeudalism

William wanted to make sure money was William wanted to make sure money was constant, so had land surveyed (for taxes)constant, so had land surveyed (for taxes)

How many properties, animals and How many properties, animals and workers, name of owner workers, name of owner

Feudalism—King owns all the land; gave Feudalism—King owns all the land; gave ¼ to church, kept ¼ as private, parceled ¼ to church, kept ¼ as private, parceled out rest to nobility (barons) who paid or out rest to nobility (barons) who paid or supplied warriors called knightssupplied warriors called knights

King-Barons-Knights-Serfs & PeasantsKing-Barons-Knights-Serfs & Peasants

Barons encouraged to build large castles Barons encouraged to build large castles

Churches built cathedrals and abbeysChurches built cathedrals and abbeys

William’s heir not as strong (Henry I)William’s heir not as strong (Henry I)

Henry II was Henry II was – Reformed judicial systemReformed judicial system– Brought in courts throughout land with juriesBrought in courts throughout land with juries– Formed “Common Law” Formed “Common Law”

Henry II’s wife was former French queenHenry II’s wife was former French queen

Brought ideals of chivalry—code of honor to Brought ideals of chivalry—code of honor to govern knightly behavior.govern knightly behavior.– Honor and protect ladiesHonor and protect ladies– Go on holy quests (the Crusades)Go on holy quests (the Crusades)– King is rulerKing is ruler– Church is rightChurch is right– Protect the weakProtect the weak– http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/chivalry.html

Henry’s son Richard I became known as Richard Henry’s son Richard I became known as Richard the Lionheartedthe Lionhearted

Richard spent much of his reign fighting in Richard spent much of his reign fighting in CrusadesCrusades

His evil bro John plotted against RTL while awayHis evil bro John plotted against RTL while away

When RTL died and John became king, John When RTL died and John became king, John figured out kingdom broke (because of war)figured out kingdom broke (because of war)

Led to signing of Magna CartaLed to signing of Magna Carta

Magna Carta & DemocracyMagna Carta & Democracy

““Great Charter”Great Charter”Granted barons more power and royal Granted barons more power and royal authority diminishedauthority diminishedFirst step toward democracyFirst step toward democracyJohn’s son, Henry III, council of barons John’s son, Henry III, council of barons began to meet (parliament)began to meet (parliament)Edward I included commoners Edward I included commoners – House of CommonsHouse of Commons– House of Lords (barons)House of Lords (barons)

Decline of FeudalismDecline of Feudalism

Growth in economy led to growth in townsGrowth in economy led to growth in towns

Commoners more prosperous, towns larger Commoners more prosperous, towns larger meant decline in feudalism since wealth no meant decline in feudalism since wealth no longer only about land ownershiplonger only about land ownership

Universities were center of learningUniversities were center of learning

Oxford produced advancements in science and Oxford produced advancements in science and math—Wycliffe, Bacon, etc.math—Wycliffe, Bacon, etc.

Downside—crowded towns led to more disease Downside—crowded towns led to more disease (plague)(plague)

The Hundred Years WarThe Hundred Years War

Between France and EnglandBetween France and EnglandBlack Death took tollBlack Death took tollKilled 1/3 of populationKilled 1/3 of populationPeasants Revolt Peasants Revolt When war ended, England had lost nearly all of When war ended, England had lost nearly all of its French possessionsits French possessionsTwo rival families trying to get throneTwo rival families trying to get throne– York (white rose)York (white rose)– Lancaster (red rose)Lancaster (red rose)– ““War of the Roses”War of the Roses”

The EndThe End

Henry Tudor killed Richard III on battlefieldHenry Tudor killed Richard III on battlefield

Took throne as Henry VIITook throne as Henry VII

Marked end of Middle AgesMarked end of Middle Ages