Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE

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2 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE

3 Rulers of Britain before Anglo-Saxons Two groups of Celts (pronounced Kelts) moved into the British Isles The Britons settled in Britain The Gaels settled in Ireland The Celts were: Shepherds, farmers, and hunters Fierce fighters Artistic, imaginative, and loved beauty Skilled with tin and iron (introduced iron to Europe) Organized into tightly knit clans

5 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE 55 BCE 0 44 CE 410 CE

6 The Roman Conquest Julius Caesar made hasty invasion in 55 BC and 56 BC Caesar described the Celts as: Light-skinned, fair-haired, and blue-eyed The true conquest occurred under the Roman Emperor Claudius in 43 AD. Brought Roman modernity. The Romans rule of Britain lasted for nearly 400 years, ending only when Rome was threatened, and the Romans abandoned Britain to return home.

7 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE 55 BCE 0 44 CE 449 CE 476 CE

9 In 449 AD, three main groups coming from Denmark, Holland, Germany, and Scandinavia, invaded Britain. They were: Angles Saxons Jutes They drove the native Britons from the eastern, central, and southern areas Became known as Angles Land or England Their Germanic language developed into Angle-ish or English

10 Originally started out with several tribal units, each organized by a king Witan: council of elders who would choose the king for each tribal unit Thanes: the upper class, earls, or free warriors Thralls: slaves who did the farming and domestic work Freemen: small group who earned possessions and special favors

11 Warrior-based society Comitatus - An agreement made between a lord and his thanes, in which the thanes swear to defend a lord to their death, while he provides them with protection and a share of his wealth and weapons Status was determined by who your father was, and to whom you pledged your allegiance.

12 Warrior-based society Wergild: man-price or blood money As Donaldson writes, If one of his kinsmen had been slain, a man had a special duty of either killing the slayer or exacting from him the payment of wergild.... The money itself had less significance as wealth than as proof that the kinsmen had done what was right. Relatives who failed either to exact wergild or to take vengeance could never be happy, having found no practical way of satisfying their grief.

13 The Anglo-Saxons farmed, maintained local governments, and created fine crafts, especially metalwork Eventually, the many small kingdoms converged into 7 main kingdoms. This development produced a new language: Old English

14 Characteristics of the Anglo-Saxons 1. Hard fighters and bold sea warriors 2. Boastful, reckless, cruel, and bloodthirsty 3. Enjoyed conflict, swimming matches, horse races, banqueting, drinking mead, singing songs, and storytelling 4. Also, flyting, a conflict of wits between two warriors, where each praises his own deeds and belittles the other s

15 Mead Hall All social events began and ended at the Mead Hall Mead: fermented beverage made from honey (think of beer made from honey) The hall was built by the local lord or king for the entertainment of the Thanes Used as a feasting hall Safest place in the kingdom

17 Anglo-Saxon Ideals Loyal to their lord or king Admired physical strength, bravery, loyalty, fairness, and honesty Great love of personal freedom Respect for women Love of glory Honored the truth

18 Beliefs Pagan (polytheistic) Pessimistic view of life Human life in the hands of fate (wyrd)* Did not believe in the afterlife Immortality only earned through heroic actions

19 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE 55 BCE 0 44 CE 476 CE

20 St. Augustine firmly established Christianity in England when he converted King Ethelbert and founded a monastery in Canterbury By 650 AD, most of England was Christian in name, if not in fact. The church brought education and written literature to England. Monks established churches, monasteries, and libraries. Oral literature was transcribed into written form

21 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE 55 BCE 0 44 CE 476 CE

22 We have a very clear account of the Anglo-Saxon time period because of a monk named Bede. He was known as: The Venerable Bede He wrote A History of the English Church and People. He is considered the father of English history

23 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE 55 BCE 0 44 CE 476 CE

24 The Danish Invasion Due to rising population and limited farmland, many Scandinavians (Norse and Danish) took to the seas Vikings! In 800 AD, Danish raiders attacked Britain The Norse settled in Northumbria, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland The Danes targeted eastern and southern England

25 Only the Saxon kingdom of Wessex managed to stop the Danes In 871 AD, Alfred the Great took the throne of Wessex and resisted any further Danish threat A 886 truce formally divided England and Danelaw: The Danes ruled the east and north; the Saxons ruled the south Alfred translated Bede s History and other works into English to make them more accessible, and instituted the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of England from the earliest days through 1154

27 Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain BCE 55 BCE 0 44 CE 476 CE

28 The Norman Conquest Near the end of 10 th century, Danes tried to expand Danelaw, and witans forced to select Danish kings 1042, throne returned to a descendant of Alfred the Great, Edward the Confessor, who was friendly with the Normans Harold succeeded to the throne upon Edward s death in 1066 William of Normandy challenged Harold s right to the throne and defeated Harold in the Battle of Hastings William was crowned King on Dec. 25, 1066

Home work. Fill in the Blanks Use your study sheet to find the correct answers. BETWEEN ANCIENT AND MODERN

Home work. Fill in the Blanks Use your study sheet to find the correct answers. BETWEEN ANCIENT AND MODERN Date: 1 BETWEEN ANCIENT AND MODERN The Middle Ages is the period between a and m history. The early period of the Middle Ages is known as the D Ages because the great c of G and R had fallen. Life during