The Anglo-Saxons 449-1066

1. The Anglo-Saxons449-1066 Anglo-Saxon England was born of warfare, remained forever a military society; and came to its end in battle. --J. R. Lander

2. Celtic Heroes and Heroines • Beginning around 700 B.C., what is now considered Great Britain was settled by a Celtic group of tall blond warriors called the Brythons. • Their religion was called animism from the Latin word for “spirit” • Spirits existed in everything and controlled every aspect of existence and had to be constantly satisfied • Priests called Druids acted as intermediaries

3. Many believe Stonehenge was used by Druids for religious rites having to do with the lunar and solar cycles. -http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/stonehenge/stonehenge.html

4. The Romans • Romans established a balanced government between 307-1 B.C. • In 55 B.C. a group of Romans led by Julius Caesar • Built Hadrian’s Wall • Built roads • Established Westminster and London as major ports of trade • Brought Christianity which became unifying force

5. The Arrival of the Anglo-Saxons • The Romans withdrew by A.D. 409, leaving Britain weak without a centralized government and easy to invade. • In 449, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade Britain. • Angles and Saxons came from Germany. • Jutes came from Denmark. • Their language became the dominant language of the greater part of Britain.

6. The Arrival of the Anglo-Saxons • The Celts finally resisted and retreated into Wales but one Welsh chieftain, Arthur, remained who developed in legend as Britain’s “once and future king.” • The country was divided into individual principalities with its own king.

7. The Arrival of the Anglo-Saxons • From A.D. 871-899 King Alfred of Wessex led the Anglo-Saxons against the Danes who invaded frequently and England finally became a “nation.” • Alfred also helped create a cohesive English society from a collection of small, fractious kingdoms. • He restored cities destroyed during invasions and revived interest in learning and in the English Language.

8. The Arrival of the Anglo-Saxons • The unity of the nation can also be attributed to the reemergence of Christianity in Britain. • Anglo-Saxon kings were converted by Irish and Continental missionaries. • The battle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes continued until 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy from northwestern France defeated them.

9. Anglo-Saxon Life • Dominated by the need to protect the clan and home against enemies. • Law and order were the responsibility of the leader in any group, tribe, clan, family or kingdom. • Fame and success were gained only through loyalty to the leader.

10. Anglo-Saxon Life • They lived in wooden buildings that surrounded a communal court or a chieftain’s hall. • This arrangement contributed to a sense of security and the close relationship between leader and followers. • They encouraged community discussion and rule by consensus.

11. Anglo-Saxon Life • There are two classes in society: • Earls, or thanes, who ruled and were related to the founder of the tribe. • Churls who were bondservants whose ancestors had been captured by the tribe. • Provided hard labor for the society and were bound to the earls’ service unless they could earn possessions and special royal favor to become a free man. • The king consulted with the witan, or wise men.

12. Anglo-Saxon Life • The society was ruled by the warrior kings who led their men into battle • Defeat meant capture—which meant death • There was no such thing as peacetime; rival warriors were always seeking to take power • The thanes pledged an oath to defend him=king/ruler

13. Anglo-Saxon Life • The relationship between the king and his thanes is guided by the theory of comitatus • Loyalty to the king, even if it means death • The king rewarded faithful service with treasure: rings, gold, and weapons

14. Anglo-Saxon Life • Women had rights in this culture • They inherited and remained in control over their own property • The prospective husband had to offer a woman a substantial gift, a “morgengifu”

15. Anglo-Saxon Religion • It drew from deities and rites from Scandinavian mythology. • Fate and Glory – wyrdis a word used to represent one’s fate in life. • They did not believe in the idea of afterlife but of immortality or lof, meaning fame that survives death, could be earned through heroic action.

16. Anglo-Saxon Religion • They followed a religion which came from Germany based on Norse mythology. • An important Norse god was Odin, the god of death, poetry, and magic. • Wodenwas Anglo-Saxon name for Odin. • The dragon was another important figure to the Anglo-Saxons. • The embodiment of evil and death. • Protector of treasure.

17. The Role of the Scop • The skill of singing was just as important as fighting. • The communal hall was a place for storytellers to perform in front of an audience. • They sang of gods and heroes. • Anglo-Saxon literature was handed down orally by scops who sang in the mead halls of the lords.

18. The Role of the Scop • Anglo-Saxon literature was handed down orally by scops who sang in the mead halls of the lords. • They used phrases and accents to help remember their stories. • A line of poetry has four main stresses and is divided in half by a pause or caesura, a pause or break within a line of poetry, indicated by the natural rhythm of the language.

19. Christian Monastaries • Served as central learning centers • Printing was done in a scriptorium or a covered walkway open to a court • Ink froze during the winter • Monks preserved the literature of the ancient world as well as works of popular culture

20. The Anglo-Saxon Period: Literary Highlights • The brooding fatalism of pagan Anglo-Saxon culture gives the first British epic, Beowulf, its melancholy tone and stress on earthly heroism. • The bards ensure stories have an important position in early British culture. • Christian monks copy ancient manuscripts, preserving classical and Anglo-Saxon texts. • Chivalry gives rise to a new form of literature, the romance.

21. Literacy Highlights Continued • English emerges as a written language • Christian monks copy ancient manuscripts, preserving classical and Anglo-Saxon texts. • Historical poems in Anglo-Saxon Chronicle detail events of early English history. • The historical book, The Book of Kells, is a manuscript of Latin Gospels the monks put together. -This book is credited with being the beginnings of the book of Matthew.

22. Terms to Review for the Test • Brythons • Animism • Druids • Wyrd • Wergild • Comitatus • Lof • Earls/thanes • Churls • Witan • Hadrian’s Wall • Scops • Unferth • Welthow • Hrothgar

23. Bellringer: Take out 2 sheets of paper prepare for the writing portion of your test.

24. Begin Your In-Class Essay • You may use your textbook and notes. • Please skip lines • Feel free to write on the back of your paper. • Please use black ink only.

25. Beowulf In-Class Essay • How is the Anglo-Saxon tradition lofpresented in the poem? Why is it repeated throughout? • How does Beowulf’s approach to each battle different? Be sure to consider both his motives and attitudes. • Explain the significance of comitatus in the poem. Identify and discuss 2 or 3 instances when this concept is evident.

26. Prepare for the Test • Staple your Rubric to your Outline and place it in the box. • Grab a scantron sheet. • Write your name, class period and AS Test in the subject line.

27. After the Test: • Read the essay on the Middle Ages (pages 74-88) and take thorough notes. • Be sure to include the subtitles for each of the sections.