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ANGLO - SAXON ANGLO - SAXON 449-1066 449-1066

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ANGLO - SAXON. 449-1066. History of England Until 600 B.C. Cave dwellers inhabited Britain until around 600 B.C., when a number of Celtic tribes, each with its own king, invaded. The tribes warred constantly with one another and the other inhabitants of Britain, the Scottish Picts. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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ANGLO - SAXONANGLO - SAXON

449-1066449-1066

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History of England Until 600 B.C.History of England Until 600 B.C.

Cave dwellers inhabited Britain until Cave dwellers inhabited Britain until around 600 B.C., when a number of around 600 B.C., when a number of Celtic tribes, each with its own king, Celtic tribes, each with its own king, invaded.invaded.

The tribes warred constantly with one The tribes warred constantly with one another and the other inhabitants of another and the other inhabitants of Britain, the Scottish Picts.Britain, the Scottish Picts.

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We know that around 300 We know that around 300 B.C. the Celts or “Brythons” B.C. the Celts or “Brythons” did live in Britain. These did live in Britain. These blond warriors had a highly blond warriors had a highly developed developed religionreligion, , mythologymythology, & , & legallegal system system with individual rights. Their with individual rights. Their religion was called religion was called animisimanimisim in which spirits took natural in which spirits took natural & unnatural shapes and & unnatural shapes and forms. Priests called forms. Priests called DruidsDruids were the intermediaries were the intermediaries between the gods & the between the gods & the

people.people.

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The legend of King Arthur was derived from a number of Celtic legends and the most famous of the legends comes from Sir Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte Darthur.

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Roman OccupationRoman OccupationJulius Caesar invaded the island in 55 B.C.; Julius Caesar invaded the island in 55 B.C.; Rome controlled Britain until around 410, when Rome controlled Britain until around 410, when Romans left to tend to problems at home. Romans left to tend to problems at home. During this time During this time ChristianityChristianity overcame the overcame the Celtic religion and the Celtic beliefs slowly faded. Celtic religion and the Celtic beliefs slowly faded.

Trouble at home (Egypt) forced the Roman army Trouble at home (Egypt) forced the Roman army to withdrawal. If it were not for this, England to withdrawal. If it were not for this, England would actually speak Italian. But shortly after the would actually speak Italian. But shortly after the Roman’s withdrew, Latin vanished and Celtic Roman’s withdrew, Latin vanished and Celtic again became the dominant tongue. again became the dominant tongue.

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Arrival of the Germanic TribesArrival of the Germanic Tribes

From the European mainland came a From the European mainland came a number of Germanic tribes: number of Germanic tribes: AnglesAngles, , SaxonsSaxons, (from Germany) and , (from Germany) and JutesJutes (from Denmark). The Anglo-Saxon (from Denmark). The Anglo-Saxon tongue became the dominant tongue tongue became the dominant tongue and this is where we get England and this is where we get England (Engla Land). The Celts put up a (Engla Land). The Celts put up a strong resistance, but they failed and strong resistance, but they failed and headed toward Wales.headed toward Wales.

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Arrival of the Germanic TribesArrival of the Germanic Tribes

By the mid-500’s, the Germanic By the mid-500’s, the Germanic tribes, and their language, had taken tribes, and their language, had taken over Britain. Between the 5th and over Britain. Between the 5th and 11th centuries, England was a 11th centuries, England was a HeptarchyHeptarchy, or seven-kingdom , or seven-kingdom structure. The Angles controlled 3 structure. The Angles controlled 3 out of 7 kingdoms, the Saxons 3, and out of 7 kingdoms, the Saxons 3, and the Jutes 1. Each had its own the Jutes 1. Each had its own kingking..

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The Heroic LifeThe Heroic LifeThe culture of the Germanic settlers early in England’s The culture of the Germanic settlers early in England’s history was a history was a tribaltribal society, ruled by a number of society, ruled by a number of warrior-kings. The country was divided into many small warrior-kings. The country was divided into many small kingdoms, each overseen by a ruling king or kingdoms, each overseen by a ruling king or bretwaldabretwalda..

Old English, or Anglo-Saxon literature, is concerned with Old English, or Anglo-Saxon literature, is concerned with the the heroicheroic life. The vital relationship of the heroic life is life. The vital relationship of the heroic life is that between retainer (the that between retainer (the thanethane) and lord () and lord (ring-giverring-giver). ). The retainer’s binding virtue is The retainer’s binding virtue is loyaltyloyalty. Continuing . Continuing loyalty is ensured in the lord’s giving of loyalty is ensured in the lord’s giving of treasuretreasure to the to the thane. thane.

Defense of the lord in battle and revenge for injuries Defense of the lord in battle and revenge for injuries against either the warrior’s lord or his kinsman were the against either the warrior’s lord or his kinsman were the duties of a retainer. A warrior’s paramount goal is the duties of a retainer. A warrior’s paramount goal is the achievement of a lasting achievement of a lasting reputationreputation…immortality …immortality through through wordword..

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The Heroic LifeThe Heroic Life

The Anglo-Saxon warrior followed a strict The Anglo-Saxon warrior followed a strict code of code of loyaltyloyalty and and vengeancevengeance. . Vengeance could be achieved by either Vengeance could be achieved by either blood or wergild. In Anglo-Saxon custom, blood or wergild. In Anglo-Saxon custom, if and Anglo-Saxon killed someone, he if and Anglo-Saxon killed someone, he had to pay a price for his deed or accept had to pay a price for his deed or accept the fact that the victim’s relatives would the fact that the victim’s relatives would seek revenge. Blood feuds were common, seek revenge. Blood feuds were common, but it was also acceptable to establish a but it was also acceptable to establish a price for compensation depending on the price for compensation depending on the act and on the social status of the injured act and on the social status of the injured individual.individual.

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The Heroic LifeThe Heroic Life

The Anglo-Saxon lord was expected to lead by The Anglo-Saxon lord was expected to lead by example, to be the moral guardian of his people, example, to be the moral guardian of his people, and to give generously to his retainers in return and to give generously to his retainers in return for their loyal service: hospitality, for their loyal service: hospitality, foodfood, mead, , mead, entertainmententertainment, influence, , influence, goldgold, jewelry, , jewelry, horseshorses, , and armor were all typical gifts. The favorite and armor were all typical gifts. The favorite entertainment for a thane consisted of gathering entertainment for a thane consisted of gathering in the in the meadmead hall with the king and his other hall with the king and his other thanes, eating, drinking mead to excess, and thanes, eating, drinking mead to excess, and listening to listening to scopsscops (poets) tell heroic epics. (poets) tell heroic epics.

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The Tribal Culture of the Anglo-SaxonsThe Tribal Culture of the Anglo-Saxons Each tribe had their Each tribe had their own own kingking They built walled farms and They built walled farms and wood-hut villageswood-hut villages They used They used bronzebronze and and ironiron tools tools, and grew , and grew crops crops They also They also warred warred with each other with each other Since war was always a possibility, life was Since war was always a possibility, life was unstable unstable and often and often violentviolent warriors were loyal to the king and would fight to warriors were loyal to the king and would fight to the death for him, surrender was the death for him, surrender was cowardly cowardly these were these were oral culturesoral cultures (there was no (there was no writingwriting or recorded history) or recorded history) these cultures were these cultures were non-Christiannon-Christian; they were ; they were “pagans,” worshipping many gods“pagans,” worshipping many gods

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WomenWomenThe woman’s role was to supervise The woman’s role was to supervise the the weavingweaving and dyeing of clothes, and dyeing of clothes, slaughterslaughter the livestock, bake the the livestock, bake the breadbread, and brew the , and brew the meadmead. . Because you needed fermented Because you needed fermented honey to make mead, women also honey to make mead, women also partook in partook in beekeepingbeekeeping. . Women could own property and buy Women could own property and buy and sell goods. and sell goods.

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ReligionReligionThe religion of the Anglo-Saxons was dark and The religion of the Anglo-Saxons was dark and paganpagan. They often leaned upon Norse or . They often leaned upon Norse or Scandinavian mythology and Odin, the god of Scandinavian mythology and Odin, the god of death, poetry, and magic. death, poetry, and magic. Known as Woden to Angles, he could help Known as Woden to Angles, he could help humans communicate with spirits. humans communicate with spirits. Thunor, Norse Thor, was the god of thunder and Thunor, Norse Thor, was the god of thunder and lightning. The swastika was probably his sign lightning. The swastika was probably his sign since it is found on many Anglo-Saxon graves. since it is found on many Anglo-Saxon graves. The Anglo-Saxons remained largely pagan until The Anglo-Saxons remained largely pagan until 597, when St. Augustine was sent from Rome to 597, when St. Augustine was sent from Rome to convert England and assume his duties as the convert England and assume his duties as the first Archbishop of Canterbury.first Archbishop of Canterbury.

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Scop (pronounced shope)Scop (pronounced shope)an Old English term for poetan Old English term for poetthe scop had the important job of singing about the scop had the important job of singing about the accomplishments of his patron and his the accomplishments of his patron and his peoplepeopleThe scop functioned as both an entertainer and The scop functioned as both an entertainer and as an historian. Besides telling a story, his job as an historian. Besides telling a story, his job was to retell current and past events, to record, was to retell current and past events, to record, remember, and retell history all from the record remember, and retell history all from the record of his mind. of his mind. Fame and honor meant a lot to these people; it Fame and honor meant a lot to these people; it was the scop’s job to preserve a record of their was the scop’s job to preserve a record of their achievements for later generations. achievements for later generations.

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ComitatusComitatus

This term was developed by the Roman This term was developed by the Roman historian Tacitus in historian Tacitus in Germania.Germania. Comitatus Comitatus describes, “the society . . . or brotherhood describes, “the society . . . or brotherhood of men who owed allegiance to a chieftain of men who owed allegiance to a chieftain and expected his benevolence in return.” and expected his benevolence in return.” It is friendship; the bond of loyalty. It is friendship; the bond of loyalty.

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WyrdWyrd

Old English for fate, sense of doom, Old English for fate, sense of doom, which was believed to be the which was believed to be the controlling force of the world for pre-controlling force of the world for pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon culture.Christian Anglo-Saxon culture.

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Wergild “Manprice”Wergild “Manprice”

If one of his kinsmen had been slain, a man had If one of his kinsmen had been slain, a man had a special duty of either killing the slayer or a special duty of either killing the slayer or exacting from him the payment of wergild.exacting from him the payment of wergild.

The money itself had less significance as wealth The money itself had less significance as wealth than as proof that the kinsmen had done what than as proof that the kinsmen had done what was right. was right.

Relatives who failed either to exact wergild or to Relatives who failed either to exact wergild or to take vengeance could never be happy, having take vengeance could never be happy, having found no practical way of satisfying their grief.found no practical way of satisfying their grief.

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Funeral PyreFuneral Pyre

wood heaped for burning a dead wood heaped for burning a dead body as a funeral rite – it was often body as a funeral rite – it was often set out to seaset out to sea

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BarrowBarrow

a large mound of earth or stones a large mound of earth or stones placed over a burial siteplaced over a burial site

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KenningKenning

a poetic device in Old English poetry a poetic device in Old English poetry consisting of a compound of two consisting of a compound of two words in place of another, such as words in place of another, such as Whale-road for sea. Whale-road for sea.

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AlliterationAlliteration

the occurrence in a phrase or line of the occurrence in a phrase or line of poetry of two or more words having poetry of two or more words having the same initial sound. In OE poetry, the same initial sound. In OE poetry, alliteration is the principal poetic alliteration is the principal poetic device.device.

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AnathemaAnathema

a formal and solemn denunciation; a formal and solemn denunciation; “He is an anathema to me.”“He is an anathema to me.”

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The mead-hall: The mead-hall: within the tribal within the tribal cluster of wooden cluster of wooden buildings buildings surrounded by a surrounded by a strong wooden strong wooden fence, stood the fence, stood the mead-hall. mead-hall. Here the king and Here the king and his warriors his warriors (called (called thanes) thanes) feasted and feasted and drank mead drank mead (Anglo-Saxon (Anglo-Saxon beer).beer).In the mead-hall, In the mead-hall, they were they were entertained by a entertained by a scop.scop.