The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons450-1066450-1066

England was inviting to outsidersEngland was inviting to outsiders mild climatemild climate rich, easily-tilled soilrich, easily-tilled soil safe anchorage for invading shipssafe anchorage for invading ships

• Invaders followed the riversInvaders followed the rivers Celts, Romans, Anglos, Saxons, and NormansCelts, Romans, Anglos, Saxons, and Normans

British Inventions/Accomplishments: British Inventions/Accomplishments: • Stonehenge, Robin Hood, Shakespeare, theory of Stonehenge, Robin Hood, Shakespeare, theory of

gravity, Industrial Revolution, radar, penicillingravity, Industrial Revolution, radar, penicillin• Magna Carta (1215)- on creating political system “by Magna Carta (1215)- on creating political system “by

and for the people”and for the people”

How we got there!How we got there!

New people mixed with old and formed the New people mixed with old and formed the new culturenew culture

Cave dwellers lived on the island 250,000 Cave dwellers lived on the island 250,000 years agoyears ago• Invaders came from Iberian peninsula in 2000 Invaders came from Iberian peninsula in 2000

BCBC Built Stonehenge (megaliths) on Salisbury PlainBuilt Stonehenge (megaliths) on Salisbury Plain

• The Celts migrated from further eastThe Celts migrated from further east Reached British Isles in 600 BCReached British Isles in 600 BC Built walled farms and hut villagesBuilt walled farms and hut villages Druid priests conducted sacrifices in forest shrinesDruid priests conducted sacrifices in forest shrines Animism religion “spirit”Animism religion “spirit”

Roman BritainRoman Britain 55 BC Rome dominated 55 BC Rome dominated

Mediterranean worldMediterranean world Julius Caesar invaded Briton as Julius Caesar invaded Briton as

punishment for assisting punishment for assisting continental Celtscontinental Celts

43 AD Claudius successfully 43 AD Claudius successfully invadedinvaded

Boadicea (queen of one of British Boadicea (queen of one of British tribes) led a rebellion a few years tribes) led a rebellion a few years laterlater

Romans eventually subdued most Romans eventually subdued most of Britainof Britain Defeated tribes were driven Defeated tribes were driven

into the highlands of Wales and into the highlands of Wales and ScotlandScotland

Early in the 2Early in the 2ndnd Century Emperor Century Emperor Hadrian built a wall 73 miles long Hadrian built a wall 73 miles long to protect the northern boarderto protect the northern boarder

Population became prosperous colony of 3 Population became prosperous colony of 3 to 4 million peopleto 4 million people Roads connected the townsRoads connected the towns Rural societyRural society

Romans ruled Britain for nearly four Romans ruled Britain for nearly four hundred yearshundred years 410 the city of Rome fell to German barbarians410 the city of Rome fell to German barbarians Honorius: Briton, defend yourselvesHonorius: Briton, defend yourselves

Many continued to speak Latin and tried to Many continued to speak Latin and tried to keep up old economic and political lifekeep up old economic and political life

The Celtic mixed with LatinThe Celtic mixed with Latin Country remained weak and dividedCountry remained weak and divided

Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Germanic tribes) Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Germanic tribes) began invading, looking for better/more began invading, looking for better/more secure and fertile land for livingsecure and fertile land for living By 441 they had a firm foothold at the mouth of By 441 they had a firm foothold at the mouth of

the Thames Riverthe Thames River Defeated the Celtic tribes and drove them west Defeated the Celtic tribes and drove them west

into the highlands of Walesinto the highlands of Wales• Later origins of legend of King Arthur and his round Later origins of legend of King Arthur and his round

tabletable

During the middle of the sixth century most During the middle of the sixth century most of the southern low land part of the island of the southern low land part of the island was under the control of Angleswas under the control of Angles

Anglo-Saxon EnglandAnglo-Saxon England Religion came from German influence and tied to Religion came from German influence and tied to

Norse and Scandinavian mythologyNorse and Scandinavian mythology Thor’s day (god of thunder and lightening)Thor’s day (god of thunder and lightening) Odin’s day (god of death, poetry, and magic)Odin’s day (god of death, poetry, and magic) Dragons (protector of treasures and death)Dragons (protector of treasures and death)

Germanic settlersGermanic settlers Tribal society –warrior kings- led their men into battleTribal society –warrior kings- led their men into battle Always rival warriors within the tribeAlways rival warriors within the tribe King gathered around him a retinue of fighting men called King gathered around him a retinue of fighting men called

thanesthanes King rewarded faithful service with treasure: rings, gold, King rewarded faithful service with treasure: rings, gold,

and especially weaponsand especially weapons Any offense to one thane had to be avengedAny offense to one thane had to be avenged Endless feuds between individuals and between tribesEndless feuds between individuals and between tribes

Royal living quarters were a small cluster of Royal living quarters were a small cluster of wooden buildings surrounded by a stockade.wooden buildings surrounded by a stockade.

Main structure was the mead-hallMain structure was the mead-hall Mead is a fermented drink made from water, Mead is a fermented drink made from water,

honey, malt, and yeasthoney, malt, and yeast Here the king, thanes, wives, and servants Here the king, thanes, wives, and servants

gathered togethergathered together Here the warriors slept after the king retired to a Here the warriors slept after the king retired to a

small outbuildingsmall outbuilding dinging poet called a scop recounted both past dinging poet called a scop recounted both past

history and present eventshistory and present events

Fame and honor mattered greatly to peopleFame and honor mattered greatly to people ““Manly” virtues: bravery, loyalty, generosity, and Manly” virtues: bravery, loyalty, generosity, and

friendshipfriendship mystical aspects of realitymystical aspects of reality

Relatively primitive warrior bands; took over some of Relatively primitive warrior bands; took over some of the old Roman towns and governmental proceduresthe old Roman towns and governmental procedures

Ambitious kings began to assert an authority over Ambitious kings began to assert an authority over other rulers, each claiming to be a ruling king or other rulers, each claiming to be a ruling king or bretwaldabretwalda War between principalities, tribes, and clansWar between principalities, tribes, and clans Law and order fell to leaders of given groupsLaw and order fell to leaders of given groups Fame and success through loyalty, especially during warFame and success through loyalty, especially during war Success measured in giftsSuccess measured in gifts Security came in development of close communitiesSecurity came in development of close communities

Achieving unity and peace : Achieving unity and peace : influence of the Christian churchinfluence of the Christian church

Anglo-Saxon Britain:pagan Anglo-Saxon Britain:pagan until 597, until 597, St. Augustine established St. Augustine established

the first archbishopric at the first archbishopric at CanterburryCanterburry• Converted King Ethelburt Converted King Ethelburt

of Kent.of Kent. pagan and Christian pagan and Christian

altars side-by-sidealtars side-by-side Christianity was crucial for Christianity was crucial for

the development of the the development of the Anglo-Saxon cultureAnglo-Saxon culture

Church brought contact with the distant and Church brought contact with the distant and ancient Mediterranean World.ancient Mediterranean World.

Brought essential skill for advanced culture- WritingBrought essential skill for advanced culture- Writing Venerable BedeVenerable Bede King AlfredKing Alfred Beowulf poetBeowulf poet

Church tried to teach new values to warrior-kingsChurch tried to teach new values to warrior-kings• Compassion and cooperation instead of arrogance and violenceCompassion and cooperation instead of arrogance and violence

Peak of Anglo-Saxon culture came with rule of Peak of Anglo-Saxon culture came with rule of Mercian Bretwaldas (overlord or king) of 8Mercian Bretwaldas (overlord or king) of 8thth C C From here came most of surviving 30,000 lines of poetry From here came most of surviving 30,000 lines of poetry

and some proseand some prose Anglo-Saxon and Christian cultures combined to form a Anglo-Saxon and Christian cultures combined to form a

new synthesisnew synthesis

Vikings Era in England (8Vikings Era in England (8thth Century)Century)

Invaded from across the North Sea from Invaded from across the North Sea from Denmark and NorwayDenmark and Norway Plundered coastal monasteries and towns (at Plundered coastal monasteries and towns (at

first) periodicallyfirst) periodically Regular attacks increased after 835Regular attacks increased after 835

• Armies appeared with fleets of up to 250 shipsArmies appeared with fleets of up to 250 ships• Commanded by Danish kingsCommanded by Danish kings

867-877 Vikings invaded and took over 867-877 Vikings invaded and took over most of northeast and central Englandmost of northeast and central England Norhtumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, and Essex Norhtumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, and Essex

and absorbed in to Danelaw regionand absorbed in to Danelaw region• Followed Danish lawFollowed Danish law• Era of Leif EricsonEra of Leif Ericson

Alfred the Great (849-899) ruled surviving Alfred the Great (849-899) ruled surviving Anglo-Saxon region of Wessex (in South)Anglo-Saxon region of Wessex (in South) English navy: protection against VikingsEnglish navy: protection against Vikings Build fortified towns- Burhs (bergs) in grid Build fortified towns- Burhs (bergs) in grid

patternpattern• Manned by standing garrisonsManned by standing garrisons

Defeated Vikings at Edington in 878Defeated Vikings at Edington in 878• Forced them to stay in Danelaw regionForced them to stay in Danelaw region

Second great era of Anglo-Saxon literary cultureSecond great era of Anglo-Saxon literary culture• Studied and translated Latin works into Anglo-SaxonStudied and translated Latin works into Anglo-Saxon

Bede’s history of EnglandBede’s history of England• 891 (ish) began Anglo-Saxon Chronicles891 (ish) began Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

Year-by-year account of happenings in kingdomYear-by-year account of happenings in kingdom Greatest single source of information about the Greatest single source of information about the

periodperiod

England (10th century) divided between England (10th century) divided between Scandinavians in north and east and Scandinavians in north and east and Anglo-Saxons in southeast and southAnglo-Saxons in southeast and south Divided until William the Conqueror (French Divided until William the Conqueror (French

Norman) in 1066Norman) in 1066 Anglo-Saxons dominated the history of Anglo-Saxons dominated the history of

England for 600 yearsEngland for 600 years Foundations for the culture of their landFoundations for the culture of their land Provided languageProvided language Began literatureBegan literature Established traditions in law, government, and Established traditions in law, government, and

religionreligion First English peopleFirst English people

Elsewhere in the WorldElsewhere in the World Charlemagne (742-814), king of the Franks, Charlemagne (742-814), king of the Franks,

attempted to expand nation’s powerattempted to expand nation’s power Took northern Italy, northern Spain, and parts of Took northern Italy, northern Spain, and parts of

GermanyGermany 800 declared himself Emperor of the West800 declared himself Emperor of the West

• Attempted to renew reign of Caesars and Holy Roman EmpireAttempted to renew reign of Caesars and Holy Roman Empire Mohammed (570?-632), prophet in Arabia, founded Mohammed (570?-632), prophet in Arabia, founded

IslamIslam Koran is a collection of his sayingsKoran is a collection of his sayings Spread throughout northern Africa into Spain and IndiaSpread throughout northern Africa into Spain and India Established rich Arabic cultureEstablished rich Arabic culture

• Striking advances in mathematicsStriking advances in mathematics• Built richly ornamented citiesBuilt richly ornamented cities• Sponsored poets and philosophersSponsored poets and philosophers

Islam came into conflict with developing western culturesIslam came into conflict with developing western cultures• 778 Charlemagne defeated Moslems in northern Spain778 Charlemagne defeated Moslems in northern Spain

Mayan culture flourished in Central Mayan culture flourished in Central America (Western Hemisphere)America (Western Hemisphere) (317-987) “Old Empire” perfected a highly (317-987) “Old Empire” perfected a highly

accurate calendaraccurate calendar Employed elaborate hieroglyphic writingEmployed elaborate hieroglyphic writing Erected large cities with massive pyramidsErected large cities with massive pyramids

T’ang Dynasty in China (7T’ang Dynasty in China (7thth Century) – Century) – most powerful nation on earth at the timemost powerful nation on earth at the time Taizong (627-650) emperor led nearly 50 years Taizong (627-650) emperor led nearly 50 years

of peaceof peace• Economic prosperityEconomic prosperity• Wide-spread exportation of goodsWide-spread exportation of goods• Developed arts of poetry and paintingDeveloped arts of poetry and painting