Anglo-Saxon Introduction August 28, 2013 Anglo-Saxon Timeline 449-1066 • 300 B.C.-Celts in Britain • 55 B.C.-A.D. 409-Roman Invasion • A.D. 449-Anglo-Saxon Invasion • A.D. 400-699-Spread of Christianity • A.D. 878-King Alfred against the Danes • A.D. 1066-Norman Invasion The Celts Before and During the 4th Century B.C. • Britain was the home to many Celt Tribes • King Arthur-was a famous Celtic King • Celtic Religion-a form of animism, which is a belief that gods/spirits controlled all aspects of life and could take the form of trees, rivers fire, thunder, etc. Roman Invasion • 55 B.C.-Julius Ceasar invades Britain • A.D. 43-Celts defeated by Claudius- Romans build walls, villas, baths, roads, etc. • A.D. 409-Romans evacuate their troops • Britain is vulnerable to attack • The central government breaks down Hadrian’s Wall • It was built by the Roman emperor, Hadrian, to protect the Romans from the Celts. • The wall was built all the way across northern England to protect the Romans from the celtic tribes in the north. • The Romans ruled ended because Italy was invaded and they were called home. The Anglo-Saxon Invasion A.D. 449 The Anglo-Saxons pushed The Anglo-Saxons the Celts into the far west country • They were the new settlers. • They are were a mixture of people from Germany, Denmark, and northern Holland. • The countries they came from were the Saxons, Franks, and Frisians were the German-Dutch, the Angles were southern Danish, and the Jutes were northern Danish. The Anglo-Saxon Tribes Three Tribes • The Anglo-Saxons were made up of three tribes: • Angles-Southern Danish • Saxons-German-Dutch • Jutes-Northern Danish Anglo-Saxon Society • Warrior-based society, led by a strong warrior chief. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle • “Warfare was the order of the day” (between clans, tribes, and outside invaders) • Anglo-Saxon life was dominated by the need to protect the clan and home from enemies. • Fame and success were achieved through loyalty to a leader and success was measured by gifts received from leaders • English emerged as a language. Women in the Anglo-Saxon Society • The women in the Anglo-Saxon society had rights. • They inherited and held property (even when married) and were offered substantial gifts of money and land from prospective husbands. Anglo-Saxon Women Anglo-Saxon Life • After their arrival many stayed away from Roman towns • They preferred to live in small villages • Some Saxons built wooden houses inside the walls of Roman towns • English emerged as a written language The Anglo-Saxon Religion • They were pagan, they believed in • They were superstitious. They believed many gods. in lucky charms. They thought magic rhymes, potions, stones or jewels • It offered no hope of afterlife…..only fame offered immortality and provided would protect them from evil spirits or a defense against death sickness. • It valued the concept of the “Heroic Ideal”…..earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship. Anglo-Saxon’s Scops Why were they important? • The Anglo-Saxons had “scops”, • Anglo-Saxons did not believe in the they were skilled storytellers. afterlife • They sang of heroic deeds and • They believed that warriors gain were regarded as equal to warriors. immortality through songs • The Anglo-Saxons valued preserved in collective memory storytelling as equal to fighting, hunting, and farming. King Alfred the Great against the Danes • Between the 9th and 12th centuries • 878 King Alfred unifies the Anglo- the Vikings, called the Danes, Saxons against the Danes. invade Britain • England becomes a nation. • They came from the European • Alfred was also known for reviving mainland: Denmark, Southern an interest in learning the English Norway, and Southern Sweden language. • 871 Alfred of Wessex becomes king of England The Spread of Christianity • Around A.D. 400 Christian monks • By A.D. 699 British pagan religion settled in Britain is replaced by Christianity • Christianity and Anglo-Saxon culture co-exist Christianity and Literature • The church brought education and written literature to England. • Monks established churches, monasteries, and libraries. • Monks recorded and duplicated illuminated manuscripts, at first only written in Latin. • Oral literature was transcribed into written form. • Monks preserved not only Latin and Greek classics but also popular literature (Beowulf). The Norman Invasion 1066 • William of Normandy (first Norman King of England) crosses the English Channel • William defeats Harold and the Anglo-Saxon army • French replaces English as the language of the ruling class The End .