The Anglo-Saxon Period

Summary

This lecture explores the history of England from the Celtic period around 900 BCE through the Anglo-Saxon era, ending in 1066 CE. It covers the cultural and political dynamics of the Celts, the impact of Roman rule, the rise of the Anglo-Saxons, and their contributions to English society. The lecture also delves into the Viking raids, the spread of Christianity, and the characteristics of Anglo-Saxon poetry, setting the stage for the epic Beowulf. The lecture concludes with the Norman Conquest, marking the end of the Anglo-Saxon period.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The lecture discusses the Anglo-Saxon period of English history from 449 to 1066 CE, providing background for the epic 'Beowulf' and its significance in studies of Europe and world history.
• 🗺️ The Celts, including the Britons and Gaels, inhabited England starting around 900 BCE, speaking Celtic languages distinct from the Germanic languages that English belongs to.
• 📜 The Celts were an oral culture with no written language, relying on Druids to preserve their myths, legends, and laws through recitation of long heroic poems.
• 🛡️ The Romans ruled England for about 300 years, contributing with roads, towns, and Hadrian's Wall, a defensive structure against northern Celtic tribes.
• 🏰 The Anglo-Saxons, a group of Germanic tribes including the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, overtook Britain after the Romans left, with their culture and language significantly shaping modern English.
• 🚣 The Anglo-Saxons used river-raiding ships similar to those later associated with Vikings to conquer the Britons, who were the tribes previously dominated by the Romans.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Britons and Gaels retreated to the edges of the island, leading to the preservation of Celtic languages in regions like Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
• ⚔️ The Viking invasions, occurring between the 9th and 12th centuries, were characterized by hit-and-run raids, with monasteries being frequent targets due to their wealth.
• 🏰 The Anglo-Saxons had a hierarchical society with a king at the top, followed by the thegns (warriors), and the mead hall as the central social institution.
• 🌐 The Anglo-Saxons practiced a pagan religion with multiple gods for various aspects of life, but Christianity was reintroduced by St. Augustine in 597, leading to the conversion of many tribes.
• 📚 Anglo-Saxon literature was primarily oral, with scops reciting epic poems characterized by rhythmic patterns, alliteration, and kennings (metaphorical phrases), and later transcribed by Christian monks.

Q & A

What is the time period of the Anglo-Saxon era in English history?

The Anglo-Saxon period in English history spans from 449 to 1066 CE.

What was the approximate starting year of the Kelts' reign in England?

The Kelts' reign in England began around 900 BCE.

What is the relationship between the Celtic language and the Germanic languages?

Celtic and Germanic languages are distinct from each other, with English being considered a Germanic language, unlike the Celtic languages spoken by the Kelts.

Who were the two main tribes of the Kelts that settled in the British Isles?

The two main tribes of the Kelts that settled in the British Isles were the Brons, inhabiting what is now Britain, and the Gales, who settled in present-day Ireland.

What significant contributions did the Romans make to England during their rule?

The Romans contributed significantly through the construction of roads and towns, and they also introduced Christianity to the island. Notably, they built Hadrian's Wall as a defensive line.

Why did Roman rule in England end?

Roman rule in England ended because Italy was under attack from northern invaders such as the Vandals and Visigoths, which necessitated the troops to be called back to defend their homeland.

What is the origin of the names 'England' and 'English'?

The names 'England' and 'English' both derive from the word 'angle,' which refers to one of the Germanic tribes that invaded and took over England after the Romans.

How did the Anglo-Saxons take over the British Isles from the Brythons, the tribes the Romans had conquered?

The Anglo-Saxons, primarily composed of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, took over the British Isles by rowing up the English rivers and conquering the Brythons.

What is the significance of the Mead Hall in Anglo-Saxon culture?

The Mead Hall was the major social center of Anglo-Saxon culture, serving as the place where the king lived, held court, and hosted parties. It was a place of social gathering, storytelling, and celebration.

What were the main characteristics of Anglo-Saxon religion?

The Anglo-Saxon religion was Pagan, with a belief in multiple gods for different aspects of life, a strong belief in fate, and the worship of gods like Tui, Woden, and Friia.

How did the arrival of St. Augustine in 597 impact the spread of Christianity in the British Isles?

St. Augustine's arrival led to the conversion of King Ethelbert of Kent and subsequently his entire kingdom, which helped to bring Christianity back to the southern part of the main island and convert the Angle and Saxon tribes.

Who is known as the father of English History and what is his significant work?

The Venerable Bede is known as the father of English History, and his significant work is 'A History of the English Church and People,' which provides a clear account of the early Anglo-Saxons.

What were the main features of Anglo-Saxon poetry?

Anglo-Saxon poetry featured a seura for rhythm, alliteration for repetition of consonant sounds, and Kennings as metaphorical phrases that often characterized a person or thing.

How should one read Anglo-Saxon poetry to maintain its meaning and rhythm?

When reading Anglo-Saxon poetry, one should not stop at the end of a line but at punctuation marks, as the end of a line is more related to the beat and rhythm rather than the meaning.

What event marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon period in England?

The end of the Anglo-Saxon period in England is marked by the Norman Conquest in 1066, when the Normans overpowered the Anglo-Saxons after the death of Edward the Confessor.