THE ANGLO SAXON PERIOD

HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Anglo Saxon period was also

known as the Dark Ages it was a time filled with violence,

barbarism and ignorance ( people did not acquire education or knowledge)

Stories and poems of the time present struggle when the stronger wins.

CENTURIES OF INVASION

In 55 b.c Julius Caesar tried to conquer Britain but he came back to Rome.100 years later- the roman army conquered Britain.Britain was influenced by the Roman life style: city life, trusting the roman soldiers, going to public baths..Early in the 5th century, the Romans left Britain.

CENTURIES OF INVASION CONT’ The Angle, Saxon and Germanic tribes

arrived from Europe to Britain in 449 A.D

The Britons were led by Arthur ( maybe the legendary king Arthur) and they were driven to Cornwell, Wales and Scotland and across the English channel to an area of France.

This area was now called Brittaney

CENTURIES OF INVASION CONT’ The new main part of Britain was called

Angle Land -> England. The Anglo Saxon culture was the basis

of the English culture.

CENTURIES OF INVASION CONT’

In the 790’s the Vikings ( tribes from Denmark and Norway) arrived to England and burned down villages.

At first they just hit and ran but eventually they took over parts in the north.

They tried to conquer the south as well but they did not succeed. The south was led by king Alfred the Great who united England

During his time learning and culture flourished in England.

THE NORMAN CONQUEST 1042- Edward the confessor took the throne He was a very religious person. Because he had no children, he promised the

throne to one of his cousins, William, the duke of Normandy.

However, church officials decided to crown an earl named Harold when the king died.

William was so mad that he invaded Britain, killed Harold and made himself the new king.

This ended the Anglo-Saxon dominance in England

CULTURAL INFLUENCES

SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY The early invaders were very violent. They believed in fate. Whatever

happens- happens They admired their warriors. When they settled in their new homes ,

they became more civilized, more agricultural and less violent.

Their dark early beliefs did not bring too much hope to the people and the only thing that was sure, certain was DEATH.

Christianity opened up a possibility that one might suffer in this worlds, but the reward will results in a happy afterlife in heaven.

CHRISTIANITY TAKES HOLD By 300 A.D the number of Christian

missionaries in Britain was very large. In 597 a Roman missionary named Augustine

arrived and established the first monastery in Canterbury.

Monasteries became an educational, artistic and social centers. They were the only place offering education.

With time original literary works were written first in old Latin and then in Old English.

VENERABLE BEDE Was one of the greatest authors in the

monastery period. Wrote: A History of the English Church

and People.

When the Vikings invaded Britain in the 8-9th century, they destroyed many monasteries and threatened to destroy the culture that was developing, however Christianity continued to be a dominant cultural force.

LITERATURE OF THE TIMES The early literature of the time was

mainly epic poems praising the deeds/actions of the warriors, and also reflected the violent reality.

EPIC POEM DEFINITION An Epic poem is a long narrative poem

on a serious subject presented in an elevated or a formal style. It follows the adventures of a great hero whose actions represent the ideals and values of a nation or a race.It usually deals with universal matters such as good vs. evil , life, sin and redemption.

The poems were recited ( told) by professional poets called scops in mead halls (The mead hall was generally the great hall of the king).

The people would sit, enjoy a meal and listen to the scops.

The poems were not just a form of entertainment- it was a history lesson, moral sermon and a pep talk in one.

They were trying to teach cultural pride and how a true hero should behave.

However, at the same time the poets reminded the listeners that every ambition ends with death and it all in the hands of fate.

The epic poems were an oral art form- they were memorized and told.

When Christianity spread- literacy ( knowledge of reading and writing) spread as well and poem were recorded ( written).

Not a lot of the anglo saxon poetry survived because everything was hand written.

BEOWULF The most famous survivor is the epic of

Beowulf, a legendary hero of the Northern European past

He battled monsters and dragons to protect the people.

At the end he dies from the wounds incurred in his final great fight.