The Anglo-Saxon Period (prehistory – 1066 A.D.) Iberians (pre-Celtic peoples) (up to the 7 th century B.C.) Celts (up to the 4 th century B.C.) Roman Occupation (55B.C A.D.) Anglo-Saxon Period ( A.D.) Viking Invasions ( A.D.) Norman Conquest – Battle of Hastings (1066)

Pre-Celtic Britain Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain, built by the Iberians (pre-Celtic people)

Stonehenge Built in the early Bronze Age between 2200 and 1300 B.C. Old English “hengen” - something “hung up” - horizontal stones Structure Half-circle of upright stones with other stone lying on the top of them – Altar Stone inside Function Maybe used as astronomical observatory

Pre-celtic Britain Bronze Age and Iron Age Metals were gradually introduced The first wooden huts appeared Long wooden warships and primitive fortifications were built Agriculture began

The Celts 1 st wave – Gaels (7 th century B.C.) From Northern Europe Settled in the North 2 nd wave – Britons (4 th century B.C.) Settled in the South-West and West Origin of the term Britain

The Celts Skilled at working iron Lived on fishing, hunting and agriculture Pagan religion Worshipped natural elements (sun, moon, rivers, trees,...) Water considered a holy element which generated life Social structure Druids administred religion, justice and education

The Roman Conquest Hadrian's Wall (built in about 121 A.D. by Hadrian to defend Roman Britain from the Picts and the Scots living in the North)

The Roman Conquest Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55B.C. Aim = obtaining tributes and slaves Claudius conquered Britain in 43 A.D. Scotland was not subdued Hadrian erected a wall in about 121 A.D. from Solway to the mouth of the Tyne 409 A.D. Honorius withdrew his soldiers from Britain to defend Rome against Barbarian attacks

The Romans The Romans introduced their civilisation (e.g. Christianity)  Saint Patrick established Christianity in Wales and Ireland in the 5 th century their language The Romans built Towns (e.g. commercial centre of London) Senate, magistrates, market square, town hall Roads (e.g. paved roads) Public bath system (e.g. Bath)

The Anglo-Saxon Period ( )

The Anglo-Saxons The Romanised Celts fought alone vs Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes) from across the North Sea England = “the land of the Angles” Occupation Farmers looking for richer lands Deep-sea fishermen Society Organised in family groups called clans Loyalty = main value Exalted physical courage and enjoyed feasting

The Anglo-Saxons - Women in Anglo-Saxon society - property rights - allowed in judicial proceedings - Anglo-Saxon literature - oral literature (legends, adventures, etc.) - music and singing - scop (ministrel)

Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy Seven kingdoms Northumbria Kent Essex Sussex Wessex East-Anglia Mercia

The Anglo-Saxons Anglo-Saxons belonged to Pagan religions At the end of the 6 th century Pope Gregory I The Great sent a monk, Augustine (597), to bring Christianity back to England Augustine became the 1 st Archibishop of Canterbury Monastries became important centres of  Communal life  Culture

The Viking invasions Origin = Norway and Denmark Vikings and Danes started invading Britain in 787 (end of the 8 th century) 855 – Danes conquered Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia = Danelaw Wessex resisted thanks to Alfred the Great of Wessex ( ) Defeated the Danes, reorganised the army, built a fleet and established fortified centres

The Danes/Vikings - meaning of the name “Vikings” collective noun for Norse (Norwegians, Danes and Swedes) “sea voyage” – “people faring by sea for commerce and war” - occupation farmers and cattle herders shipbuilders seamen skilled at working wood, metal and whalebone - society king, chieftains, freemen (land owners)

The Danes/Vikings - religion - polytheism (major and minor gods) Odin (Wednesday), Thor (Thursday), Freya (Friday) - converted to Christianity in late 10 th century - cultural and literary background Runic inscriptions Oral tradition Epic poems (Eddas) Stories (Sagas) Bards or skalds (minstrels)

Alfred the Great of Wessex Gave importance to religion Called scholars to translate books into English Promoted the writing of a history of England – The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Illuminated manuscripts (10 th century) – decorated pages, several pictures Use of English as a common language = sense of political and social unity – all English boys of free birth should go to school to learn English

More Viking invasions Raids continued until a Viking king, Canute, became king of England Canute was succeeded by Edward the Confessor ( ) Bulding of Westminster Abbey example of Anglo-Saxon architecture of the 11 th century

The Norman Invasion In 1066, the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II was defeated by William, Duke of Normandy at Hastings William was crowned king in Westminster Abbey on Christmas day of the same year Introduction of French language French traditions Feudalism

Feudal society King = owner of all land Vassals = they held land and gave the king goods and services (military service) Chief of vassals = barons Knights (military service in exchange for land) Villeins (attached to the land on which they were born) Serfs (almost slaves)