Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Periods The Brief History of England

Topics of Discussion Brief history of the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods. Feudalism Development of language

Pre-Historical/Pre-Roman The island we know as England – initially occupied by a race of people called the Celts. One of the tribes was called Brythons or Britons (where we get the term Britain).

Pre-historical/Pre-Roman (con’t) Celts were pagans - believed in “animism,” from the Latin word spirits Druids were their priests Role: Go between the gods and the people

And Then the Romans Came… Romans invaded in 55 B.C. conquered the Celts in A.D. 43 Eventually left the island in A.D Y-3Q-7HE 3Y-3Q-7HE

Important Results from Roman Occupation Military - Strong armed forces (“legions”) Pushed the Celts into Wales and Ireland Prevented the Vikings from raiding for several hundred years Infrastructure - Government fell apart when they left Language and Writing - Latin official language This is why English language is strongly based in Latin Religion - Mainly Christianity

Important Events in the First Anglo-Saxon Period Angles and Saxons invade from Baltic shores of Germany Nine Anglo-Saxon kingdoms eventually became the Anglo- Saxon heptarchy

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

And then the Vikings (Danes)Came…

Viking Invasions ( ) Were sea-faring (explorers, traders, warriors) Viking raids began around 787 Led to many cultural changes...

Important Results from Vikings Politically/Culturally - still unstable - no central government or church Linguistically - The English language is “born” and is known as Old English Lots of dialects of the language due to the seven kingdoms

Norman Invasion (1066) Battle of Hastings - the Normans (powerful Norman Frenchmen) defeated the English and started a conquest of England Two most important effects: French becomes official language of politics and power; thus, enormous influence on Old English England begins unifying under a French political system (Feudalism), much of which is still with us today

The Feudal Era ( )

Feudalism Social system seen as a pyramid King is at the top (peak of pyramid) Below the king are carefully graded steps consisting of noblemen and freemen Lowest tier (or step) are the serfs (peasant class)

Terms for Old English Literature and Beowulf Lyric: a short poem wherein the poet expresses and emotion or illuminates some life principal (“The Wanderer”) Elegy: a lyric poem lamenting death (“The Wanderer” and “The Wife’s Lament”) Caesuras: a pause within a line of poetry, which may or may not be to affect the metrical count Kennings: two-word poetic renaming of people, places, and things (ex: Whales’ home for the sea)

Epics and such…terms con’t Epic: long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero in pursuit of a goal of national importance (exs: The Odyssey, Gilgamesh) Folk Epics: In ancient times, stories about heroes were recited or sung as entertainment and then passed down orally over several generations. They were then written down long after they were first composed (Beowulf, Gilgamesh) Literary Epics: Written down by one author, drawing from the style of the folk epics (The Odyssey, Divine Comedy)

What’s in an epic… Epic Hero: Central character in an Epic; usually larger than life, noble or divine birth, courageous, skilled with all manner of weaponry, virtuous, good looking Quest (HRLLP): long, dangerous journey undertaken by the hero. Valorous Deeds: Actions that demonstrate the hero’s courage, strength, and/or virtue Divine Intervention: When the hero receives help from a god or supernatural being In medias res: Latin for “in the middle of things.” Many epics begin in medias res