From Legend to History: The Old English and Medieval Periods ( )

I. The Conquest of Britain A. Early Conquerors 1. Iberians a. from present day Spain and Portugal 2. Celts a. most important conquerors from S. Europe who migrated west between 800 and 600 B.C. b. divided into two groups i. Brythons (Britons) settled in Britain ii. Gaels settled in Ireland c. farmers and hunters d. fierce loyalty to their clan e. Druids i. priests who settled disputes ii. recited long, heroic poems that preserved the past

B. Roman Conquest 1. 55B.C.--Julius Caesar invades Britain to no avail 2. 43A.D.--Claudius invades and is able to establish towns 3. Roman rule lasts for 300 years

A.D.- Last of the Roman troops called home to defend Rome against barbarian invaders 5. A group of Germanic tribes, The Angles, Saxons, and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea and occupied the island the Romans had called Albion 6. “Angle land” became “England”

II. Christianity A. 597—St. Augustine converted King Ethelbert of Kent to Christianity B. Schools established in Canterbury and York C. Monastery established in Canterbury; monks were scribes who recorded manuscripts (books)

III. Danish Invasion—9th Century A. Growing population of Norway and Denmark forces people to set sail for England B. Alfred the Great of England stops the invasion; brings back learning and education

IV. Norman Conquest A. Invade the coast of France—9th Century B. Normans were devout Christians C. William of Normandy (William “The Conqueror”) gains control of throne of England in 1066 D. Feudalism ( ) 1. brought to England by the Normans 2. a political and economic way of life 3. an exchange of property for personal service a. person granting property was the lord b. person receiving property was the vassal 4. king kept most of the land

V. Reign of the Plantagenets A. Norman rule ends in 1154 B. Henry Plantagenet comes to throne of England as Henry II 1. Henry comes in direct conflict with the Church 2. appoints Thomas Becket to archbishop’s seat in Canterbury 3. Becket defies Henry and appeals to the pope 4. Henry is angered and his knights misunderstand his wrath 5. knights murder Becket to Henry’s dismay 6. Henry makes a pilgrimage to Becket’s tomb in Canterbury

VI. Magna Carta A. King John forced to sign this Great Charter in 1215 B. King promised not to tax land without barons’ (land owners) agreement C. Shifts power toward a parliamentary/constitutional government

VII. Turmoil and the Black Death A. Some kings faced more violent opposition from the nobles; for example, Edward II and Richard II were deposed and assassinated B. The Black Death (plague) swept through England in the 14 th Century and wiped out approximately one- third of the population C. England was engaged in an intermittent series of wars with France for more than 100 years, then torn apart by a bloody Civil war from 1455 to 1485 D. King Henry VII came to the throne and restored unity to England

VII. Literature A. Saxon Literature 1. begins with the recitation of long poems a. heroic poetry—praising the achievements of warriors b. elegiac poetry—lamenting the deaths of loved ones 2. Beowulf is the most famous heroic poem