1. Culture shaped by Romans, Celts, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans
GREAT BRITAIN
Culture shaped by Romans, Celts, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans

2. CELTS inhabitants of Great Britain in the fourth century B.C.
Britain named after a tribe of Celts called the Brythons
Heavy belief in “magic”

3. Druids: Celtic priests who practiced animistic rituals
Druids: Celtic priests who practiced animistic rituals. One of the inspirations for Wicca. Held their rites in oak groves that they considered sacred and believed in reincarnation
Stonehenge: thought to be the site of many druid rituals
Animism: the belief that everything associated with nature (trees, rocks, rivers) has a spirit. These spirits must be appeased through various offerings including human sacrifice

4. Celtic Literature Males are not the only heroes
Stories are filled with tons of adventure, magic, imagination, and love affairs
King Arthur was a Celtic hero

5. ROMAN INVASION
Built structures such as roads and walls, which can still be seen today.
The Romans also brought Christianity, which led to the demise of the animistic religions
Romans took control of Britain, but had to leave when their other lands were threatened. This left Britain without a government and open for the taking.

6. ANGLO-SAXONS Comprised of Germans and Norwegians
Drove the Celts into Wales.
Dominated Britain and their language became dominant (Anglo-ish=English)
Britain became Angl-and (England)
Divided into individual kingdoms ruled by kings

7. THE DANISH INVASION
The Danes (or Vikings) were a fierce fighting people
Boats that looked like dragons
Destruction and pillaging
2. Eventually settled in Northeast England

8. BUT Anglo-Saxon Religion
Anglo kings were converted to Christianity. It provided a common faith and helped bring unity to the divided kingdoms. It also brought common ground to the fight against the Vikings, who threatened Christian churches…
BUT
The warrior Norse gods such as Odin and Thor were still passionately worshipped, and they believed in creatures such as dragons. This gave life to stories such as Beowulf.

9. The Bard Traveling storytellers/poets
Anglo meeting houses provided space for these storytellers
Orally passed on stories and legends
To the Anglo-Saxons, storytelling was just as important as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving

10. Meanwhile in Ireland….
The Irish Celts were all converted to Christianity (Catholicism) by a Romanized Briton by the name of Patricius (St. Patrick). Christianity flourished and the country was filled with monasteries that spread even into England.

11. BEOWULF
Stories such as Beowulf were passed down orally through bards through songs and storytelling
It was eventually preserved by monks who recorded the story on paper.
This story has been the inspiration for thousands of stories, movies, poems, etc.
Written in northeast England between 700 and 750
This story culminates elements of the various religions and folklore that the cultures of early England brought

12. BEOWULF Prince of the Geats: Northern Germanic people
Source of “comitatus”: unshaken loyalty to a king or leader
Not concerned with wealth or power. Beowulf only wants his feats to be remembered in story and song

13. GRENDEL Descendent of Cain Name means “Walker in the Outlands”
Feared by all except Beowulf
Constantly attacks King Hrothgar’s people

14. King Hrothgar Famous Danish king and great warrior
Protector of the Scyldings (ruling faction)
Seeks out the help of Beowulf with Grendel