1. The Beginnings of Britain
800 BC – 1066 AD

2. England today Great Britain is made up of England Scotland Wales
and is neighbored by
Northern Ireland
Ireland

3. The Spirit of the Celts People known as Britons
Farmers and hunters living in clans with loyalty to chief
Druids-priests who settled disputes and told history
Like gangs yet with family ties
Like judges but who also kept history: what do we have to compare

4. The Romans: The Great Administrators
55 BC Romans under Julius Caesar come to England
55 AD before conquest is complete
Paved roads, brought skills in warfare and built baths
Last Romans left in 407 AD
Note how many years that was

5. The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore
Invaded AD
Britons fled to Wales, Scotland, and Ireland
Legendary King Arthur led resistance
Fishermen/farmers
Angeland - Anglish
All great Britain now
Last change until the age is over

6. Anglo-Saxon Life Tribal units led by elected kings Spoke Old English
Witan-council of elders
Elected kings-what would make for good campaign strategy

7. A-S religious beliefs Werguild: an eye for an eye Pagan not Christian
Loyalty to leader
Wyrd: fate controlled man’s destiny
Poets known as scops
Pagan not Christian
No idea of afterlife
Harshness of life gave them a dim view of future.
Pagan worship nature
No Christian idea-Jews and Christians only group with a heave/hell at the time
What was harsh about life? What for entertainment?

8. Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great & Christianity
King Alfred the Great united all of Britain
Common language – Old English
Common enemy – Danes and Normans
Common history – The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

9. Britain becomes Christian
Romans brought with them
Celts took with them
597 missionaries
Monastery at Canterbury
St patrick

10. Effects of Christianity
Warriors less fierce
Freemen had to treat wives, children and slaves better
Got rid of werguild
Brought education to the island
Official language was latin

11. The end is near
Norsemen and Danes agree to divide the rule of the nation
1042 Edward of Saxony became king
Edward’s mother was from Normandy
1066 Edward dies – William of Normandy came to claim throne Battle of Hastings