Historical Background: The Kings Shadow

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Historical Background The Kings Shadow
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I. Geography
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The Narrow Sea
The English Channel
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I understand you have a fine wooden fort at
Pevensey. Harold saw that William was trying to
tease out of him the best place for an invading
army to land. (p. 127-128)
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White Cliffs of Dover

• With the chalky white cliffs jutting into the
  sea at his back, Harold kneltin the damp
  sand(p. 178)

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III. The Roman Empire in England
They took a wide, well-traveled road the Romans
had laid out centuries before (p. 26)
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Hadrians Great Wall
Though we are many tribes, we have become one
people governed by the same laws, from the
marshes of Kent to the rocky coast of Camarthen,
from Hastings in the south to the Great Wall in
the north. (p. 146)
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IV. Vikings
Tostig ruled Northumbria on the northeast coast
of England. This was Viking-settled land.
(p.36)
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V. Alfred the Great

• Rules 871-899
• Great for fending off Vikings (note the
  shield)
• Lover of learning, sponsor of first history of
  England (note the book)

But years later, Alfred, King of Wessex, and his
warriors pushed the Viking hordes back into the
eastern part of England. The King called for the
old books, as many as could be found, to be
copied, and for new books to be written. He
called for a history of the Angles and the Saxons
to be recorded. (p. 64)
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VI. Monks and Scriptoria
The scriptorium was dark and still cool with
night air as Evyn entered behind the other monks
assigned there. It had an odd aroma of chemicals
and herbs, oils and pungent powders. Taking
their places at long tables stacked with books,
parchment, bowls of ink, and quill pens, they
began their days work. (p. 64)
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VII. Westminster Abbey
Immediately upon their return to England, Harold
visited the King in London. There Edward was
supervising the last details of his magnificent
new church, Westminster Abbey. It rose, stone by
stone, above the thatched rooftops of London.
(p. 137)
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VIII. Bayeux Tapestry
231 Feet Long
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II. Anglo-Saxon Language

• Thors Day
• Wessex, Essex, Sussex
• Shire reeve
• (I will take you before the shire reeve to seek
  justice, p. 17.)

• Thors Day Thursday
• Wessex, Essex, Sussex West Saxony, East Saxony,
  South Saxony
• Shire reeve Sheriff

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Conclusions about the World of The Kings Shadow

• A world of
• Workers Farmers, slaves, serfs, shepherds
  (p.42 little chance of upward mobility)
• Monks practicing medicine, copying books
• Nobles fighting each other for power,
  fighting invaders together
• Kings and Queens Look out for people? Marry
  for reasons of state, not love

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• A world of
• Storytellers because few people could read
• Limited diet

apples, bread, cheese, honey, mead, mutton,
pork, chicken, berries, cider

• Mixed religion Pagan vs. Christian
• (p.10- Eostre festival vs. celebration of
  Christs resurrection)
• Hospitality and Honor (p. 11, 31, 117, 119)
• Warfare, Conflict, Movement, Change
• Speed of communication?