AngloSaxon Period 460 1066 AD

1
Anglo-Saxon Period 460 - 1066 AD

• England is a small island which includes Scotland
  and Wales
• Characteristics isolation, rain-drenched, foggy,
  green, mysterious ruins, place of legends,
  mystery, inspiration for poets

2
Invasions

• The island was invaded many times in ancient
  civilizations
• Invaders included the Romans, the Celts and the
  Normans

3
1st settlers

• BRITONS were Celtic-like warriors discovered here
  in the 4th century BC

4
Celtic Relgion

• A pagan religion based on animism (latin for
  spirit)
• Belief that spirits were everywhere

5
Pagan religion of the Germanic tribes example

• Thor -Germanic thunder god.
• The hammer is associated with the thunderbolt.
  Painting by Mårten Eskil Winge, ca. 1872.

6
DRUIDS

• PRIESTLY INTERMEDIARIES BETWEENTHE GODS AND
  PEOPLE
• PERFORMED RITUAL DANCES
• HUMAN SACRIFICES

7
STONEHENGE

• USED FOR RELGIOUS RITES (LUNAR AND SOLAR CYLCES)

8
Stonehenge an earth mystery

9
Roman Emperor Claudius

• Conquered the Britons in 1st century AD
• Christianity begins to take hold in England with
  the Roman occupation

10
Roman evacuation

• By 410, Rome evacuates
• Britain has no government
• Many separate warring clans
• Leads to weakness and susceptibility to more
  invasions by German tribes

11
4 Invaders during 1st millenium AD

• Angles
• Saxons
• Jutes
• Danes
• These 4 culures blended to create a new culture
  called ANGLO SAXON

12
Alfred the Great (871-899)

• Led the Anglo Saxons against the invading Danes
• England becomes a TRUE nation under this victory
• Begins the reign of the WESSEX kings

13
Anglo Saxon Chronicle

• Alfred is also noted for beginning the
  Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 890's and had many
  copies made.
• written in Anglo-Saxon, rather than the usual
  Latin.
• Alfred decreed that these copies be placed in
  monasteries and churches and frequently updated.
• some of the original copies still survive to the
  present day
• It remains one of the few literary sources we
  possess for English history from the departure of
  the Romans to the Norman conquest.