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From Legend to History

From Legend to History. A.D. 449-1066. The Anglo-Saxon Period. 449-1066. Celts. Once thought to be original settlers of Britain (got there circa 700 B.C.) Once believed to predate 3000 B.C. and possibly built Stonehenge—it was old when they got there Pagan religion-Druids

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From Legend to History

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  1. From Legend to History A.D. 449-1066

  2. The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066

  3. Celts • Once thought to be original settlers of Britain (got there circa 700 B.C.) • Once believed to predate 3000 B.C. and possibly built Stonehenge—it was old when they got there • Pagan religion-Druids • Mentioned by Greeks in 4th century B.C. • 2 tribes mentioned Brythons and Gaelic • Were warring tribes—not a centralized group of people • Brythons-Britons-settled in present day England or Britain • Gaels-term Gaelic-settled in Ireland • Island off coast they called Eire becomes Ireland

  4. Romans • By 250 B.C. had conquered most of the world • Julius Caesar, as a General, leads invasion of England in 55 B.C. • Not until A.D. 43 is there an actual conquest by Claudius • There to rule, not destroy • Their rule lasted over 300 years/height of power 117 A.D. under Trajan • Last legions left in 407 A.D. to defend a falling Rome. • Brought Christianity to England in 4th century • Brought structure to England • Built roads and walls as a defense against invaders-see Hadrian’s wall

  5. Men or Myths? • Patrick (c. 5th century) • Historically a Romanized Britain-a Christian • Once captured by Irish, enslaved, escapes, and later returned to convert them. • Becomes a Saint-patron saint of Ireland • Ran off all of the snakes in Ireland-really there are no snakes in Ireland except in Zoos-symbolic myth • Symbolism of the Shamrock

  6. Men or Myths? • King Arthur (c. late 5th early 6th century) • Not really a King at all • His existence is still debated • Likely to have been a Romanized Celt or Welsh warrior • Most associated with Middle Ages and its literatureanic tribes • Said to have led warriors against invading Norse and Germ • See films—King Arthur with Clive Owen or Last Legion

  7. Homework • Answer the following: • Define an “epic poem” • Define “alliteration” • Define “kenning” • What is a hero? Explain your definition and give examples • What is courage? How would most people today define courage? • What qualities do you believe a good leader should possess? Discuss leadership in our society. Name some modern leaders. • What are the characteristics of contemporary leaders? What do we admire about them? • What does it mean to be loyal? Tell about a time you were loyal or someone was loyal to you. • Why is a reputation important? What factors influence a person’s reputation? • Why is generosity important? What does it mean to be generous? Write about or discuss the most generous person you know.

  8. Review from yesterday

  9. Invasion • Romans left England open to invasion—no real army or defense • Various Germanic, Norse, Danish tribes invade • Celts can’t hold them back • Some are actual Vikings from Norway, others are Viking-like tribes • Tribes with names like Jutes, Saxons, Picts, and Angles • Step ashore in 449-burning churches and destroying everything

  10. Germanic vs. Danes • Danes and Norsh were too harsh for Germanic tribes • Saxons and Angles ban together and forces Danes north • Southern half is called Angle-land or England • Anglo-Saxon refers to combination of tribes and culture formed from it • Anglo-Saxon united under King Alfred or Alfred the Great • Danes and Vikings never stop trying to get in until everyone is defeated including the Anglo-Saxons in 1066

  11. Major Historical Figures Alfred the Great • Becomes King c. 871 A.D. • Unites England against Vikings • Commissions The Anglo Saxon Chronicle—a history of the Anglo-Saxons in England—written in Old English • Helped give Old English respectability • Most stuff written in Latin, he insists on a language of the people

  12. Major Historical Figures Edward the Confessor • Named because he was deeply religious • Death in 1066 opened England to invasion • No real heir for his throne

  13. Major Historical Figures Harold II • Considered last Anglo-Saxon king • Chosen by council elders to be king • Killed in same year takes throne (1066)

  14. Major Historical Figures William the Conqueror • Duke of Normandy • Claims Edward left throne to him • Decides to invade England and take his throne • Leads Norman invasion of England • Kills Harold and takes throne • Introduces the Norman or French line of kings

  15. Language • Old English becomes the language of the people • Old English is a combination of various languages of invading tribes • Latin comes from the Romans—later considered language of the educated and elite • Norse language comes from the Vikings • German from the Germanic tribes i.e. Angles, Saxons • Gaelic from the Celts • Remnants of these languages can still be seen in our language

  16. Religion • Historically begins with Pagan religion of Celts • Christianity brought in by the Romansand slowly spreads • Anglo-Saxon belief system similar to Norse and Norse mythology • Norse main god was Oden—Anglo-Saxon was Woden—his day is referred to as Woden’s day or Wednesday • Son was Thor in both religions—his day Thor’s day • Two major beliefs were “Wyrd” and “Lof” • “Wyrd” means fate—believed they would die young • “Lof” means fame after death—no real heaven so live eternally through fame

  17. Warrior Society • With no real period of peace, warriors were necessary • One of the most respected members of society • Wanted to die in battle—felt it was their “wyrd” • Fight hard and gain “lof” • Short life span and no medical care- “hair of the dog”

  18. Literature • Earliest form is of the storytelling or oral tradition • “Scop” was a storyteller • “Scops” were respected as warriors • “Scops” could provide “lof” • Written literature is from monks • Monks wrote down stories of commoners • Two main forms • Lyric poetry—most like a song in form • Example: “The Seafarer” • The epic—just like The Odyssey—traces journey of a hero • Example: Beowulf

  19. Influence and Importance of Catholicism and the church

  20. History • Preserved and written down by monks • Bede (672-735 A.D.) • Monk and author a.k.a Venerable Bede • Wrote Ecclesiastical History of England • “Father of English History” • Work with Latin and Greek writings of the early Church Fathers contributed significantly to English Christianity, making the writings more accessible to fellow Anglo-Saxons.

  21. Education • Monasteries were sanctuaries for learning • Monks were the few that could read and write • Helped educate others and spread Christianity while doing it • Monks could write in Old English and Latin • Helped bridge gap from King to commoner

  22. Literature • Was spread because monks wrote it down • Exeter Book • 10th century compilation of Anglo-Saxon poetry • Kept in Exeter Cathedral, thus the name • Largest collection of Old English literature • No printing press • Hand copied text constantly • Winters so cold ink froze

  23. Evolution of Language

  24. From Old English to Modern English Anglo-Saxon (Old English) • nom      ic     wé    þú      gé       hé      héo     hit    híe • acc      mé     ús    þé      éow      hine    híe     hit    híe • dat      mé     ús    þé      éow      im      hire    him    heom • gen      mín    úre   þín     éower    his     hire    his    hira/heoras Late Middle English • nom      I     we     thou    ye      he      she    hit     they • obl      me    us     thee    you     him     hir    hit     hem/them • gen      my    oure   thy     your    his     hir    his     hir/their Modern English • nom      I      we     -      you     he      she    it      they • obl      me     us     -      you     him     her    it      them • gen      my     our    -      your    his     her    its     their

  25. The Great English Vowel Shift • Most dramatic changes occurred between late part of Middle English and early part of Modern English • Originally, the long vowels were literally long versions of the short vowels: held for a longer time • Long vowels shifted “up”: pronounced with the tongue higher in the mouth • Vowels that couldn’t go any higher became dipthongs

  26. The Great English Vowel Shift • Long vowels shifted up • e (originally pronounced “eh”) becomes “ee” (beet) • o (originally pronounced “oh”) becomes “oo” (boot) • Long vowels with nowhere to go became diphthongs • i (originally pronounced “ee”) becomes “eye” (bite) • ou (originally pronounced “oo”) becomes “ow” (spout) • Diphthongs became long sounds • ai(originally pronounced “eye”) becomes “ai” (mate) • au (originally pronounced “ow”) becomes “aw” (spot) • Other random changes • oo is sometimes “you” as in “cute” • e is sometimes silent now—never was silent before

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