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

1. 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. 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. 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