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The Anglo-Saxon Period – 449 A.D. – 1066 A.D.

The Anglo-Saxon Period – 449 A.D. – 1066 A.D. When Angles and Saxons came hither from the east, Sought Britain over the broad-spreading sea, Haughty war-smiths over came Britons, Valiant earls got for themselves a home. Britain before the Anglo-Saxons.

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The Anglo-Saxon Period – 449 A.D. – 1066 A.D.

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  1. The Anglo-Saxon Period – 449 A.D. – 1066 A.D. When Angles and Saxons came hither from the east, Sought Britain over the broad-spreading sea, Haughty war-smiths over came Britons, Valiant earls got for themselves a home

  2. Britain before the Anglo-Saxons • Celts = Brythons (Britons) and Gaels invaded island between 800 and 600 BC. • Celts were farmers and hunters. Lived in tightly knit clans. • Celts were led by druid priests (pagans)

  3. Roman Conquest in 55 B.C. under Julius Caesar • Caesar came, saw, conquered; then left for France to write his memoirs • No real control. Conquered only in name. • 100 years later, Claudius really conquered the island. • Roman soldiers occupied towns. Soldiers constructed a system of roads • Romans bring Christianity to Celtic pagans.

  4. Roman conquest, continued • Roman rule lasted about 300 years. • Romans leave Britain in 407 AD, leaving much of Britain undefended and in shambles. • Britain becomes easy prey for invaders from the north. • Christianity fades.

  5. Anglo-Saxon Invasion 449 A.D. • Anglos and Saxons = Germanic invaders from Denmark and Germany. Deep sea fishermen and farmers. • Anglo-Saxon arrival signals the beginning of the English language.

  6. Anglo-Saxon beliefs • Paganism – ancient Germanic gods. Tiu, god of war and Sky; Woden, chief of the gods; Fria, Woden’s wife and goddess of the home. • Wyrd – belief that every human life was in the hands of fate. • The dangers of death by accident or warfare led these people to take a grim view of life.

  7. Rebirth of Christianity • Late 500’s, Rome’s strength resurfaced in Britain. Christianity rises. • Many Anglo-Saxon kings were converted; so too was populace. • Christianity soften Anglo-Saxon warriors, but not entirely. • Clerics denounced revenge and upheld the law. • Christianity brought written literature • The Venerable Bede (673- 735 AD)

  8. Danish Invasion • 8th-12th centuries – Danes started looking for more farmland. Vikings (Norse) attacked Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. • Alfred the Great • 871 AD, Alfred King of Wessex held back the Danes • He supported education for all people. First formal schools created by Alfred.

  9. Anglo-Saxon Literature • Oral tradition – Celtic druids memorized long, heroic poems about Celtic leaders and their deeds. • Scops and gleemen – scops performed the songs with harps; gleemen assisted.

  10. Anglo-Saxon literary devices • Caesura – mid-line pause in line of poetry • Alliteration – repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds • Kenning – a metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun. • Lo we, spear-Danes // in old (yore)-dayspeople - kings // brave deeds have learnedhow these thanes // valor framed.

  11. Types of Anglo-Saxon verse • Heroic poetry – recounts the achievements of warriors involved in great battles • Elegiac poetry – sorrowful laments that mourn the deaths of loved ones and loss of the past.

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