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Anglo-Saxon History

Anglo-Saxon History. Great Britain . Is Famous for both old-world “flavor” and modern advances Government – “by the people and for the people” Model for other countries America rebelled against it, but formed a government very similar to it

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Anglo-Saxon History

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  1. Anglo-Saxon History

  2. Great Britain • Is Famous for both old-world “flavor” and modern advances • Government – “by the people and for the people” • Model for other countries • America rebelled against it, but formed a government very similar to it • Settled by various cultures/became a mixture of all

  3. The Celtic Heroes and Heroines: a Magical World • Religion = animism (spirit) • Spirits were in everything • Spirits controlled all aspects of existence; must be satisfied • Druids were priests that acted as intermediaries between gods and world

  4. Stonehenge • May have been a place of worship and ritual

  5. The land and beliefs affected writers… • Sir Thomas Malory took Celtic legends + chivalric qualities = King Arthur • William Butler Yeats used Celtic history in literature to increase awareness of Irish heritage • Celtic stories full of strong women • Enchanted; magic and imagination rule

  6. Map of Rome, England, and Ireland

  7. The Romans: The Great Administrators • Invaded England in 55 BC – Julius Caesar and again by Claudius in 45A.D. • Protected England from other invaders • Christianity began to spread/Celtic religion lost power • Due to trouble at home – left England by 409 A.D. • England became separate clans; easily invaded by non-Christian groups.

  8. The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore • Angles and Saxons from Germany invaded (along with Jutes from Denmark) • Celts receded into Wales • Country divided into different tribes again

  9. Anglo-Saxon Religion: Gods for Warriors • Dark, fatalistic religion (Norse/Scandinavian mythology) • Symbols from nature • Dragon was the protector of treasure • They did not believe in an after-life • To be remembered after death, a person would have to stand out as extremely brave, loyal, strong, etc. • Heroes were treated like they were gods because they were so important

  10. The Bards: Singing of Gods and Heroes • Entertainment = storytelling in communal hall • Poetry was about fighting, hunting, farming, and loving • Poets sang to the strumming of a harp • Since the Anglo-Saxon religion had no afterlife, glory had to be found in the present life (bravery, honor, etc) and by finding a place in the poems/tales of days to come after…

  11. The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo.

  12. Anglo-Saxon Life: The Warm Hall, the Cold World • War-faring people, though not as harsh as usually depicted • There was always the threat of attack from another tribe • People were very faithful to the king/leader • It was important to be brave and willing to defend the tribe

  13. Communal Living • Lived in single-family dwellings • livestock near homes to protect them and to be protected • Surrounded by wooden fence • Family huts surrounded common court (cheiftain’s hall or Mead Hall) • Ruled by consensus – families had a voice in decisions affecting the tribe

  14. The Danes took over with harsh fighting tactics and they settled in northeast and central England • Missionaries converted Anglo-Saxon rulers to Christianity, which was a unifying force

  15. The Christian Monasteries: The Ink Froze • Hope in Anglo-Saxon Culture came from • Being immortalized through poetry • The idea that Christianity could be accurate • Monks spent time writing old stories in a savable form (that’s why we now know the story of Beowulf).

  16. King Alfred instituted the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle • English became recognized as a language of culture; works preserved by Monks became thought of as great literature.

  17. Anglo-Saxons/Danes and all the separate tribes continued fighting until country was overtaken by Norman Troops

  18. Works Cited Leeming, David Adams. “The Anglo-Saxons.” Elements of Literature: Sixth Course: Literature of Britain with World Classics. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2000.

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