The Anglo-Saxons 499-1066

1. The Anglo-Saxons499-1066 Period 4A Part 1

2. Stonehenge Prehistoric monument of the Bronze Age • The estimated time of construction was around 3000 B.C., but was continually worked on for thousands of years. • Stonehenge is located in Whiltshire, UK. • The type of rocks used to construct Stonehenge were bluestone, sarsen, and Welsh sandstone. • It is thought that the Stonehenge was built for some religious purpose, or used as a kind of solar calendar to track the movement of the sun and moon, and mark the changing seasons • The biggest of the stones are called sarsens, which are up to 30 ft. heigh and weigh up to 25 tons • It is believed that Stonehenge was built by three separate tribes, the first being the Neolithic agrarians in approximately 3000 B.C. • The next people, the Beaker people, came from Europe and invaded the Neolithic agrarians around2000 B.C. • The Beaker people were believed to be sun worshipers, and were the people who aligned Stonehenge more exactly with important sun Sun events, such as mid summer and winter solstices. • The Wessex people were the third and final people to work and Improve Stonehenge. They came around 1500 B.C. at the height of the Bronze Age. • The Wessex people were a very advanced and skillfull people, and they used these talents to put the final touches on Stonehenge and make it into what we see today.

3. The Celts were a European culture group who first became evident in the 7th or 8th century B.C. • The Celts were known to the Romans as, “Galli” and the Greeks knew them as “Keltoi” both names meaning Barbarians. • The Celts occupied much of Europe North of the Alps. • The Gaels, Gauls, Britons, Irish, and Gallatians were all Celtic people. • Druidic practice was the most “religious” aspect of Celtic culture. • The Celtice culture strongly survives today in Ireland, Whales, Scotland, and Brittany. • The Celts typically lived in small settlements, not large cities, in huts and stone dwellings. • The Celts were polytheistic and many gods were extremely vocalized and worshipped. • The Celts were extremely skilled in warfare and creating weopanary. • Warriors and craftsmen were held in high regard in Celtic society and were considered to be part of the noble class. The Ancient Celts "We live in two worlds... the world into which we were born, and the otherworld that was born within us. Both may be a blessing or a curse. We choose.“- Calgucus

4. BoadiceaLeader of a Revolt “In stature she was very tall, in appearance most terrifying, in the glance of her eye most fierce, and her voice was harsh.”—Dio Cassius • There are many different spellings for her name. Such as, Boudicia, Boadacaea, Boadica, and Boadicca. • She was the wife of Prasutagus, head of the Iceni tribe. • Romans took over the kingdom when Prasutagus died. • She was beat, and forced to watch her daughters being raped by the Romans. • The Romans also sold much of the royal family into slavery. • Boadicea led 100,000 rebels against the Romans • They destroyed London, Colchester, and St. Albans. • They slaughtered around 70,000 people during the attacks. • The Romans put down the rebellion (the site is uncertain) during the last battle • It is said that Boadicea returned home, and took a poison to prevent capture by the Romans. By Erika Sommer

5. Scotland (Alba)The Land of the Caledonians • The country of Scotland is bordered by mostly ocean except for England which is their border in the South. • Scotland has a varied landscape… There are highlands in the North and West, and Lowlands in the South. • Scotland is known for it’s mountains, rivers, and diverse coastlines. • There are over 790 islands that are apart of Scottish territory. • Scottish Gaelic (Goidelic) is the native language. In Gaelic, Alba is the word for Scotland. • Gaelic is still spoken in the country today, along with being spoken in some communities in Canada and Nova Scotia. • “Alba gu bra!!” means Scotland forever!! • About 400 A.D. the Caledonian tribes who lived in Alba resisted forces from the Vikings and the Romans. • After those forces withdrew from Britain, the Caledonians claimed large territories… one of them being Scotland. • The capital of Scotland is Endinburgh and the largest city is Glasgow. Made by Zack Hodgson

6. Kernow (Cornwall)Early Celtic nation • Mining was a major part of Kernow. • The land held an abundance of materials such as copper, tin, bronze, and iron. • Tin was the most important resource in kernow’s economy. • Kernow is a very hilly and rocky area. • The name cornwall comes from cornovii which means “hill dwellers”. • Within Kernow there were many tribes fighting for territory. • Settlements were known as rounds and were encircled by ditches for protection • Rounds were often on hilltops to prevent attacks. • Centers for trading were established in each settlement. • Kernow was a major overseas trading post because of its geological location. “The Cornish are a seafaring people and have traded with many civilizations in the past.”-(www.pznow.co.uk/historic1) By Eliott Nibley

7. EireLand of Myths • Ireland’s “historical period” started around the end of the 400’s AD. • Irish history before its historical period is made up of sagas and other mixes of myth and history. • In 432 AD, St. Patrick came to Ireland and converted many Irish people to Christianity. • One Irish legend says that St. Patrick made the first Celtic Cross; he put a cross over a symbol of the Irish people’s moon goddess, incorporating their old beliefs to help him teach them a new belief. • St. Patrick is Ireland’s patron saint, mainly because he taught the people the importance of literacy. • Christianity spread quickly in Ireland and greatly affected Ireland’s people and culture. • Celtic Ireland’s political make-up consisted of small kingdoms, or clans, led by elected kings. • In the mid 300’s-400’s Ireland was divided into 5 main clans called the Five Fifths. • The unit of society for the Celtic Irish was the family. • Families owned farms and land and were held responsible by law for how their slaves and relatives obeyed the law. “It is often quoted that the Romans thought about invading Ireland, but never did.” (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/ire500.htm)

8. Breizh (Brittany) • In 56 B.C., the area known as Armorica is conquered by Julius Ceasar • During the V-VII centuries, a lot of Bretons left Britain to settle in Armorica. With the number of people living their growing, they rename the area Brittany. • Nominoe founds his first kingdom of Brittany in the year 845 A.D. after his victory of the Battle of Ballon. • Charles the Bald loses to Erispoe and his troops, recognizing Breton independence. • During the Middle Ages Brittany was fought over between French and English kings fighting for their influence in the nation. • The first trilingual dictionary containing the Breton language was published in 1464 A.D. • Duke Francis II of Brittany signs a treaty giving the country over to the French after a defeat from their army supported by Italian and Switzerland mercenaries. • The country is covered in ancient megaliths, menhirs and dolmens. Menhiris a Breton word for “long stones.” • The Carnac Standing Stones is an area in Brittany that contains almost 3000 Menhirs, all of them put in rows. • Christianity appeared in Brittany at around 450 A.D.

9. Mannin (Mann) One of Seven early Celtic Nations “The Isle of Man is Manx: EllanVannin, where ellan is a Manx word meaning island. The earliest form of Man is Manu or Mana, which appears in the genitive case as Vaninn, hence EllanVannin"Island of Man".” Man is an island located in the Irish sea, between Great Britain and Ireland Mannin was once controlled by Scotland, then by Ireland, and then by England, all at separate times Mannin has the oldest recorded parliament in Europe People who inhabit Mannin were know as “Manx” Total population was 80,085 The island has been inhabited since 6500 BCE In 1266, the Island became part of Scotland The first residents lived in small huts, got food from hunting fishing and gathering The Manx would use small stones and bones as tools. The official language of Mannin is Manx Gaelic Vikings settled Mannin at the end of the 8th century By: Nathan Hopkins

10. The DanesGermanic Iron Age • They were Vikings • Were around from 400 – 800 A.D. • A tribe • The first Danish people • Converted to Christianity • Danish Monarchy • Worlds oldest • Spoke Old Norse Language • Old Norse language was called donsk tunga and was shared by the Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish people • Started raiding Great Britain in 800 A.D. The famous runestone in Jelling features an image of Christ surrounded by interlace and a runic inscription, in which the word Denmark appears for the first time. The inscription reads: That Harald who conquered all Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christians.

11. The JutesThe third of the Teutonic Nations which invaded Britain • The jutes were one of the three most powerful Germanic peoples of their time • They originated from Jutland • Their biggest trade was amber • They invaded Britain in 5 a.d with the angles and Saxons • Finally settled in Kent • Were originally merchants • They also conquered the Isle of Wight and the opposite coast of Hampshire in the early 6th century • They were pretty fierce people “These warriors also received from the Britons grants of land where they could settle among them on condition that they maintained the peace and security of the island against all enemies in return for regular pay.” – Venerable Bede By Cole Vasic

12. The Saxons • Saxons in ancient times lived in the area of modern Schleswig and along the Baltic Coast • The term “Saxon” refers to the people of Germany • The Saxons societies were not complex they did not have cities or towns but they lived in villages • They believed in Valhalla and that the gods of Valhalla were waiting to welcome in the great fallen warriors • Many Saxons were farmers and sailors because of their access to the sea and large rivers • The expansion of the Saxons brought collision with the Franks, the Frankish ruler Charlemagne launched a campaign of conquest and conversion of the Saxons • Saxons had no use for slave and would trade them for warriors and soldiers for their army • The Saxon warriors would have great feasts after a battle or victory. • After 32 years of war the incorporation of the Saxons into the Fankish empire ended the Saxon’s expansion • In the early 7th century the Saxons were converted from Germanic religion to Christianity by Jutes of Kent. I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race...What an alteration there would be if they Africans were brought under Anglo-Saxon influence.-(http://www.searchquotes.com)