Transcript Anglo-Saxon Period and Middle Ages (449

Anglo-Saxon Period and
Middle Ages (449-1485)
Germanic Tribes (Angles, Saxons,
Jutes) invaded in 449 what is now
known as England (Angle-land)
History
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Danish Invasions
– During the 8th and 9th centuries, England
was being attacked. Why?
– Danes took over most of England until
ALFRED THE GREAT retaliated and
reclaimed England in 878.
– King Alfred and, later his heirs, kept the
country at peace.
Merging cultures…
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William I, having killed to stake claim
to the throne, became England’s first
king from France.
– Feudalism: land was given from the King
to lords who then gave pieces of land to
vassals in exchange for military service.
– Chivalry: knights wanted to be honorable,
generous, brave, skillful in battle,
respectful to women, and helpful to the
weak.
Values of Anglo-Saxon
Society…
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Followed a heroic code of behavior…
– Bravery
– Loyalty to one’s lord
– Willingness to avenge one’s lord without thought
of personal danger. Death was preferable to
exile.
– Lords would give heroes gifts to show gratitude
(a special sword)
– Heroism brings honor, eternal fame, and political
power
Values (cont.)
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Women were peace-weavers—married men
from enemy states to bring peace to warring
kingdoms (didn’t always work)
Songs, tale-telling, and boasting inscribe
deeds in the cultural memory—the scop
(singer of tales) plays a major role in
storytelling.
Boasting and fame were important to
heroes because pagan religion offered no
hope of an afterlife, thus fame was needed
for IMMORTALITY.
Values cont. (why the
mixture?)
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pagan beliefs
– Eternal earthly fame
through deeds
– Honor and gift
giving
– Revenge
– Battles, deaths, etc.
happen because of
fate (meant to
happen), and
nothing can change
it.
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Christian beliefs
– Afterlife in heaven
or hell
– Sinful to be prideful
– Forgiveness
– Man’s future is
controlled by God.
The First Crusade
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Pope Urban called for a war (1096) for
Christians to recover the Holy Land
(Jerusalem) from the Turks (Muslims).
He promised: “the reward of
imperishable glory in the kingdom of
heaven” for all who fought.
Christians took over the land and
were victorious in 1099.
The Model Parliament
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In 1215, barons forced King John
(unpopular) to sign the Magna Carta.
What two things did the Magna Carta
provide the people of England?
Peasant’s Revolt
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What were they revolting against?
Walter Tyler organized a protest,
leading villagers to attack the city.
Why was Walter Tyler’s death a “dirty”
one?
Food and Fashion
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Rich
– Looked uniformed,
covered, and
modest (see pg. 37)
– Ate rich, fattening
foods (cheese,
meat, gravy). Being
overweight was a
sign of wealth.
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Poor
– “No plowman,
oxheard, etc. should
wear anything but
cheap cloth or
blanket.” (37)
– Ate vegetables and
high fiber (to keep
them full). Basically,
what they grew in
their gardens.
Life of the Times
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Knights had tournaments to show off
their skills
Jugglers, acrobats, storytellers,
musicians provided entertainment.
Most people couldn’t read; therefore,
stained glass windows in churches told
stories of the Bible.
Caxton set up the first printer in 1476.
Why is this important?
Language of the time
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Old English (450-1150)
– Two main sources were from Celtic
people and invading Germanic tribes.
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Almost half of Modern English comes
from ________and __________.
French was the language of the UPPER
CLASSES. No king of England spoke
English as his 1st language until the
1400s.
Language of the Time
(cont.)
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Middle English (1150-1500):
– Linguistic diversity was so great that
people in different parts of England
couldn’t understand one another.
– Spelling and sentence structure was more
simple.