Transcript Anglo-Saxon & Medieval Literature Background

Anglo-Saxon & Medieval
Literature Background
Years: 449-1485
Before 449
• Julius Caeser came to the isle “Briton” around year
55 B.C
• People he met: Britons Celtic people
Picts “leftovers” from pre-Celtic
civilization
Gaels- Celtic speakers
• Britons were skilled people- knew metal work,
agriculture, etc.
• Caeser’s people returned to Briton about 100 years
later…
Roman Armies Invade
• Conquered the Britons
• Drove the Picts north to what is now Scotland
• Britain became a providence of the Roman
Empire & cities were introduced, stone roads,
written language, & Christianity
• Not all is well for long…Romans return to
Rome to defend city, Britain becomes a target
of invasion too
The Anglo-Saxon Period
• Years 449-1066
• Angles, Saxons, & other Germanic tribes left
their homes & settled in Britain’s eastern &
southern shores
• Britain’s tried to stop the invasions, lost.
• Had to go towards Cornwall & Wales. In with
the Gaels, Celtic culture disappeared.
Heptarchy
• 7 kingdoms
• Kent, Jutes, Saxons of Sussex, Essex, Wessex,
East Anglia, Merica, Northumbria,
• We call them…. “Anglo-Saxons”
• Violent people, wanders, believed in fate
The Growth of Christianity
• Britain had few Christians left, but Christianity
never really died completely.
• Who was the man that was converting people
in Ireland? (Gales became Christian)
• Gales moved to Scotland- Christianity there
too.
• Augustine arrived and set up a monastery, by
690 all of Britain was at Christian.
The Danish Invasions
• The Danes aka Vikings came to Britain to destroy the
monasteries. Began to take control of northern &
eastern England.
• No success in South because Alfred the Great
• 878 & 886 agreed to accept Christianity
• Fighting resumed after AtG died
• Edward the Confessor came to throne in 1042, no
children, swore William of Normandy (or so he said)
• Harold was named heir, Edward & Harold died in
battle. William aka William the Conqueror was
crowned king of England (1066).
The Medieval Period
1066-1485
What does the word “medieval” mean?
• William introduced Feudalism.
What is feudalism?
• King owns all the land---- gives a ¼ to church, keeps ¼ for
himself, loans out the rest to nobles, barons, and on down the
ladder.
• Barons, knights, ________________, Anglo-Saxons (they
were serfs aka peasants who were bound to land that they
could not own.
• Barons were encouraged to build strong castles so that they
could defend this hierarchy in the countryside.
Who Was After William?
• His son, Henry 1, Henry died so his daughter
Matilda and nephew Stephen. Matilda’s son
Henry II then took the throne.
• Henry II reformed the judicial system,
established juries, formed England’s common
law.
• Henry’s wife, Eleanor was French. She
brought the ideas of chivalry, code of honor
What is the “Code of Honor”?
• Knights were expected to follow this.
• Honor and protect ladies
• Go on holy quests- the Crusades (Henry’s son
Richard I went on these. John his brother
plotted against him while he was gone.
• Richard I died -- royal treasury was
bankrupt
• Forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215
Decline of Feudalism
• Commoners power was increasing
• Trade was up because of the Crusades
• Townspeople created groups so that trade
would flow
• With more people living in towns, disease also
was on the rise.
• The plague could spread rapidly
Schools on the Rise
The 100 Years’ War
• John Wycliffe- an Oxford scholar, led an effort
to end widespread church corruption.
• 100 Years’ War- struggle between England and
France that started in 1337, lasted longer than
100 years.
• Black Death- killed 1/3 of England’s
population during this time.
The Fighting Continues…
• Joan of Arc stepped up to be leader
• War ends in 1453, England lost all French
possessions.
• On verge of conflict with 2 families claimed
the throne.
• The House of York (white rose)
• The House of Lancaster (red rose)
The War of Roses
• Fighting ends in 1485
• Lancaster house (Henry Tudor) kills Richard
III. Henry took throne as Henry VII.
• This is the stopping point for the Medieval
Ages in England.