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Roman Britain and Early Christianity. 250 – 450 CE. Ordeal by Fire from prehistory to the early 1200s. Sutton Hoo Burial Mounds. Laws of Aethelberht of Kent c. 600.
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Roman Britain and Early Christianity 250 – 450 CE
38. If a shoulder be lamed, let bot be made with thirty shillings. 39. If an ear be struck off, let bot be made with twelve shillings. 40. If the other ear hear not, let bot be made with twenty-five shillings. 41. If an ear be pierced, let bot be made with three shillings. 42. If an ear be mutilated, let bot be made with six shillings. 43. If an eye be (struck) out, let bot be made with fifty shillings. 44. If the mouth or an eye be injured, let bot be made with twelve shillings. 55. For every nail, a shilling. 56. For the smallest disfigurement of the face, three shillings: and for the greater, six shillings.
77. If a man buy a maiden with cattle, let the bargain stand, if it be without guile; but if there be guile, let him bring her home again, and let his property be restored to him. 78. If she bear a live child, let her have half the property; if the husband die first. 79. If she wish to go away with her children, let her have half the property. 80. If the husband wish to have them, (let her portion be) as one child. 82. If a man carry off a maiden by force, let him pay fifty shillings to the owner, and afterwards buy (the object of) his will of the owner. 83. If she be betrothed to another in money, let him make bot with twenty shillings. 84. If she become missing (gaengang), [he must pay] thirty-five shillings; and fifteen shillings to the king. 85. If a man lie with vassal’s [esne’s] wife, her husband still living, let him make two-fold bot.
Bede 672-735His History is the most complete and accurate source from early medieval England.
Discuss Bede • What sources likely influenced Bede in writing his Ecclesiastical History? • What purpose or overriding principles guided his work? • Why is it useful to consider the purpose of a source?
Discuss Bede • What makes the study of the Anglo-Saxons’ conversion to Christianity more historically significant than the possible history of Arthur? • What makes his History “readable and attractive.” p. 19 • What were Bede’s interests or strengths? How did these strengths and interests influence his writing?
What strengths did Bede exhibit? • Use of Anno Domini dating • He was a historian not a chronicler • He provided succinct chapter summaries • He meticulously collected sources • All of the above
Discuss Bede • What did the introduction mean when it stated that Bede was interested in the transition from diversity to unity? • What defined the diversity that he was concerned with? • Why was unity desirable? • What indicated that unity was progressing in his History?
What biases does Bede exhibit? • Anti-Celtic • Roman Christian • Northumbrian provincialism • History as manifestation of Providence • Willingness to accept miracles without reservation
Timeline for Early Christianity • 4 BCE to 30 CE: Life of Jesus of Nazareth • 65 CE: Deaths of Paul and Peter • 70-110 CE: Canonical Gospels written • 64-306 CE: Persecution and Martyrdom • 325 CE: Council of Nicaea • 340: Eusebius writes Church History • 400 CE: St. Jerome produces the Vulgate Bible • 597 CE Pope Gregory the Great sends missionaries to England • 673-735: Bede’s lifetime
Important to keep in mind while reading Bede • What were the defining features of early Christianity? • How did it differ from pagan religions?
Their deities resembled Roman pagan deities Their cults fused with Roman cults during the Roman imperial period What do we know about British paganism?
Prominent features of early Christianity • Asceticism • Evangelism • Book religion • Martyrdom • Hierarchy Which elements seem most contrary to the culture of the Germanic warriors?
Qumransite of Dead Sea Scrollsandlikely site of Essene Community in Eastern Judea
St. PaulMissionary to the Gentiles c. 50 CEas rendered by Massacio c. 1425 CE
History of Christianity in Britain • What were the mythical elements of that history? • Which elements of that story were clearly historical? • What is the difference between mythical and historical?
Christ with Joseph of Aramethea, Nicodemus, and Mary MagdellanG. Bellinic. 1510
Lived in third century First British martyr/saint Tomb at St. Albans Monastery built in 8th century St. Alban
St. HelenaMother of Constantinealleged to be British but was from Western Asia
Declared Emperor at York in 306 CE Constantine the Great274-337