THE MIDDLE AGES

1. THE MIDDLE AGES 449-1485

2. THE MIDDLE AGES • The Anglo-Saxon Period • 449-1066 • The Medieval Period • 1066-1485

3. THE GERMANIC INVASIONS • Britons • Celtic People • Early inhabitants of Britain • Conquered by the Romans in the first century • In 410, Roman army called back to Rome • Britons raided and looted by neighbors on the Continent

4. THE GERMANIC INVASIONS • The Jutes • Peninsula of Jutland in Denmark • First of many Germanic invaders • Settled in what is now the county of Kent

5. THE GERMANIC INVASIONS • The Angles and the Saxons • Britons were no match for these invaders • Brought with them a common language

6. THE GERMANIC INVASIONS • The Angles & the Saxons • Created the Anglo-Saxon England • Lasted until 1066 • The Normans, led by William, Duke of Normandy, conquered the country

7. THE GERMANIC INVASIONS • Kingdoms of England • Kent • Northumbria • Mercia • Wessex

8. THE GERMANIC INVASIONS • King Alfred of Wessex • Known as Alfred the Great • 871-899 • Led the Anglo-Saxons against the Vikings

9. Common Language Heroic ideal Admired men of outstanding courage High ranking people received with courtesy Rulers generous to loyal Fate ANGLO-SAXON CIVILIZATIONCommonalities

10. ANGLO-SAXON CIVILIZATION

11. ANGLO-SAXON CIVILIZATION • Appreciation of beauty • More artistic than their Norman conquerors • Vigorous minds • Venerable Bede • Earliest English historian • Earliest important prose writer

12. THE ESTABLISHMENTOF CHRISTIANITY • Missionaries from the continent helped to spread Christianity • Saint Augustine • Came in 597 • Established a monastery at Canterbury • Became the first Archbishop of Canterbury

13. THE ESTABLISHMENTOF CHRISTIANITY • Abbess Hilda • Leader of a synod at Whitby Abbey in 664 • This synod united the English church with Roman Christianity

14. ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE • Anglo-Saxon Literature was an oral art • Poems were sung (harp) • The poet was the memory and historian of the tribe • Strong beat and alliteration

15. ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE • Heroic Tradition & Elegiac Tradition • Two most important traditions • Beowulf is the most important single poem • “Seafarer” is a good example of an elegiac lyric • Riddles were also common • Written in Latin (occasionally in English)

16. VENERABLE BEDE • 673-735 • Greatest prose writer of the time • Most learned and industrious writer of the entire period • Author of A History of the English Church and People (731) • Regarded as the father of English history

17. ALFRED THE GREAT • 871-899 • Most remarkable of all English kings • Patron of scholars and educators • Promoted the use of written English instead of Latin • Anglo-Saxon Chronicle • Founded the first English “public schools”