Introduction to the period

The Conquests of Britain

Between 800 and 600 BC, two groups of Celts from southern Europe invaded the Brish Isles.
Brythons (Britons) settled on the largest island, Britain Gaels settled on the second largest, Ireland
These groups were farmers and hunters. Organized themselves in clans, each with a chieftain When disagreements arose, they looked to the priests, Druids, to settle disputes

Roman Conquest

Romans were the next conquerors of Britain In 55 and 54 BC, Julius Caesar led invasions True conquest occurred 100 years later when disciplined Roman legions spread over the island and established camps that eventually grew into towns. The Britons quickly assimilated, even adopting Christianity in the 4th century The Romans stayed for over 300 years, but left when Rome was being threatened by the Goths in AD407

Germanic Conquests
Three Germanic tribes, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrated from Northern European mainland and invaded every region of the British Isles. They were deep-sea fishermen and farmers Since they were pagans, Christianity quickly faded until 596 when Pope Gregory sent a Benedictine monk, St. Augustine, to convert the population. By providing counsel to warring rulers, the Church promoted peace and helped unify England

Anglo-Saxon society
By 600, the Saxons had finished conquering the Britons as far as they wanted. Their takeover had been slow, hard and cruel. They had no unifying ideas, were not organized and had not technical or organizational superiority. They came to loot!

 Saxons didnt like to live in cities seminomadic tribesmen Center of social life the men lived in the mead hall which was surrounded by huts for the servants, women, and slaves Kings-usually superior warriors who had muscled their way into the position. His counsel acted as lawmakers. Kings followers were expected to be completely loyal, ready to die for him or avenge his death Shirking responsibility=sin Kings duty= be generous

Saxon Social Life

Saxon Social Life cont.

War a game and a business Border disputes were quite common Wergild fixed sum of money or amount of property to be paid by the murderer to the kinsmen of the victim of a blood feud

Saxon Law
Anglo-Saxon law is the basis for our attitude toward the law. Men carried grievances to local courts and could appeal to sheriffs court
Women could own land and money and had rights; couldnt be forced or sold into marriage

Saxon Character
Temper- unimaginative Humor-grim Minds- Saxons took their ideas one at a time Saxon literature is dark Viewed life as hard and grim, often mourned the destruction they brought Saxon mind paid very littler attention to women, much to war and money Saxons qualities tenacity, fidelity, and endurance

Another Conquering
In the ninth century, other seafaring Germanic tribes, including the Danes, threatened to invade. They were repelled by Alfred, King of the West Saxons, who united the Southern British tribes for the first time in defense of their homeland.

Anglo-Saxon Literature
Began with the spoken verse and incantations which often occurred on ceremonial occasions, such as the celebration of military victories Anglo-Saxon poetry has two categories
heroic poetry- recounting achievements of warriors elegiac poetry- lamenting the loss of loved ones and the past Anglo-Saxon proseBefore Alfred the Great, all prose written in the British Isles was composed in Latin. They considered the language of the common people vulgar tongue