Lesson 1:
The early Middle Ages (450-1066)
55 B.C - 450 A.D: Britain under Roman rule
At the end of the 4th century the Roman empire was being threatened.
- In Britain by the Celts.
- In 450 the Romans left Britain so that they could defend their other land
Because the Romans left the Britons (Romano-British) started being attacked now by the
Celts, Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
Angles, Saxons and Jutes were driven off by the Huns
● Huns: Asian people who invaded Europe.
● Migration of the people: the era that all the people started moving→ Romans,
Angles, Saxons and Jutes etc.
After a period of plundering the Anglo-Saxons started settling in Britain. There were often
wars between Anglo-Saxon kings.
Wales, Scotland and Cornwall stayed under the rule of the Romano-British.
The Anglo-Saxon kings surrounded themselves with young warriors who formed a military
and elite. They would get valuables in return for loyalty and help in times of war.
The warriors had to stay loyal to the king until death.
During this time most people were farmers.
From the 7th century, monks, priests and bishops played an important role in society. The
pope had sent missionaries to the Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century to convert them to
christianity. During the 7th century almost all kings had converted and many monasteries
were built. The latin language was adopted.
● Bede (673-735): a monk who wrote a history of the Anglo-Saxons)
Languages recorded in writing during this time
- Latin
- Old English → most famous work: Beowulf (epic poem)
From the 9th century monks and clerks started to make chronicles
● Chronicles: annual records of contemporary events
- Anglo Saxon Chronicle → key source about the history of various kingdoms
and the Vikings
The Vikings attacked Britain for the second time in 793. They plundered a monastery in
Lindisfarne. The Vikings kept plundering, with monasteries being the prime target. Because
the A-Saxon kings were always fighting, it was quite easy to do it. After a while they also
started settling
Whilst the Anglo-Saxons and Normans were fighting over the English throne in the 11th
century, William the Con-queror, seized the throne. He defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the
battle of Hastings in 1066. The Norman period of English history began.
, Sutton Hoo
● Sutton Hoo: one of the best known Anglo Saxon sites. It’s a burial site of a 7th
century king. He was buried with a lot of valuables.
→ the site = evidence of a sophisticated society of the Anglo Saxon elite.
→ shows the transition from paganism to Christianity.
King Alfred van Wessex
Lived from: 849- 899
Ruled from: 871-899
King Alfred of Wessex defeated the Danes in 878. He made a peace treaty with them,
reorganised the Anglo-Saxon army and created forts.
He also built a fleet of ships, now seen as the beginning of the English navy
Alfred treats:
1. Military man
2. Educated
- Supported the rebuilding of education and learning after the vikings.
Monasteries were used for learning but were often destroyed by the Vikings.
- He translated Latin text into Old English
3. Religious
Beda Venerabilis
Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum: one of the most important historical works of the
middle ages.
Beda himself:
- Finished the work in 731
- He was born around 672/673 in Northumbria
- Was a monk
- Became priest in 703
- He wrote commentaries on various books
Historica Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (731)
Bede’s best-known work. King Alfred translated it into English.
- The only existing written source of information about the early history of Ireland and
Wales
What is it about
- History of the Anglo-Saxon church
- First inhabitants of britain
- Roman period
- Conflicts between kings and churches
- English politics
- Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity
Chapter 6 talks about the politics, history and religion and the life of King Oswald of
Northumbria (605-642)
The early Middle Ages (450-1066)
55 B.C - 450 A.D: Britain under Roman rule
At the end of the 4th century the Roman empire was being threatened.
- In Britain by the Celts.
- In 450 the Romans left Britain so that they could defend their other land
Because the Romans left the Britons (Romano-British) started being attacked now by the
Celts, Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
Angles, Saxons and Jutes were driven off by the Huns
● Huns: Asian people who invaded Europe.
● Migration of the people: the era that all the people started moving→ Romans,
Angles, Saxons and Jutes etc.
After a period of plundering the Anglo-Saxons started settling in Britain. There were often
wars between Anglo-Saxon kings.
Wales, Scotland and Cornwall stayed under the rule of the Romano-British.
The Anglo-Saxon kings surrounded themselves with young warriors who formed a military
and elite. They would get valuables in return for loyalty and help in times of war.
The warriors had to stay loyal to the king until death.
During this time most people were farmers.
From the 7th century, monks, priests and bishops played an important role in society. The
pope had sent missionaries to the Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century to convert them to
christianity. During the 7th century almost all kings had converted and many monasteries
were built. The latin language was adopted.
● Bede (673-735): a monk who wrote a history of the Anglo-Saxons)
Languages recorded in writing during this time
- Latin
- Old English → most famous work: Beowulf (epic poem)
From the 9th century monks and clerks started to make chronicles
● Chronicles: annual records of contemporary events
- Anglo Saxon Chronicle → key source about the history of various kingdoms
and the Vikings
The Vikings attacked Britain for the second time in 793. They plundered a monastery in
Lindisfarne. The Vikings kept plundering, with monasteries being the prime target. Because
the A-Saxon kings were always fighting, it was quite easy to do it. After a while they also
started settling
Whilst the Anglo-Saxons and Normans were fighting over the English throne in the 11th
century, William the Con-queror, seized the throne. He defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the
battle of Hastings in 1066. The Norman period of English history began.
, Sutton Hoo
● Sutton Hoo: one of the best known Anglo Saxon sites. It’s a burial site of a 7th
century king. He was buried with a lot of valuables.
→ the site = evidence of a sophisticated society of the Anglo Saxon elite.
→ shows the transition from paganism to Christianity.
King Alfred van Wessex
Lived from: 849- 899
Ruled from: 871-899
King Alfred of Wessex defeated the Danes in 878. He made a peace treaty with them,
reorganised the Anglo-Saxon army and created forts.
He also built a fleet of ships, now seen as the beginning of the English navy
Alfred treats:
1. Military man
2. Educated
- Supported the rebuilding of education and learning after the vikings.
Monasteries were used for learning but were often destroyed by the Vikings.
- He translated Latin text into Old English
3. Religious
Beda Venerabilis
Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum: one of the most important historical works of the
middle ages.
Beda himself:
- Finished the work in 731
- He was born around 672/673 in Northumbria
- Was a monk
- Became priest in 703
- He wrote commentaries on various books
Historica Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (731)
Bede’s best-known work. King Alfred translated it into English.
- The only existing written source of information about the early history of Ireland and
Wales
What is it about
- History of the Anglo-Saxon church
- First inhabitants of britain
- Roman period
- Conflicts between kings and churches
- English politics
- Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity
Chapter 6 talks about the politics, history and religion and the life of King Oswald of
Northumbria (605-642)
