From ANGLO-SAXONS to normans

From Anglo-Saxons to Normans

Anglo-Saxons

  • Exit of Romans (early 400s):

    • Departure of Romans led to the influx of Picts and Scots from Scotland/Ireland.

    • Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) began settling after AD 430.

    • Characterized as warlike and illiterate.

  • Heptarchy:

    • Formation of multiple kingdoms: main seven were Wessex, Sussex, Essex, and others.

  • Christianity Introduction (AD 597):

    • Monkwho is Augustine becomes the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

    • Establishment of monasteries (minsters), which served as centers of learning and education.

  • Contributions of Alfred the Great:

    • Established a legal system and education.

    • Launched the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, documenting facts about the period.

  • Cultural Influences:

    • Days of the week named after Germanic gods:

      • Wodin for Wednesday

      • Thor for Thursday

      • Frei

    • Place name suffixes:

      • "- ing" indicating family names, e.g., Hastings.

      • "- ham" indicating farms, e.g., Birmingham.

Timeline of Anglo-Saxon England

  • Key Regions:

    • Angles, Saxons, and Jutes settle in various regions by early 400's.

    • Major areas include Northumbria, East Mercia, Anglia, Essex, Kent, Wessex, Sussex, and Britons.

The Danish Invasion (The Vikings in the 800s)

  • Viking Raids:

    • Conducted raids via long ships, equipped with 50-60 warriors for hand-to-hand combat.

    • The decisive battle in 878 led by Alfred the Great resulted in a treaty recognizing Viking rule in parts of England, termed Danelaw.

  • Ethelred and Viking Pressures:

    • Ethelred I paying Danegeld (a tax) to keep Vikings at bay.

    • Post Ethelred's death, Cnut (Viking leader) controlled much of England.

    • Cnut's empire eventually collapses; Edward the Confessor emerges as the last Anglo-Saxon ruler of England, associated with Westminster Abbey.

Danelaw

  • Viking Control:

    • The city of York, known as "Jorvik" by the Vikings, was captured in AD 866.

    • Danelaw districts included Northumbria, York, Chester, Mercia, East Anglia, and others, providing insights into the geographical spread of Viking influence.

The Normans (1066-1154)

  • Change in Leadership:

    • Following Edward the Confessor's death without an heir, Harold was chosen as successor but faced military challenge from Norman Duke William.

    • The Battle of Hastings (1066): resulted in William the Conqueror's victory and the beginning of Norman rule.

  • Societal Structure:

    • Introduction of political and military feudalism.

    • The interplay of Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon languages evolved into what we call Middle English.

    • Establishment of a strong central government, epitomized by the Tower of London.

  • Domesday Book:

    • The first comprehensive record of people and their property in Europe, primarily for tax purposes.

Feudalism

  • Social Hierarchy:

    • All land ultimately owned by the king, distributed to vassals in exchange for services and goods.

    • Nobles maintained serfs to cultivate their lands.