chapter1 The Anglo-Saxon Period.docVIP

Chapter Ⅰ The Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066) I Historical Background I. Britons and Britain: The Celts, 600 B.C. The Britons, 5th century B.C. The Britons lived in the tribal society. 2.Roman Conquest (55 B.C.- 410 A.D.) In 55 B. C., Julius Caesar, the Roman conqueror. London was founded. Christianity was introduced to Britain. In 410 A. D., all the Roman troops went back to the continent and never returned. 3.The Anglo-Saxons(English) Conquest three Germanic tribes from Northern Europe: Angles, Saxons and Jutes around the 5th century. The legend of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table Anglo-Saxon period witnessed a transition from tribal society to feudalism. 4. The Danes?Invasion of England) The Danes(Vikings) came to invade England about 8th century. King Alfred the Great of Wessex , 9th century , In the early 11th century all Engalnd was conquered by the Danes for 23 years II language Old English(Anglo-Saxon ): the language spoken under King Alfred the Great and continued to be the common language of England until after the Norman Conquest of 1066. III. Religion The Anglo-Saxons were heathen people. In 7th century all England became Christianized. IV. Literature in this period The Old English literature began from the latter part of the Anglo-Saxon period. The literary works, based on history, legend or events of the time, are created collectively and orally with unknown writers. 1.Northumbrian School Its center: monasteries Caedmon: Bible - Paraphrase, the first Anglo-Saxon poet. Bede(673-735), a spiritual leader of the culture center , 揊ather of English History?,The Ecclesiastical History of the English people (631) The Ecclesiastical History of the English people the first great English history book (in 631) Cover early English history from the Roman invasion led by Julius Caesar to 731 A. D. comprehensive in content 2. Wessex literature King Alfred the Great抯 literary contributions:v