The Celtic Church Northumbrian Renaissance 300-800
Northumbrian Bretwaldas Oswald d. 641 Oswiu d. 670 Edwin 584-632
Christian Evangelism among the English 550-700 CE
Roman Tonsure
Celtic Monasteries in Britain: Lindisfarne and Iona
Bede 672-735
Discuss Bede What lessons can we use from Geoffrey of Monmouth to shed insight on Northumbrian politics in this period? What kinds of miracles does Bede recount in this chapter?
What indicated that Northumbrian politics could get a little rough in the 600s? Cousins killed cousins Christians killed Christians Pagans and Christians killed one another Wives killed husbands Bishop Paulinus fled Northumbria for Kent
How did Bede depict the Celtic saint, Aidan? As an ascetic whose devotion won over many converts? As a haughty, pompous Irishman As a friend of King Oswald As the main cause of conflict between Roman and Celtic Christians
Whitby Abbey
Hilda of Whitby Member of Northumbrian royal family Abbess of Whitby mid 600s Hosted Synod of Whitby Respected intellectual throughout Europe
Ancient Scrolls Egyptian Papyrus
Selecting Vellum
Cutting Folios
Lining the Folios
Scrap paper/bones
Monastic scribes
Illuminated Manuscript: Lion from the Book of Durrow c. 675
Lindisfarne – Holy Island
The Lindisfarne Gospels c. 700 CE
Lindisfarne Gospels c. 700
Codex Amiatinus c. 700
Book of Kells c. 800 Artistic Revival
Illuminated Manuscript: The Book of Kells c. 800 CE
Book of Kells c. 800 Illuminated Manuscript Irish Minscule Produced during a 30 year period by a team of perhaps 6 monks Uncial Script for capital letters
By 668 Theodore brought features of Mediterranean Christianity to Britain
Laws of Aethelberht of Kent c. 600 CE
Charters
Anglo-Saxon Charter
Chirograph
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms c. 700
Tribal Hidage c. 700 Hwinca syfan þusend hyda. 7,000 Ciltern sætna feower þusend hyda. 4,000 Hendrica þryu þusend hyda ond fif hund hyda. 3,500 Unecungaga twelf hund hyda. 1,200 Arosætna syx hund hyda. 600 Bilmiga syx hund hyda. 600 Widerigga eac swa. 600 Eastwilla syx hund hyda 600 Westwilla syx hund hyda 600 East engle þrittig þusend hida 30,000 Eastsexena syofon þusend hyda 7,000 Cantwarena fiftene þusend hyda 15,000 Suþsexena syufan þusend hyda 7,000 Westsexena hund þusend hyda. 100,000
Alcuin of York (735-804)
Charlemagne’s Empire
Carolingian Manuscript c. 800
How does Bede characterize King Oswald of Northumbria? A brutal ruler who apostacized A halfhearted Christian who maintained pagan practices A victorious conqueror of the pagan Penda A saintly king whose death preceded a series of miracles
How does Bede characterize the relationship between the Celtic Aidan and King Oswald? One of mutual admiration and respect One of rivalry and hatred One of some distrust but overall they cooperated One of two lovers
What was Bede’s attitude toward Irish missionaries, such as Columba & Aidan? He never mentioned either one of them He loathed them for their simplicity & ignorance He appreciated their holiness and excused their ignorance He praised them and saw no faults
How did Bede characterize… The transition from Edwin to Oswald King Oswald St. Aidan King Oswy Events outside of Northumbria Synod of Whitby