The Venerable Bede c.672-735

The Venerable Bede Monk at Wearmouth and Jarrow “The Father of English History”; also wrote on music, metrics, scripture, grammar, natural phenomena, chronologies Made new calculation of the earth’s age, began dividing Christian era into BC and AD

The Venerable Bede Wrote Earth was round “like a playground ball” contrasting it with being “round like a shield” Became known as “Venerable” just after his death but not considered for sainthood Importance to Roman Catholicism recognized in 1899 and declared St. Bede the Venerable

The Ecclesiastical History

The Ecclesiastical History 5 books, about 400 pages Contains ecclesiastical and political history of England from time of Caesar to its completion in 731 First 21 chapters compiled from earlier writers with legends and traditions inserted Has 596 documented sources, including oral testimony Bede is credited with inventing footnoting