The British are coming! …the British are coming, the British are coming, the British are coming or…. the tribes who melded to become The British Isles.

Southern Britain was invaded from 450 bce to 1066 ad. The land was rich, the climate was suited for agrarian culture, and the harbors were safe, protected, and good for trade. However, invasions brought bloodshed, new people, customs, and languages.

The Celts The Picts  Arrive 600bce in tribes  Agrarian  Migratory  Farmed and created villages  Fought among themselves  Organized themselves by family  Used bronze and iron

The Celts had their own “mysteries” Druids Druids Erected shrines Erected shrines Stonehenge.. what was its purpose? Stonehenge.. what was its purpose?Fertility?Weather?Astronomy?

Rome invades in 55 bc Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Thought the Celts barbaric Thought the Celts barbaric Rome was sacking the Celts as early as 264 bce. Rome was sacking the Celts as early as 264 bce. Defeated the Celts and drove them north to Scotland and Wales Defeated the Celts and drove them north to Scotland and Wales

Hadrian’s Wall Emperor Hadrian built a wall to keep out the Celts Impressive engineering skills Hadrian probably helped build the Pantheon

Rome civilized these early tribes for over 300 years The land prospered The land prospered Built roads Built roads Built aqueducts Built aqueducts Towns Towns Sanitation Sanitation Government Government Latin Latin …but then Rome began pulling out legions to fight battles all over the world Rome became VulnerableWeakDivided … and the Celts came back

Welcome to Britain! The Germanic Tribes arrive 441ad The Angles The Angles The Saxons The Saxons The Jutes The Jutes

Ah! They were warriors and seamen …….not farmers. They didn’t rotate crops or take care of the land. So the land was weakened …..so the Celts flee yet again to Wales …..so the Celts flee yet again to Wales

Stories of Arthur, a Celtic warrior, are sung by bards 941 ad

“Beowulf” We know “Beowulf” comes from these Germanic Tribes We know “Beowulf” comes from these Germanic Tribes We know that Beowulf came out of these warrior kings – that the warrior who survived enough battles was elevated to the title of king We know that Beowulf came out of these warrior kings – that the warrior who survived enough battles was elevated to the title of king Thanes were warriors who pledged themselves to these kings Thanes were warriors who pledged themselves to these kings First King was Aethelbret First King was Aethelbret

“Beowulf First masterpiece of English Literature The true story of a hero who comes from Sweden to help the tribe in Denmark Hygelac was a real warrior who dies in battle in 521 The story was written down in 725 Only surviving Old English poem The original manuscript was found in the 10th century and burned in the 18 th c lines survive The author knows Anglo- Saxon customs May be a priest, cleric, or tutor In love with words Blends the pagan and newly emerging Christianity Intense/exciting Themes of loyalty, success, fate, friendship, and legacy Lived in West Mercia-midlands of England (dialect)

Elements of an Epic ( you will need to know this for the rest of your life) Journey of a hero Battles/monstersBlazonPageantryOratory/rhetoriccatalogingHonor/loyaltyDestiny Assembly scenes Perseverance Common sense Tragic waste RepetitionSymbolism Long involved sentences ParallelismsHyperboleLitotes Sung by bards to illiterates Heroic leaders on both sides