1. Viking Invasions

2. Coins of Offa

3. Discuss Campbell

4. What does Charlemagne’s letter to Offa tell us according to Campbell?
Why does the period of Mercian dominance appear to have been very violent and even tyrannical?
What likely caused the decline of Mercian power, according to Campbell?

5. How does Campbell characterize England during Offa’s reign?
Royal power was becoming increasingly concentrated
The Vikings had begun to rule the island
Paganism was enjoying a brief comeback
Relations between Mercia and Charlemagne were unusually tense

6. Why was the period of Mercian dominance apparently violent and even tyrannical?
The Mercians did not establish written laws?
The sources that we have were victims of Mercian aggression
Sources indicate that Mercian kings never really embraced Christianity
The Mercians developed a centralized government that Campbell referred to as absolutist state.

7. What likely caused the decline of Mercian power, according to Campbell?
Viking invasions
Dynastic instability
Lack of Christian piety
Revolt by the Britons in Wales

8. Beowulf composed late 700s? Written c. 1000

9. How does the poem describe Beowulf as a warrior?
How does the poem describe Beowulf as a king?
What was Beowulf’s religious orientation?

10. In what sense is the story a tragedy?
How was the story instructive?
How might it have been influenced by Danish invasions?

13. Viking Invasions

14. Long Boat

15. Viking Drakkar

16. Viking Invasions of the British Isles

17. Sites of Early Viking Incursions: Lindisfarne and Iona

18. Ruins of Lindisfarne Priory

20. Viking coins

21. Viking spearheads & axes found near London Bridge

22. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle first composed c. 890

23. Alfred the Great

24. Guthrum’s Peace c. 886

27. The Burghal Clusters

28. Relative Size of Alfred’s Burhs

29. Early Shire Structure approx. 30 shires. C. 950

30. Writs

31. King Edgar, c. 973