1. Britain Beginnings and Anglo Saxons
English IV

2. Legacies from Britain:
Common Law – emphasizing personal rights and freedom
Parliamentary Government
English Literature
English Language

3. British Invasions: Iberians Celts Romans Angles and Saxons Vikings
Normans
Each introduced culture, language, foods, traditions, religion, etc.

4. Celtic Religion: Group called Brythons (or Britons)
Animism (Latin for “spirit”)
Saw spirits everywhere – rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, thunder, etc.
Spirits controlled all aspects of existence and had to be constantly satisfied

5. Celtic Religion
Priests called Druids acted as intermediaries between the gods and the people
Sometimes ritual dances or human sacrifices were called for
You may recognize…..

7. The Romans
Provided armies and organization to prevent further serious invasions for several hundred years
Built a network of roads and defensive road 73 miles long
Christianity takes over thanks to European missionaries
Celtic religion (animism) fades

8. but no central government……
Trouble at home, Romans leave roads, walls, villas,
public baths
but no central government……

9. How Did English Evolve?

10. Anglo-Saxons Take Over 400AD
New name: Engla land (England)
Most Celts retreat to Wales, leader called Arthur
England becomes more politically unified
Re-emergence of Christianity provided:
- common faith
- common system of morality
- right conduct

11. Sutton Hoo Treasure
Ship grave with vast treasure (buried with great king or warrior)
Sword, purse, coins, helmet, buckle, harp, etc.
Teaches us about the Anglo-Saxon way of life:

12. Anglo-Saxon Way of Life:
- warfare was the order of the day
- law and order were responsibility of the leader (family, clan, tribe, kingdom)
- fame and success came from loyalty to the leader
- success measured in gifts from the leader
- loyal dependency between leader and followers

13. Anglo-Saxon Religion From Norse or Scandanavian mythology
More concerned with ethics (bravery, loyalty, generosity, friendship)
Odin / Woden (god of death, poetry, magic)
- Woden’s Day = Wednesday
Thunor / Thor (god of thunder and lightning)
- Thor’s Day = Thursday
Dragon (protector of treasure)

14. Mead-Halls Communal halls
Served as shelter, meeting place for council, place for storytellers and audience
Bards (storytellers) had a rich supply of heroic stories they would sing
All told and passed down by word-of-mouth
Held in esteem tantamount to warriors

15. Christian Monasteries
Served as centers of learning
Preserved Greek and Latin classics as well as popular literature (like Beowulf!)
King Alfred pushed English to be a respected language (which is why we use it today)