British Culture (History and Society) # 1 March 16 Beginnings: Prehistory to the End of the Anglo-Saxon Period
“Britanni” = tattooed “Picti” = painted
Quiz 1: In which late C 19 English novel does the heroine, who has killed her seducer in order to be re-united with her husband, and who is now fleeing from the constables, spend the night among the pillars of Stonehenge, only to be captured in the morning?
Early History first settlement – date unknown Probably moved in from Mediterranean Neolithic relics from Young Stone Age around 4000 BC Stonehenge (Salisbury Plain) dates back to 3000 BC its use remains a mystery
Bronze Age, 800 BC: the beaker people 700 BC: first Celts arrive Britain first enters written history by the voyage of Pytheas of Marseille (330 BC) who circumnavigated the island of Britain Celts lived in wooden huts, silos no records until arrival of the Romans Celts were agricultural people who lived on hilltops (e.g. on Maiden Castle, Dorchester) society divided in three classes nobles (fight) druids: judges, priests, … majority of population, had a slightly better life than slaves
Julius Caesar crossed the Channel around 55-54 BC he did not pursue the conquest of Britain Britons were left in peace for a century Romans fighting it out against themselves Britain was irrelevant Aulus Plautius soon Britannia became a province of Roman Empire Boudicea, Queen of the Iceni 122 AD: Hadrian arrived in Britain Hadrian’s Wall (80 miles from Clyde to Solway Firth) Romans brought their civilization (infrastructure, theaters, …) introduced new vegetables, cats, roses, baths, but most importantly towns Celts had lived in isolated settlements London soon became administrative capital has a long history as the capital of Britain 5th largest town north of the Alps highways in all directions Christianity sole religion from 391 AD threats from Picts, Scots, Germanic peoples increased in 4th century Roman legions withdrawn, needed elsewhere 410: Emperor Honorius called last of the legions home, end of Roman settlement in Britain withdrawal of Romans led to Anglo-Saxon age 449: Vortigern called on a group of Anglo-Saxons to fight on his behalf brothers Hengist and Horsa Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum by the Venerable Bede (731) – most important document when first Germanic people arrived is far from certain very little is known from that period: “The Dark Ages” Celtic population pushed from Anglo-Saxons to Wales, Ireland and across the sea to Bretagne myth of King Arthur, Christian king who resisted Bavarians Romans called everyone a Bavarian who was not Roman, Anglo-Saxons came from Lower Germany and Jutland (now Denmark) Jutes settled down in Kent, Angles in East Anglia “ceorl” (--> German: Kerl, Karl) ceorls were farmers Sutton Hoo ship burial – grave of Saxon king around 625 Beowulf: about Norwegian king Beowulf, written by monks in 10th century
embroidered in Canterbury gigantic comic strip with pictures and comments in Latin begins with Edward the Confessor sending Harold to his distant cousin William comet was observed earlier that year, considered sign of evil Normans lived like an army of occupation English-speaking were an oppressed majority in their own country five years after invasion William had completed invasion Anglo-Saxon aristocracy wiped out, new one established Norman power ensured by castles and towers, e.g. Tower of London
European Feudal System feudal system enforced: Pyramid King (lord – vassal, feud (fief))-Nobles(tenants-in-chief/barons)-Knights (lords of the manor)-Peasants (villains, serfs) lord promised protection and granted land to vassal, while vassal promised loyalty and military service King was warrior the more knights a king had, the more powerful he was he gave land to the nobles, the so-called tenants-in-chief (in England called barons), in turn they would provide him with knights struggle for power between King and barons knights were lords of the manor (=economic unit in feudal system), peasants worked for them
bottom of the pyramid were agricultural laborers that did not have a piece of lands villains and serfs not allowed to move, had to ask for permission to marry static social structure, everyone knew his place every man was bound to others in terms of loyalty and service church was one of the greatest medieval landowners
new ruler spoke Norman French English is rich in vocabulary, words derive from several languages (Old English, Scandinavian, French, Latin) e.g. German “groß”: great (OE), big (Scand.), grand, large (Fr.), tall (origin not clear), derivations from Latin root magn- as in “magnify” Synonyms, e.g. hearty-cordial, help-aid, child-infant, free.....
English changed from Old English to Middle English
The Domesday Book: all land and property there was in England Doomsday = day of the last judgment, everybody’s deeds would be laid open wanted to find out wealth of kingdom 400 double-sided pages, gives unique social panorama at the end of 11th century William considered first “database king”
in following centuries English kings continued 1154: new dynasty – the Plantagenets (Latin: planta genista) 1152: Henry married Elenor of Aquitaine became King Henry II in 1154 Empire comprised England, Normandy, Brittany, Anjou and Aquitaine he did not even speak English set up new court system first legal text book, father of Common Law, basis of British law played dubious role in murder of Saint Thomas Becket (Archbishop of Canterbury) Becket defender of rights of the church, ..... 1628: Petition of Rights: Magna Carta held against claim of divine right by the Stuart kings (James I and Charles I) 1689: Bill of Rights (William of Orange) established the basis for parliamentary monarchy. It linked succession to the throne with the preservation of people’s rights and liberties. 1701: Act of Settlement: further breach with hereditary right of succession (Elector of Hanover becomes King George I. of Britain)
The beginnings of Parliament successor of John: Henry III (1216-1272) chancery (administrative) – chancellor exchequer (financial affairs) – treasurer barons wanted to have a say in appointment of chancellor and treasure this was laid in the Great Council (comprised all clerical and lay leaders of the country) king had his own Royal Council (men of the king’s choosing) --> Which one more influential?
led to Civil War in 13th century Simon de Montfort Battle of Lewes Battle of Evesham meetings of Great Council were called parliament (Fr. parler) – conference or parley despite all this, Henry’s reign was at times of stability
Church Cathedrals built in Gothic style, imported from France English cathedrals mostly on margins of town .....
men of prayer (oratores), i.e. those who had taken religious vows belonged to international fraternity Archbishops of Canterbury and York leaders of English church feudal nobility and knights (bellatores) knights: loyalty to king, bravery, loyalty to church, loyalty to a lady, not necessarily wife those who worked on the land (laboratores) social order unquestioned The Medieval Model of the Universe: social order reflected in structure of universe – concentric circl.....
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