Chapter 19: The Irish and The Anglo-Saxons

-         Great Britain and Ireland never became a part of Charlemagne’s Empire.

-         Romans had conquered Britain but a group called the Celts never were.

-         When problems started to happen to Rome, most troops were called back against the Germanic tribes.

-         ~410 groups from modern N Germany and Denmark called the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes started to invade.

-         Gradually these groups took over much of the land and the land became known as the land of the Angles or England.

Section 1: Celtic Ireland

-         Most of Celts left for Ireland once the Anglo-Saxons started to come.

-         Celts lived in family groups called clans.

-         Celts built boats called coracles that were large enough for up to 30.

-         Some people including scholars, artists, and merchants traveled to Ireland for safety from the Germanic invaders.

-         Irish church founded by Saint Patrick who was helped to convert most of the island and helped to found churches when Roman Empire existed.

-         After Roman Empire fell, local abbots became more important and things became different than in rest of Christianity.

-         Monasteries became very important centers of learning and trade.

Section 2: Christianity

-         Anglo-Saxons were not Christian even though the Irish were, so Pope Gregory I decided to try to convert them.

-         The Pope sent a group of missionaries to convert the Anglo-Saxons and despite some initial resistance by 700 AD Britain was Christian.

-         Center of church was at Canterbury.

-         A monk named Bede wrote the 1^st history of Britain and started to use the birth of Christ as a way of dating events (BC and AD).

-         Anglo-Saxons kept legends like Beowulf of dragons, warriors, and monsters.

Alfred the Great (AG)

-         ~835 AD the Danes started attacking coast of England and started to settle.

-         Different English kings decided unite and to fight Danes.

-         These kings chose the king of Wessex Alfred to be their leader.

-         Alfred became called AG because of his strong leadership.

-         He realized the Danes were too strong so instead of fighting them right away he paid them to leave England alone.

-         Once he was ready AG fought and lost but then won the next year.

-         AG strengthened the defenses of England.

-         People united behind AG and he became the leader of all of England.

-         Danes agreed to remain in part of NE England called the Danelaw but were eventually kicked out.

-         AG rebuilt London after the Danes had destroyed it.

-         AG set up system of justice based on Anglo-Saxon customs.

-         He also started many schools to educate his people and had his scholars translate books into English.

The Government

-         England’s government revolved around the king and his advisers.

-         King set up shires (local governing districts) that were run by sheriffs (a local noble selected by the king).

-         Sheriffs collected taxes, enforced laws, and got soldiers for king.

-         Special area where the king and his court was located was under the king’s peace (royal protection).

-         Broken laws here were punished by the king not by the sheriffs.

-         Country’s laws became more unified when king’s peace was expanded to whole kingdom.

-         Witenagemot (group of church leaders and nobles) helped king by drawing up laws and acting as a court.

-         Each member of the group was called a witan (wiseman).

The People

-         People were divided into 2 classes: nobles and peasants.

-         Nobles were either by birth or through a reward for a deed.

-         Nobles had to help king on witenagemot, keep peace, protect king in war and were rewarded by the king for this service with gold and estates.

-         Peasants lived in small villages and had to work the land of the nobles without owning much land themselves.