GREAT BRITAINCulture shaped by Romans, Celts,

Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans

CELTS 1.inhabitants of

Great Britain in the fourth century B.C.

2.Britain named after a tribe of Celts called the Brythons

3. Heavy belief in “magic”

Animism: the belief that everything associated with nature (trees,

rocks, rivers) has a spirit. These spirits must be appeased through various offerings including human

sacrifice

Druids: Celtic priests who practiced animistic rituals. One of the inspirations for Wicca. Held their rites in oak groves that they considered sacred and believed in reincarnation

Stonehenge: thought to be the site of many druid rituals

Celtic Literature

1.Males are not the only heroes

2.Stories are filled with tons of adventure, magic, imagination, and love affairs

3.King Arthur was a Celtic hero

ROMAN INVASION

Romans took control of Britain, but had to leave when their other lands were threatened. This left Britain without a government and open for the taking.

Built structures such as roads and walls, which can still be seen today.

The Romans also brought Christianity, which led to the demise of the animistic religions

ANGLO-SAXONS1. Comprised of Germans and

Norwegians

2. Drove the Celts into Wales.

3. Dominated Britain and their language became dominant (Anglo-ish=English)

4. Britain became Angl-and (England)

5. Divided into individual kingdoms ruled by kings

THE DANISH INVASION

1. The Danes (or Vikings) were a fierce fighting people

2. Boats that looked like dragons

1. Destruction and pillaging

2. Eventually settled in Northeast England

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo kings were

converted to Christianity. It provided a common faith and helped bring unity to the divided kingdoms. It also brought common ground to the fight against the Vikings, who threatened Christian churches…

BUTThe warrior Norse gods such as Odin and Thor were still passionately worshipped, and they believed in creatures such as dragons. This gave life to stories such as Beowulf.

The Bard

1. Traveling storytellers/poets

2. Anglo meeting houses provided space for these storytellers

3. Orally passed on stories and legends

4. To the Anglo-Saxons, storytelling was just as important as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving

Meanwhile in Ireland….

The Irish Celts were all converted to Christianity (Catholicism) by a Romanized Briton by the name of Patricius (St. Patrick). Christianity flourished and the country was filled with monasteries that spread even into England.

BEOWULF1. Stories such as Beowulf

were passed down orally through bards through songs and storytelling

2. It was eventually preserved by monks who recorded the story on paper.

3. This story has been the inspiration for thousands of stories, movies, poems, etc.

4. Written in northeast England between 700 and 750

5. This story culminates elements of the various religions and folklore that the cultures of early England brought

BEOWULF

1. Prince of the Geats: Northern Germanic people

2. Source of “comitatus”: unshaken loyalty to a king or leader

3. Not concerned with wealth or power. Beowulf only wants his feats to be remembered in story and song

GRENDEL

1. Descendent of Cain

2. Name means “Walker in the Outlands”

3. Feared by all except Beowulf

4. Constantly attacks King Hrothgar’s people

King Hrothgar1. Famous Danish king

and great warrior

2. Protector of the Scyldings (ruling faction)

3. Seeks out the help of Beowulf with Grendel