History of Anglo-Saxon
The Roman Empire fell around 410 AD. The Jutes, the Frisians, and the Angeln and Saxony settled in the British Isles with little intent to keep Roman legacy alive. The new groups created their own language, buildings and culture. The Anglo-Saxon’s, a Germanic group, brought the belief of Christianity with the arrival of Saint Augustine. The Anglo-Saxon’s ruling period lasted for 600 years, and ended in 1066 with he death of Edward the Confessor. The successor had favored Harold Godwinson but he had failed as king when he and an invading army crossed the Channel of France and was defeated by Normans at the Battle of Hastings. The effect of the Anglo-Saxon was the creation of an English nation, and the re-establishment of laws and Christianity. Their culture is expressed in the buildings, apparel, texts and archeology and anthropology, with all having a strong element of tribal and lordship ties. |
SummaryThe story of Beowulf is a poem written in Old English about a hero who travels to the land of the Danes to defeat a monster named Grendel. Once he defeats this monster, Grendel's mother seeks her revenge on Beowulf for murdering her son. After a near-death experience, Beowulf defeats Grendel's mother and is rewarded for his bravery by Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. Beowulf then returns to the land of the Geats and becomes king of his own land. Fifty years later, another conflict arises with the dragon, who was awakened by the theft of his treasure. Beowulf and his men seek out to defeat this dragon, but in the midst of the battle, Beowulf was attacked by the dragon and was killed. One of Beowulf's men, Wiglaf defeated the dragon and came to his aid before he died. After Beowulf died, the barrow that the dragon resided in was constructed to commemorate Beowulf and his bravery. |