Sub-topics:

 

1) Vikings and Danelaw

 

2) Alfred the Great, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

 

3) Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey

 

Powerpoint:

vikings.ppt 

 

 

Vikings and Danelaw

 

 

 

     A Viking (The name Viking comes from the language which is called Old Norse. It means "a pirate raid") is one of the Scandinavian explorers, warriors, merchants and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the late eight to early eleventh century (AD 800-1050). This perod of Viking expansion is known as the Viking Age, and forms a major part of the medieval history of Scandinavia, the British Isles and Europe in general.

 

 

Who were the Vikings?

 

 

     The Viking people came from three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They were also known as the Norse people. They were mostrly farmers, but sme worked as craftsmen or traders. Many Vikings were great travelers and sailed all over Europe and the north Atlantic Ocean in their longships. Some went as fierce pirate raiders: they stole treasure and attacked local people. But most Vikings who sailed overseas were simply searching for better land for their farms.

 

 

 

 

                                                                   Everyday life

 

 

     Like everybody else, the Viking men and women needed the basic things in life: food, clothes and houses. Domestic animals played an important role in everyday life. Probably the most important animal was the horse.

 

 

     Men worked on farms, or as craftsmen or traders. They handled boats for fishing or traveling. Sometimes a man had to fight to protect his family or to support his king or local chieftain.

 

 

     Women did all the household jobs. They also helped on the farm, milked the cows and made cheese. They spun, wove and sewed all the family's clothes.

 

Children did not go to school. They helped their parents at work, and learned about history, religion and the law from stories. They became adults at the age of 15 or 16.

 

 

                                                                                 

 

 The Vikings' view of their world permeated everyday lives, and The Law decided what they could and couldn't do. It would be a dull life only dealing with the bare necessities of life. The Vikings also played games and enjoyed music, poetry, sports and crafts like woodcarving and metal work.

 

 

     When the Vikings first came to Britain, they had their own religion and worshipped many different gods. The stories they told about them are known as 'the Norse Myths'. They are mostly about contests between the gods and the giants.

 

 

 

 

Discovering new lands

 

 

                The Vikings were brave sailors and explorers. They thought nothing of taking their families on long, dangerous journeys across the sea. They discovered and settled in several remote countries that lay to the west of Britain in the north Atlantic Ocean: the Faeroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland.

 

 

     A Viking man called Bjarni Herjolfsson discovered America by accident in the year 985, when his ship was blown off course on the way to Greenland. A few years later, in 1001, Leif Eriksson 'the Lucky' sailed there to take a proper look at it. He was the first European to land in America. When the Vikings discovered America they called it 'Vinland' (Wine-land) because they found grapes growing there.

 

 

 

 

 

The Vikings in Britain

 

 

 

        In the year 793 Viking pirate raiders sailed across the North Sea to a Christian monastery at Lindisfarne in north-east England. They stole its treasures, murdered the monks and terrified everyone. This was followed by other violent 'Viking raids' all over Britain.

 

 

     The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, is a historical name given to the part of Great Britain in which the laws of the "Danes" dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons.The part of Great Britain that was part of the Danelaw is now northern and eastern England.

 

 

What happened to the Vikings?

 

 

                Throughout the Viking Age, there were many conflicts and battles between the Vikings and the English. In the 9th century, the English king, Alfred the Great forced the Vikings to leave the whole of western England. During the 10th Century the English reconquered many Viking areas. But in the early 11th century the whole of England was ruled by the Viking King Knut.

 

 

     In 1066 England was conquered by William, the Duke of Normandy. This was the end of the Viking Age in England.In Scotland, powerful Viking earls continued to rule the islands and some of the mainland for hundreds of years. They were driven from the mainland in the mid-12th century, but remained in the northern islands for another 300 years.

 

 

 

Answer the questions below:

 

1)       Which countries did the Vikings come from?

 

2)       From what language came the name ’’Viking’’  and what does it mean?

 

3)       Tell about Vikings everyday life!

 

4)       What is ’’The Danelaw’’ ?

 

5)       Which event put the end to Vikings age?

 

 

 

Sources:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/       

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danelaw

 

http://www.domesdaybook.net/helpfiles/hs960.htm

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings

 

http://www.viking.no/e/index.html

 

http://lib.lbcc.edu/handouts/images/Vikings/vikings3.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

                Alfred the Great, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

 

 

Alfred the Great(849-899)

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Alfred(Aelfred) the Great also called as Alfred of Wessex was one of the best rulers in British history known for his fighting skills but also for wisdom and supporting the culture. He became the ruler after he and his brother defeated Danes in  Battle of  Ashdown in Berkshire. So in 871 he succeeded to the throne of West Saxons. Later he has been considered to be the first King of England.

 

 

Biography

 

     Alfred was born in 849 at Wantage, Oxfordshire(historic county of Berkshire). He was the youngest child of King

Æthelwulf of Wessex

  

He was brought up and educated by his mother. At the age of five he was taken to the Pope Leo IV who confirmed him as a king.

 

In 856 his father Æthelwulf of Wessex died and the throne went to the hands of Alfred’s elder brothers. But they also didn’t reign long.

 

     During the reign of his brother Æthelred Alfred was known as a good fighter and right-hand of his brother. 868 Alfred is recorded fighting beside his brother Æthelred. For two years Saxons tried unsuccessfully to keep away the attacks of Danes.

Also in  868 Alfred married

Ealhswith, daughter of Æthelred Mucil, with who he had at least four other children besides Edward: Aethelflaed, Aethelgitha, Aelfthrith and Aethelweard.

 

   870 has been called as “Alfred’s year of the battles”.  Alfred and Æthelred finally showed Danes for what they were capable in the Battle of Ashdown.

 

   In 871 Alfred’s brother died and the throne went to Alfred.

 

King Alfred died on 26th October AD 899. His son built the New Minster in Winchester as a family mausoleum to house his tomb. His son Edward was the next king.

 

 

Wars with Danes

 

 

     Danes were once defeated but peace did not last long. West Saxons lost the further battles but Alfred refused to surrend. In 878 West Saxons won Danes again in the Battle of Edington. The king of Danes Guthrum made peace with Saxons. And in 886 Alfred freed London from the occupation of Danes.

 

Danes and Angles made a treaty which divided land. The eastern area between rivers Thames and Tees was declared as the land of Danes which is later known as Danelaw. In this area Danes and Anglo-Saxons had the same rights.

 

 

Culture

 

     Alfred established a court school for his own children and nobility. There could study to read and write in English and Latin also. Alfred also fought for the right that every free-born man should have an opportunity to study in his mother language. But there was a problem—the majority of educational books were written in Latin. Alfred himself learned Latin and translated some books from Latin to English. There were four books which he translated with the help of his court scholars: Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, St. Augustine's Soliloquies, and the first fifty psalms of the

Psalter.

 

 In 890 the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was started to write by the orders of Alfred.

 

     There isn’t much that is known nowadays of the church under Alfred because of the attacks of Danes which damaged many monasteries and churches. But it is known that Alfred founded Athelney and Shaftesbury monasteries. He didn’t make any reforms but he thought himself to be responsible for spiritual life of his kingdom.Alfred is also venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. He may be often found in stained glass in churches. In New York State there is an university named after him and also a statue in the center of campus.

 

 

 

     In 1693 a jewel was discovered with an inscription "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred Ordered Me To Be Made). Jewel is about 6.1 cm long and made of gold with an image of a man holding floriate scepters which may be symbolise Wisdom of God.

 

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alfred_king.shtml

http://dailyoffice.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/alfredthe-great366.jpg

 

 

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/images/Alfre_jewel.jpg

 

 

 

Answer the questions:

 

When and where was Alfred born?

Who was Alfred's father?

Where did the Anglo-Saxons first defeat Danes?

When was Alfred crowned?

What was Danelaw?

What does it mean: "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN"?

Where could you nowadays see Alfred?

 

 

 

 

 

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

 

       The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is the most important document of the middle ages. It was originally compiled by the orders of King Alfred the Great in AD 890. But last writings are from 12th century. The last update was written in1154 during the reign King Stephen at

Peterborough Abbey

 

after a fire at that monastery in 1116.

 

     The original language of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is Anglo-Saxon language which is Old English. The document is not accurate but still very valuable because it is almost only document which was written before Norman conquest.

 

  Nine manuscripts form the chronicle. Seven of those nine are in the British Library. The manuscripts are not actually original because the earliest material dates back to 60 BC. In the writings there is noticed that the writers put their own opinion in their stories and point of views do not match. The writers had remembered and understood some things differently and these versions contradict each other.

 

  It is not sure where or when the first Chronicle was composed. The original part was written in Wessex during the reign of Alfred the Great and the copies were made of it.The parts of the Chronicle which have survived are those copies written in 9th century.

 

  The oldest part of the document is called the Winchester Chronicle. It describes the occasions from 60BC until 891AD.

 

Other eight chronicles are called: The Abingdon Chronicle I, The Abingdon Chronicle II, The Worcester Chronicle, The Peterborough Chronicle, The Canterbury Bilingual Epitome, Copy of the Winchester Chronicle, Cottonian Fragment, Easter Table Chronicle. The period described in those chronicles starts with 60BC and ends differently.

 

       English history from Romans to Norman conquest is written mostly with the help of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This also a good example of Old and Middle English because the end of the Chronicle is already written in Middle English and there are some poems written for the victories or for other big events. So the document is interesting for the information which is written in it and also for the language.

 

 Nowadays it is available to read it in New English for everybody.

 

 

 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_Chronicle

 

 

http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/asintro2.html

 

 

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/images/anglo_saxon_chronicle.jpg

 

 

http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery_images/0708/0000/0085/peterborough_chronicle_firstpage_mid.jpg

 

 

 

 

Define words:

 

to compile           

monastery

update

Old English

accurate

opinion

to contradict

manuscript

occasion

conquest

 

 

to compile- to put together      

monastery- a house of religious retirement

update- the act of changing something to bring it up to date usually by adding something

Old English- Anglo-Saxon language

accurate- precisely fixed

opinion- the formal decision or expression of views

to contradict- prove negative, to oppose

manuscript- a literary or musical composition written with the hand

occasion- an event that occurs at a critical time

conquest- that which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral

 

 

 

                                                                 Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey

 

 

Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

 

 

Edward was the oldest son of Ethelred II (Ethel the Undready) and Emma of Normandy. He was the penultimate Anglo-Saxon king of England.

 

     The family was exiled in Normandy after the Danish invasion of 1013 so Edward spent the first part of his life in Normandy. He grew up in deep religious views and gained the nickname ’’Confessor’’. As Edward was seperated from his family and grew up in a strange land, it is said that his childhood wasn’t a happy one.

 

     After Ethelred’s death in 1016 the Danes again took control of England. The throne of England passed to Canute the Great. The new king married Emma of Normandy and the couple had a son,

Hardicanute

 

. Edward lived in exile until 1041. At the death of Canute in 1035, Edward led an abortive attempt to capture the crown for himself. He was recalled, for some reason, to the court of Hardicanute.

 

     Edward was crowned at the cathedral of Winchester, the royal seat of the

West Saxons on 3 April 1043. According to those who compiled the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the first thing Edward did, despite his religious views, was to deprive his mother of all of her estates and reduce her to relative poverty. It is said that Edward blamed her for his miserable and lonely childhood.

 

 

 

     For the first eleven years of Edward's reign the real ruler of England was Godwin, Earl of Wessex. In 1045, he married Godwin's only daughter, Edith. Godwin was the most important nobleman in England. They had no children as Edward had taken a vow of celibacy. Even this marriage couldn’t prevent a breach between Godwin and Edward in 1049.

 

 

 A number on Normans were killed in a scrap in Dover and Kent in 1051. Edward still had influential friends in Normandy and he wanted the people of Dover punhised for this. Edward asked Earl Godwin to be the punisher. After saying no to king he raised an army against Edward instead. The other two senior noblemen, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, remained loyal to Edward. Later Edward outlawed Godwin and his family in Flanders.

 

Between 1051 and 1052, Edward increased the number of Normans who advised him at court. Edward’s continued favouritism caused problems with his nobles.  In 1052 Godwin and his sons returned to England with an army. The army was commanded by his two sons – Harold and Tostig. Godwin's lands were returned to him and many of Edward's Norman favourites were exiled. In 1053 Godwin died. His title was taken by Harold who became known as Harold of Wessex. He was the most powerful nobleman in England.

 

 

     It was Harold who subjugated Wales  in 1063 and negotiated with the rebellious Northumbrians in 1065. Thereof, shortly before his death, Edward named Harold as his successor even though he may already have promised the crown to a distant cousin, William – Duke of Normandy.

 

     Edward's greatest achievement was the construction of a new cathedral, where virtually all English monarchs from William the Conqueror onward would be crowned. It was determined that the minster should not be built in London, and so a place was found to the west of the city (hence "Westminster"). The new church was consecrated at Christmas, 1065, but Edward could not attend due to illness.

 

     Some say, probably correctly, that Edward was a weak, but violent man and that his reputation for saintliness was overstated, possibly a sham perpetrated by the monks of Westminster in the twelfth century. Others seem to think that he was deeply religious man and a patient and peaceable ruler.

Having warded off political threats, England during the last 15 years of Edward's reign was peaceful and prosperous with a growing population. He died at the age of 64 and was buried in the Abbery he had constructed at Westminster. Edward was canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. His feast day is October 13.

 

 

     He died on 4 January 1066 and was buried in the Abbey he had constructed at Westminster.

 

 

 

Find the meaning of these words in Estonian:

 

 

Achievement -

 

Penultimate -

 

Influential -

 

Threat -

 

Prosperous -

 

Breach –

 

To oulaw –

 

A vow of celibacy -

 

To deprive –

 

To consecrate –

 

To canonize –

 

Feast -

 

 

Answers:

 

Achievement - saavutus, edusamm

 

Penultimate - eelviimane

 

Influential - mõjuvõimas, mõjukas

 

Threat - ähvardus, hädaoht

 

Prosperous - õitsev, jõukas, edukas

 

Breach – lõhe;nurjumine

 

Outlaw – lindprii

 

A vow of celibacy - tsölibaadi tõotus

 

To deprive – ilma jätma, ära võtma

 

To consecrate – pühitsema, pühendama

 

To canonize – kanoniseerima, pühakuks kuulutama

 

Feast - pidusööming, püha; pidutsema

 

 

 

Additional reading:

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/golden291.htm

 

 

(The Life of Saint Edward the Confessor, The Golden Legend)

 

 

Sources:

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_the_Confessor

 

http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon20.html

 

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDedward.htm

 

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/edward_the_confessor.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/edward_confessor.shtml

 

 

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/images/london/westminster-abbey/isaac-newton-tomb-paradox.jpg (third

 

 

picture)

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=97433&rendTypeId=4

 

 

(second picture)

 

 

 

 

                                                                                               Westminster Abbey

 

 

 

     Around 1045-1065, Edward the Confessor built a church for the Benedictine monks in the Norman form of Romanesque. He intended it to be his burial place. The Westminster Abbey is located near the Houses of Parliament. It is more a historical site than a religious site. Since 1066, every royal coronation, with the exception of Edward V and Eward VIII has taken place in Westminster Abbey.

 

 

     The abbey also serves as the burial ground for numerous politicians, sovereigns and artists. It is also a final resting place of seventeen monarchs.The abbey is stuffed with graves, statues and monuments. Many coffins even stand upright due to the lack of space. In total approximately 3300 people are buried in the Church and cloisters. Some of the most famous are Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone.

 

 

     The history of the abbey starts in 1050, when King Edward The Confessor decided to build an abbey. Only a small part of this original Norman monastery, consecrated in 1065, survived. The only representation of this original building is shown on the Bayeux Tapestry.

 

     Most of the present building dates from 1245 to 1272 when Henry III decided to rebuild the abbey in the gothic style. Large parts were later added: the Chapel of Henry VII was added between 1503 and 1512, while the two West Front Towers date from 1745. The North entrance which was completed in the 19th century, is the youngest part of the abbey.

 

1) The Nave

 

 

2) The Cloyster

 

 

3)Chapter House

 

 

4) Henry VII Chapel

 

 

 

 

 

     The most fascinating part is the fourth one – Henry VII Chapel aka Lady Chapel. It is built during the years 1503-1512. It has a magnificient vault and it is one of the most outstanding chapels of its time. It features a large stained glass window, the Battle of Britain memorial window. The window, which dates from 1947, commemorates fighter pilots and crew who died during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

 

 

     The Abbey's formal title is The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster. The popular title ‘Westminster Abbey' continues to be used, even though there have been no monks here since the 16th century.

 

The Dean of Westminster must give his permission for all burials and monuments in the Church. Ashes only are permitted. People who have served the Abbey in an official capacity, such as a Dean, a Canon, Organist or Surveyor of the Fabric may be buried there.

 

 

     The ‘Westminster chimes’ are of the bells in the clocktower of the Houses of Parliament (or Palace of Westminster). The chimes are set out to music by Handel.

 

 

     Money to maintain the fabric and deal with the day-to-day running of Westminster Abbey is raised from entry fees, donations and investments. The Abbey receives about one million paying visitors per year and derives about 80 per cent of its funds in this way. The Abbey receives no funds from the State or from the Church of England.

 

 

 

 

Answer the questions below:

 

 

1)       Who decided to build the Westminster of Abbey? (Edward the Confessor)

 

2)       What is Lady Chapel? (The nickname of Henry VII Chapel)

 

3)       By whose music are the ’Westminster chimes’ set out? (Handel)

 

4)       How may monarchs are buried in the Westminster of Abbey? (17)

 

5)       What is the Abbey’s formal title? (The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster)

 

6)       Who can be buried nowadays in the Abbey? (People who have served the Abbey in an official capacity, such as a Dean, a Canon, Organist or Surveyor of the Fabric may be buried there)

 

 

 

Sources:

 

 

www.westminster-abbey.org

 

http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/westminsterabbey.htm

 

http://www.westminster.org.uk/study/theabbey.asp

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Abbey

 

http://www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/243989/England/London/Westminster-Abbey