· Ancient Britain was inhabited by Celts, who were later subdued and assimilated by the Romans in southern Britain
· Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) invaders drove out the Romans in the 5th century, and
replaced Roman rule with their own.
· Anglo-Saxons eventually promoted Christianity in Britain, through the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first Christian king of England (Aethelbert)
was baptized in 601.
· Anglo-Saxons were often forced to defend their lands from Viking
invaders.
· The Vikings, a perfect example of the Dark Ages, raided England often, beginning in the late 700s.
· Despite Alfred “the Great” beginning a century of rule free from Viking threats (878-978), later kings set up the system of Danegeld, which paid off the Vikings in exchange for peace.
· After the death of Edward “the Confessor”, the Witan (advisory council of nobles) chose Harold Godwinson (Anglo-Saxon) over two other claimants to the throne: William of
Normandy and Harald Hardrata (Viking).
· The BAYEUX TAPESTRY (click here) tells the story of the famous Norman Invasion of
1066.
· Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) invaders drove out the Romans in the 5th century, and
replaced Roman rule with their own.
· Anglo-Saxons eventually promoted Christianity in Britain, through the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first Christian king of England (Aethelbert)
was baptized in 601.
· Anglo-Saxons were often forced to defend their lands from Viking
invaders.
· The Vikings, a perfect example of the Dark Ages, raided England often, beginning in the late 700s.
· Despite Alfred “the Great” beginning a century of rule free from Viking threats (878-978), later kings set up the system of Danegeld, which paid off the Vikings in exchange for peace.
· After the death of Edward “the Confessor”, the Witan (advisory council of nobles) chose Harold Godwinson (Anglo-Saxon) over two other claimants to the throne: William of
Normandy and Harald Hardrata (Viking).
· The BAYEUX TAPESTRY (click here) tells the story of the famous Norman Invasion of
1066.