History Unit plan

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Giulia Gasparri, Benedetta Strappini, Giulia MaltempiTommaso Brunetti, Andrea Montioni

The anglo-saxon

heptarchy

THE HISTORY

THE CULTURE

WHO ARE THE ANGLO-SAXON

THE SEVEN KINGDOMS

Index

BEOWULF

Who are the Anglo-Saxon

The Anglo-Saxons were a group of Germanic peoples who migrated to Britain after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. These Anglo-Saxon kingdoms remained the major powers in England until the arrival of the Vikings and the Norman Conquest in 1066. Anglo-Saxon culture profoundly influenced English language, law, and politics, contributing to the formation of modern English.

THE ANGLO-SAXON "HEPTARCHY"

The Seven kingdoms: East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Mercia, Northumbria, Sussex, and Wessex.

The seven kingdoms

• Kent: One of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.It had close ties to the Franks across the Channel. • East Anglia: Situated in the eastern region, including modern-day Norfolk and Suffolk. • Mercia: A powerful kingdom in central England, often clashing with neighboring kinggdoms for dominance. • Essex: In the southeast, covering the region of modern-day Essex, east of London. • Wessex: One of the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, which played a major role in resisting Viking invasions. • Sussex: Located to the south, covering the area of modern-day Sussex. • Northumbria: Located in what is now northern England and south-eastern Scotland and were in contrast to the southern people

The culture

Anglo-Saxon culture developed in Great Britain from the 5th century until the Norman conquest of 1066, profoundly influencing the history, language and institutions of England. Key features include the Old English language, the pre-Christian pagan religion and subsequent conversion to Christianity, the hierarchical social structure with castes such as nobles, peasants, and slaves, laws based on customary law, and the independent government of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxon heritage has influenced English culture in the long term, contributing to the formation of national identity.

The history

The Anglo-Saxons, migrated to England from Germany and drastically changed the land by displacing the Celts to Wales and Scotland. They also influenced the language. Their society was divided into classes including kings, aristocrats, warriors, peasants, and slaves. Anglo-Saxons were primarily farmers, fishermen, and hunters, and made advancements in agriculture. They also placed great importance on language and storytelling, but faced challenges such as epidemics and famine leading to high mortality rates.

Beowulf

Beowulf is traditionally considered the most brilliant example of the Anglo-Saxon epic, It was essentially based on the story of a Scandinavian prince who went by the name of Beowulf and all his adventures. The story appears to be divided basically into two parts, in two precise and different narrative chapters:

Beowulf: the two part

1. In the first part Beowulf leaves his homeland, Sweden, to help Hrothgar, the king of Denmark, fight against a monster called Grendel and his mother.2. In the second part he is called instead to fight against a fierce dragon that terrorizes the whole country but this time it fails in his intent and is killed for this, then loses his life for a common end, the story ends with his funeral

Beowulf: the main character

Beowulf, was a legendary hero of the Geats and then their king, protagonist of the homonymous Anglo-Saxon epic poem, the oldest surviving work in English literature.

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