ES 1 PAG 9

THE EUROPEAN SCENE (late 4th C. - 1485)

•1.  The Middle Ages in Europe begin with the end of the classical cultures of Rome and Greece and end with the beginning of the Renaissance.

•2.  The main features shared by many European countries in the Middle Ages were the expansion of Christianity and the predominance of feudalism as a social system.

•3.  Invasions were a factor of change because they started settlements that gave origin to new kingdoms.

•4.   Crusades and voyages opened new routes to trade and to the discovery of new lands.

•5.   Medieval society was mainly rural but towns started to grow along trade routes, while some city-dwellers became part of the new middle-class in society.

ES 2 PAG 9

THE BRITISH SCENE: EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD (main facts).

•1.  The early Middle Ages in Britain started with the Viking invasion.           F

•2.   Anglo - Saxon England was always divided into seven kingdoms.           F

•3.   The spread of Christianity in Britain began in the 6^th century.                    T

•4.   The Danes, of Viking origin, founded a kingdom in East Anglia.                T

•5.   Alfred the Great and King Cnut were both Anglo-Saxon descent.           F

•6.   The battle of Hastings was fought between Anglo-Saxons and Normans.           T

ES 3 PAG 9

THE ANGLO-SAXONS (late 4^th C. - 1066)

Origin of tribes: GERMANIC

Invaded Britain: 5^th and 6^th CENTURIES

Social Structure: CHIEF OR KINF, EARLS, THEGNS, FREEMEN.

Kind of life: MAINLY RURAL - MEADOWS WERE OWNED COMMUNALLY.

Origins of towns: BOROUGHT BUILT AS MILITARY BASES AND THEN BECAME CENTRES OF TRADE.

Cities founded by Anglo-Saxons: WINCHESTER, NORWICK, JORK, SOUTHAMPTON AND LONDON.

Language: OLD ENGLISH.

Type of culture: ORAL TRADITION.

Influence of Christianity: UNITED KINGDOM AND INTRODICED WRITING DOCUMENTS.