-The European Scene

•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.   Invasion 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 feudal but towns started to grow along trade routes, while some city-dwellers became part of the new bourgeoisie in society.

-The British Scene: Early Medieval Period

•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.   He 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 of Anglo-Saxons descendent.          F

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

-The Anglo-Saxons

Origin of tribes

Germanic and Celtic populous make the origin of tribes.

Invaded Britain

The Germanic tribes which invaded Britain in the 5^th  and 6^th centuries had brought with them their Nordic religion, a strong military organization and a code of values based on a high sense of honor.

Social structure

Anglo-Saxon society was composed by the king or the chief, nobles thegns (who were the personal companions of the king) and the freeman ( all the other people).

Kind of life

People lived in country villages where the farmland, woods, pastures and meadows were owned communally.

Origin of towns

In the 8^th and 9^th centuries Anglo-Saxon people began to form larger communities called boroughs (towns).

Cities founded by Anglo-Saxon

Anglo-Saxon founded some cities: Winchester, Norwich, York, Southampton and London.

Language

The Anglo-Saxon imposed their language, later known as old English, which became, through several modifications, the English spoken today. The Celtic languages survived only in Wales, Ireland and in the north west of Scotland.

Influence of Christianity

Christianity proved a driving force in uniting the kingdom and in opening the country to the influence of Europe.