ES. 1 PAG 9

THE EUROPEAN SCENE ( Late 4^th C. - 1485 )

1. The Middle Ages in Europe begin with the end of the CLASSIC 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 FEUDALISM and the predominance of  HIERARCHICAL as a social system.
3. INVASIONS were a factor of change because they started settlements that gave origin to new cities.
4. CRUSADES and voyages opened new routes to TRADE and to the discovery of new lands.
5. Medieval society was mainly CLOSE but towns started to grow along trade ROUTES, while some city-dwellers became part of the new CLASS in society.

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. T
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.
5. Alfred the Great and King Cnut were both of Anglo-Saxon descent. F
6. The battle of Hasting was fought between Anglo-Saxon and Normans.

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

ORIGIN OF TRIBES: Germanic/Celtic

INVADED BRITAIN: 5^th and 6^th

SOCIAL STRUCTURE: in the centre the family

KIND OF LIFE: people lived in country villages where the farmland, woods, pastures and meadows were owned communally 

ORIGINS OF TOWNS: boroughs as military bases and trade

CITIES FOUNDED BY ANGLO-SAXONS: Winchester, Norwich, York, Southampton and London

LANGUAGE: the language is Old English

TYPE OF CULTURE: Celtic

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