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The British Isles consisted of Great Britain, Ireland and many smaller islands.

Julius Caesar invaded Britain and Rome ruled it for almost 400 years but the Celts were not influenced by Roman culture.

The Angles, Saxons and Jutes united to become the Anglo-Saxons and set up settlements and kingdoms in Angleland, or England.

The Irish church was founded by St. Patrick. He spread the Christian message all through the island and set up many new churches.

Coracles were boats made by stretching cow hides over a wooden frame. They were used for travel, trade and fishing, holding as many as 30 people.

Ireland became the center of Celtic culture. It remained free from Germanic invasion because the island was located farther out in the Atlantic Ocean.

Monasteries became the centers of Irish life although most were inaccessible. Each monastery took charge of its own affairs.

Monks chose to be hermits, educators and missionaries seeking new converts and looking for places to build new monasteries.

Columba was the best known Irish monk. He set up a monastery on Iona and preached to the Anglo-Saxons in northern England.

Pope Gregory sent monks to England under the leadership of Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

Bede wrote the first history of the English people.

Beowulf was an epic poem of a great warrior written in Old English. It is one of the most famous works of Anglo-Saxon literature.

•Paid the Danes (VIKINGS) to spare England from attack and later signed a treaty giving them the northeastern part of England (called Danelaw).

•Set forth new laws based on old Anglo-Saxon customs.

•Was well educated and interested in learning. He started a palace school to train nobles’ sons for government posts.

•Had his scholars translate books into English and had monks record English history starting with Roman times.

The government of Anglo-Saxon England centered on the king.

England was divided into shires.

Each was run by the local noble chosen by the king, a sheriff.

A group of nobles and church leaders, known as the witenagemot, met with the king to talk over problems.

While the king rewarded nobles with gifts of gold, silver horses and weapons, peasants led a hard life farming the land near a noble’s estate.

Stowa:

An Anglo-Saxon Community