England in the First Millenium

At the start of the first Millennium AD, the inhabitants of what would become England were speaking Celtic and painting themselves blue for fun. In 1066, the Christian, Germanic-language speaking Anglo-Saxons passed under the domination of Norse-descended Normans from south of the Channel. Between these dates, the country had been completely conquered twice; and nearly conquered, by Vikings, for a third time. Patterns of life, culture, and belief had changed beyond all recognition.

This course provides an opportunity to cross the traditional boundaries between ancient and medieval history and examine in detail this millennium of extraordinary transformation. Roman Britain, the Anglo-Saxon invasions, the Vikings, and the Norman Conquest will be studied using contemporary documentation in translation, where possible, bolstered with archaeological evidence. A comparative and thematic approach to key aspects of the period, including religious practice, literary culture, and town and country, will give students not only a solid grounding in the history of England in the first millennium, but an understanding of the primary materials from which any such history must be written. The course includes a study trip to Roman and early medieval sites.

Subject areas: Medieval Studies and History.
Check with your home institution for specific information on fulfilment of major/course requirements.