Early England

EARLY ENGLAND

Dr. R Fox Thurston

 

I. Discuss one of the following two:

a.  Bede’s Account of the Synod of Whitby.  Include the following topics in your discussion:

· Issue(s) at stake

· Arguments put forward by Celtic and Roman spokesmen

· Oswy’s decision and why

· Probable explanation for decision

 

b. Bede: Conversion of Anglo- Saxons to Christianity

· Role Gregory I played

· Advice Gregory gave to the missionaries

· Factors/considerations that facilitated/determined the conversions of Ethelbert of Kent and Edwin of Northumbria

II. Discuss one of the following two:

a. Gildas’ Account of the Saxon Invasion of Britain.  Include the following topics in your discussion:

· Role Vortigern played

· Gildas’characterization of the Saxons

· Fate of the Britons and their lands

· Gildas as a historian/Did he have an agenda? Discuss

b. William of Malmesbury’s Account of the Battle of Hastings

     Contrast of the Anglo Saxons and the Normans including

· Preparation for battle

· Practices/style of life

· Condition of the church at the time of the battle

 

III. Alfred the Great’s engagement with the Vikings. Include:

 

· How Alfred responded to the Viking threat under Guthrum (Steps he took, Athelney, Battle of Edington/ Treaty of Wedmore)

· Discuss, in detail, Alfred’s military reforms to deal with the Vikings.

 

IV. William of Poitiers’ Account of the Battle of Hastings

Discuss

· William of Normandy and Harold Godwin’s claims to the English throne

· The virtue and vices the author attributed to William and Harold

· The battle itself, in terms of placement of armies, weapons and tactics

· How William gained the victory