University:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Course:
21H.390 | Theories and Methods in the Study of History
Academic year:

2025
Views:

3

Pages:

2
Author:

customer-8506353

3. Viking and Norman Intruders (800 A.D. – 1066 A.D.) Vorlesung Who are the Vikings? - “Viking” means “pirates” Invaders Shipmen Scandinavian -> languages pagan Why did they come to the British Isles? - Fertile soil Heard it was easy to conquer because England was unprotected Demographic pressure (rise in population -> mass migration Threatened by German forces (Charlemagne) How did the Vikings influence the developments on the Isles? Before Viking invasion - Anglo-Saxons - Heptarchy - Spread of Christianity - Isles were largely unprotected During/After - Uneasy relationship (violent) - Army developed - Danelaw (after 878): territorial agreement between Vikings and Britons (Danegeld: English kings pay money to Vikings/Danish kings to keep them from attacking - King Cnut (first Viking becoming a King in England from 1016-1035): England and Denmark formed a politically union -> England now virtually a colony of Denmark) - Ireland had Viking kings - Development of Feudalism after the battle of Hastings Who was King Alfred and why is he an important figure in early English history? - - - King Alfred of Wessex (871-899) (Wessex was the most powerful of the 7 kingdoms) Powerful army/military o Standing army as protection o Battle of Edington: first defeat of Vikings (787) Very intelligent and religious o Kept intellectuals around them o Wrote books Attempting a peaceful coexistence with the Vikings -> was not successful 6 Why and how did the Normans conquer England? - - - Edward the Confessor o doesn’t have an heir o close ties to Normandy Contenders for the English throne: o Harold -> son of the Earl of Godwin (Edward marries his sister); claims that Edward promised him the throne on his deathbed o William -> Duke of Normandy; claims that Edward promised him the throne on a visit in the Normandy Harold becomes King Harold the 2nd -> William starts conquest Threat of another invasion: King Harald of Norway -> defeated at the Battle of Stanford Bridge Battle of Hastings (October 1066): o William vs. Harold o Harold came from North, William from South o Harold’s army was weakened o Nevertheless, Harold’s Army started strong because they had high ground, but due to a clever strategy of Williams Army, he was defeated o William becomes King William the 1st (William the Conqueror) -> crowned at Westminster Abbey at Christmas Day 7

Viking and Norman Intruders

Related Documents

Recommended Documents

Description

Related Documents

Almost There!

Free up your schedule!

Take 5 seconds to unlock