Anglo-Saxon Period
449-1066
Christianity
- In 596, missionaries attempted to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
- By the year 650, a great deal of England was christian, a few by name.
- May appeared to be heavy believers in God, but held on to their pagan beliefs and traditions
The First Crusade
- In the middle of the 11th century, the Turks took over Jerusalem, which was regarded by Christians as a Holy city.
- Pope Urban II called for a crusade to recover this and other holy places for Christianity, and promised all who fought, "the reward of imperishable glory in the kingdom of heaven"
- This was just the First, of many crusades that Christians launched against Muslims in the 12th and 13th century
Peasants Revolt (Tylers Rebellion)
- In late 14th century, King Richard II instituted a tax to pay for the war with France.
- Laborers resented the tax, along with many other laws
- Walter Tyler, former soldier, organized a revolt
- Armed villagers and townspeople attacked manors and religious houses making their way to a bloody assault on London on June 13, 1381
- Even though the rebels forced the king to repeal the tax, the rebellion was crushed when the mayor of London had Tyler killed on June 15
Fashion
- In the fifteenth century, noble women wore pointed headdresses
- sometimes men wore liripipes. (Hoods with long pointed back)
- Men wore shoes with pointed toes that had to be tied back to their ankle to aviod tripping
- children were viewed as "mini" adults, and dressed accordingly.
Arts and Entertainment
- The first English cathedral was built in canterbury between 1070 and 1180.
- Cathedrals were artistic masterpieces created by the most talented architects, masons, artist, and craftspeople of the time to celebrate the glory of God.
- Knights provided sport and entertainment for others by participating in showy tournaments
- This gave them a chance to practice their fighting, and show off
- People enjoyed watching the performances of buffoons, jugglers, acrobats, storytellers, minstrels, and musicians.