History of Medieval England - Thursday 6th Period: Discussion 2: Dark Ages Britain

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All right. So we touched briefly on King Arthur of gloriously fake memory, Alfred the Great who actually lived, and Anglo-Saxon Britain. Now it's time to talk.

Your homework, which should sound familiar already is to select a topic from your readings and cut and paste give me at least 100 words. Ready, steady, go.

[[OOC: OCD threads are up, go ahead.]]

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SIGN IN: ME Disc 2

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Please sign in below the person above you.

DISCUSSION Topic 1: King Arthur

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If man does not have a great leader, he feels compelled to invent him. What was Arthur to the people of the British Isles, and why is his name the one that echoes down through history?

DISCUSSION Topic 2: Saxons invading Celtic Britain

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The Saxons are coming, the Saxons are coming!

DISCUSSION Topic 3: Scandinavians invading Saxon Britain

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The Vikings are coming, the Vikings are coming!

DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

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Mr. Adama asked a very interesting question on Tuesday (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/522937.html?thread=24636345#t24636345), namely, did the invading hoardes also have different religious beliefs? Answer: Sometimes. One of the things that Alfred the Great was credited with was converting the Scandinavian king of his generation to Christianity, with the unspoken assumption that Christianity would civilise and gentle him. In truth, the cultural clashes between the groups often involved religion, but were more profoundly on tribal lines.

The clearest instance of that is the rift between the Celtic Church and the Church of Rome, who had different criteria for locating Easter in the calendar, leading to one Easter being a week after the other. At the Synod of Whitsby, the Church of Rome's predominance in such matters was unescapably established.

So. We have Norse worshipping Norse gods, Christians who follow Rome, Christians who follow Ireland, and the ever-popular peasant who will pray to anyone who keeps himi alive.

TALKING IN CLASS: ME Disc 2

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Talk behind your hands, toss notes, etc. But don't expect that Methos won't snark on you if he catches you.

AFTER CLASS: ME Disc 2

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Add/drops processed here. Also, ask questions that you didn't want to ask in front of the class.

HOMEWORK: ME Disc 2

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Turn in next Tuesday's homework here. Your homework, which should sound familiar already is to select a topic from your readings (http://britannia.com/history/h50.html) and cut and paste give me at least 100 words.

OOC

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Mary had a little lamb, her fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.