England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest

From the waves of migration to the flourishing of arts and literature, delve into the remarkable story of Anglo-Saxon England.

Overview

Course No. 30140

Professor Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America guides you through 700 transformative years when England emerged from Roman ruins to become a unified medieval kingdom. This 24-lecture course reveals:

• How Germanic tribes, Vikings, and Christian missionaries shaped England
• The truth behind legends like King Arthur
• Alfred the Great’s military and intellectual achievements
• The cultural golden age of Anglo-Saxon art and literature
• The world-changing events of 1066

Using archaeological evidence, DNA analysis, and medieval texts, this course separates myth from history to show how a patchwork of warring kingdoms became the England we know today.

Video Lectures

Part 1: Foundations (400-600 AD)

1. Exploring How England Came to Be (32 min)
   Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England and historical sources.
2. The Rise and Fall of Roman Britain (32 min)
   Rome’s legacy and Britain’s post-imperial transformation.

3-4. Germanic Migrations and King Arthur (29-31 min)
Tribal settlements and British resistance myths.

5. Everyday Life in 6th-Century Britain (29 min)
   Archaeology reveals Anglo-Saxon daily existence.

Part 2: Kingdoms and Conversion (600-800 AD)

6-9. Emerging Kingdoms to Christianization (30 min each)
Political consolidation and Irish/Roman missionary efforts.

10-12. Northumbrian Renaissance to Mercian Hegemony (30 min each)
Cultural flowering and midlands kingdom dominance.

Part 3: Challenges and Achievements (800-1000 AD)

13-16. Viking Invasions to Alfred’s Reforms (28-31 min)
Norse threats and Wessex’s intellectual/military response.

17-20. Beowulf to Artistic Golden Age (30-31 min)
Literary masterpieces and 10th century cultural triumphs.

Part 4: The Norman Conquest (1000-1100 AD)

21-24. Viking Return to 1066 Aftermath (31-32 min)
Danish rule, Hastings battle, and Anglo-Norman synthesis.