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)
- Exploring How England Came to Be (32 min)
Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England and historical sources. - 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.
- 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.

